QLD: Heritage gone to the grave in vandalism attack

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2009
QLD: Heritage gone to the grave in vandalism attack

BRISBANE, Dec 17 AAP - Vandals have smashed historic tombstones at one of Queensland's
oldest cemeteries, leaving a $100,000 damage bill.

Nineteen tombstones at the Goodna Cemetery, southwest of Brisbane, were smashed with
metal poles ripped from graves.

Some of the tombstones dated back to 1898, and a 1922 life-size memorial of an angel
was smashed beyond repair.

Cemetery Trust Secretary Paul Tully said he was sickened by the attack.

"This is the worst case of vandalism in the cemetery in the past 150 years," Mr Tully said.

"It is disappointing to see so much damage, there will be families coming here at Christmas
time and they will be devastated."

Police are at the scene collecting evidence.

Mr Tully said a knife, found near the crematorium, was used to destroy niche walls.

Fingerprints will be taken from the knife as well as from a granite gravestone that
was vandalised.

Mr Tully said three young men were seen acting suspiciously at the cemetery in the
days before Wednesday night's attack.

"There is every possibility that the attackers were people with idle time during the
school holidays," he said.

The Goodna Cemetery is one of the oldest in Queensland and was established in 1859.

AAP ka/tnf/it

KEYWORD: CEMETERY (PICS AVAILABLE)

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