Two western Victorian war memorials vandalised within weeks, council vows cleanup

The Dobie war memorial, consisting of two large rocks—one shaped like an ANZAC medal—saw a commemorative plaque ripped away and its base sprayed with an Aboriginal flag, the words “land back,” and a red inscription reading “lest we forget the frontier wars.” Plants and trees around the monument were also removed. This follows a graffiti attack on Beaufort’s century-old war memorial, where red paint covered slogans including “death to Australia,” “death to the ADF,” “land back,” and “blood on your hands.”

Mayor Bob Sanders of the Ararat Rural City Council said the community is devastated and that council workers will begin cleaning the Dobie site promptly. Victoria Police confirmed the Beaufort vandalism occurred between July 25 and 26 and have launched an investigation. Beaufort RSL president Donald Carnes identified the slogans painted on the monument.