24 May 2011

Headstones vandalised at St Johns

| johnboy
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The ABC has the sad news that the historic graveyard at St Johns church in Reid (built by the Campbell family and consecrated in 1845) has been really done over by some human excrement.

“In some senses we’re all quite traumatised because our gravestones have been damaged and some of them quite incredibly,” he said.

“They’ve been completely smashed some of them and it would be very hard to restore them to what they were.

“Unfortunately a lot of them are marble headstones, some of the oldest in the graveyard and some of the headstones that we love the most.”

Reverend Black says part of Canberra’s history has been lost.

And this is why we can’t have nice things.

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Talk about bad joo-joo there, disturbing the dead like that. I hope they will be “haunted” by their act of stupidity. Are kids really that bored these days to want to vandalise something as sacred as tombstones? What next? Are they going to dig someone up from their grave just out of fun? Idiots!

rbw said :

The reverend shouldn’t be so concerned. If there is a god, heaven, hell as the Church claims there is, then these fellas will be sorted out one way or another.

Don’t sweat the small stuff – get out breath the fresh air, rebuild the stones and move on….

I hope you have the same sanguine attitude when your home is torched.

The reverend shouldn’t be so concerned. If there is a god, heaven, hell as the Church claims there is, then these fellas will be sorted out one way or another. Don’t sweat the small stuff – get out breath the fresh air, rebuild the stones and move on….

Pommy bastard3:53 pm 24 May 11

MrMagoo said :

I just read this on abc online and was coming here to vent and JB had already posted the story. I’m sorry or maybe I’m not, but find them, the little b@stards who did this and go and wreck their stuff. Smash their ipod, crush their iphone and trash their room, destroying anything they hold valuable.

Maybe then and only then will they truly understand what their reckless, random and mindless actions result in. Loss and sorrow for others. I’m so really mad about this, vandalism s**** me!!!!!!

Seconded.

GardeningGirl3:35 pm 24 May 11

colourful sydney racing identity said :

GardeningGirl said :

davesact said :

tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

+1

There are countries in the world that take this approach. I don’t think you would like them.

Alrighty, neither physical violence nor destruction of property are appropriate in the sort of society I hope we aspire to. However I do quite like the idea of a modernised version of the village stocks, where the person who has done something against the society they live in have to appear in front of that society to be informed of society’s thoughts on the matter. Our legal system doesn’t seem to be all that reliable in carrying out that role for us. As a previous poster suggested, the excuse will be something like “please sir, I come from a broken home, I have a learning problem, a problem with authority and I’m already on a bond for breakin stuff” and another “second” chance will be handed out. Facing the community, hearing what the community thinks of your behaviour, and forfeiting the things you treasure to the Salvos/St Vinnies or to the recycling depot as applicable might send a clearer message?

colourful sydney racing identity3:07 pm 24 May 11

davesact said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

GardeningGirl said :

davesact said :

tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

+1

There are countries in the world that take this approach. I don’t think you would like them.

Perhaps my original comment was clouded by a little anger at the deed. My meaning was that a significant consequence (just short of public flogging) should be imposed by the courts as a future deterant and I mean a very significant consequence.

I also think the gov should have a look at fencing other significant 19C cemeteries in the ACT such as Weetangera, Lanyon and Cuppacumbalong. All are in secluded locations and accessible by the public. The days of safely having these heritage asetts openly available to the public 24/7 is well and truely over.

Agree 🙂

colourful sydney racing identity said :

GardeningGirl said :

davesact said :

tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

+1

There are countries in the world that take this approach. I don’t think you would like them.

Perhaps my original comment was clouded by a little anger at the deed. My meaning was that a significant consequence (just short of public flogging) should be imposed by the courts as a future deterant and I mean a very significant consequence.

I also think the gov should have a look at fencing other significant 19C cemeteries in the ACT such as Weetangera, Lanyon and Cuppacumbalong. All are in secluded locations and accessible by the public. The days of safely having these heritage asetts openly available to the public 24/7 is well and truely over.

colourful sydney racing identity2:34 pm 24 May 11

GardeningGirl said :

davesact said :

tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

+1

There are countries in the world that take this approach. I don’t think you would like them.

longshanks said :

I’m utterly disgusted. I have happy memories of going on school trips to st johns, and I loved looking at the dates on the headstones, which seemed so old for this canberra boy.
Even more disgusted to think that even if they catch the little fokkers, all they’ll get is a slap on the wrist.

Yep ‘please sir, I come from a broken home, I have a learning problem, a problem with authority and I’m already on a bond for breakin stuff’. ‘Oh OK then, please don’t do it again’
Then the little snot face goes outside and trashes the Beaks car.

I’m utterly disgusted. I have happy memories of going on school trips to st johns, and I loved looking at the dates on the headstones, which seemed so old for this canberra boy.
Even more disgusted to think that even if they catch the little fokkers, all they’ll get is a slap on the wrist.

Rawhide Kid Part31:40 pm 24 May 11

EvanJames said :

We are turning into a 3rd world country, where scum rule the streets. Who is raising these monkeys?

Scum parents…..

Is this another “memorial” ? I wonder how they will justify it

Vandalism has become so endemic, so rife. Anything can be destroyed by these vicious little mongrels, and it’s become so normal it’s not remarked-upon.

A small truck was left on the Oaks Estate Road last week. Now it’s been burnt, and all the glass smashed, the tyres wrecked.

We are turning into a 3rd world country, where scum rule the streets. Who is raising these monkeys?

GardeningGirl12:10 pm 24 May 11

davesact said :

tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

+1

GardeningGirl12:08 pm 24 May 11

MrMagoo said :

find them, the little b@stards who did this and go and wreck their stuff. Smash their ipod, crush their iphone and trash their room, destroying anything they hold valuable.

Maybe then and only then will they truly understand what their reckless, random and mindless actions result in. Loss and sorrow for others. I’m so really mad about this, vandalism s**** me!!!!!!

+1

Irreparable damage to our 19th century heritage. First the loss of the 1840 Lanyon Barn and now this! I am absolutely shocked. CSI the barstards arses, tie them to the Ethos statue and bring back public floggings.

colourful sydney racing identity11:46 am 24 May 11

Inexcusable.

I just read this on abc online and was coming here to vent and JB had already posted the story. I’m sorry or maybe I’m not, but find them, the little b@stards who did this and go and wreck their stuff. Smash their ipod, crush their iphone and trash their room, destroying anything they hold valuable.

Maybe then and only then will they truly understand what their reckless, random and mindless actions result in. Loss and sorrow for others. I’m so really mad about this, vandalism s**** me!!!!!!

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