General News
1 August, 2026
Disgraceful!
THERE was widespread anger across the Beaufort community this week after a vandalism attack on the local war memorial. Several offensive slogans were written onto the pillars of the cenotaph on Sunday night.
Council staff acted immediately on Monday morning to remove the graffiti and restore the site.
Mayor Cr Damien Ferrari has expressed his disappointment at the vandalism of the town's sacred memorial.
"The graffiti on war memorial at Beaufort Memorial Park has deeply upset our community. This site stands as place of remembrance, respect and reflection, and the damage caused does not reflect the values of the Shire.” Cr Ferrari said.
“We strongly condemn this act and will work to restore the memorial as quickly as possible," he said.
Beaufort RSL’s Donald Carnes said he was appalled by the graffiti.
“I’m disgusted, there’s a lot of people who didn’t come back after the First World War and the Second World War. We remember those people on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.”
“This doesn’t happen in Beaufort, not in the last hundred years,” he said.
“Who would do it? It’s not just children, its grown adults, coming at the ADF, children wouldn’t know much about the Australian Defence Force, and I think everybody will be disgusted.”
The incident has been reported to Victoria Police.
Council say they will actively monitor the site moving forward to ensure the area remains a peaceful place of reflection.
Editors note:
Donald Carnes is right. This sort of stuff doesn’t happen in places like Beaufort, or at least it shouldn’t.
The war memorial isn’t there to glorify war. It is a place to remember the hundreds of local men who served our country and those who never returned.
This vandalism is sickening.
If you know who is responsible, please contact police.
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