Jeni Emmins
THE theft overnight last week of more than $8000 of tools and goods from the almost completed Strath Creek hall has not deterred the community.
Project controller Rosemary Simon-Ralph said that while the theft of a store room full of new electrical and kitchen appliances and other goods from the hall – down to the taps for the dishwasher off the wall - and a small hot water service and bench hot plates from the tennis pavilion, had devastated the community, every effort was being made to move on.
“It has shaken us to the very core,” Ms Simon-Ralph said.
“It was stuff we had worked so hard to get for the community.
“It leaves you with a very bad taste in your mouth but we’ve got very good security now as a result of this.”
Ms Simon-Ralph said police had responded quickly last Tuesday morning when the theft was discovered by builder Glenn Shearer, who noticed muddy footprints on the carpet.
Entry was gained through a window and police had since scoured the hall for fingerprints.
Serial numbers of all goods had been previously recorded and were also provided to police.
A meeting had been held last Monday night in the Strath Creek CFA station next to the hall, as the hall was not ready for use.
It is believed thieves may have timed the burglary to coincide with the meeting so that their vehicle and movements went unnoticed.
Ms Simon-Ralph said the response to the theft had been swift and generous.
“What blew me away was that so many members of the community came down to see what they could do,” she said.
Businesses such as Neil Smith from SSS Building Supplies in Broadford, Mitre 10 and Reece Plumbing in Kilmore and the Good Guys at Essendon DFO had offered to assist in a variety of ways, from the replacement of stolen goods to providing other necessities for hall maintenance and gardening projects and offering goods to raffle throughout the year for fundraising.
“I’m stunned at the generosity of those businesses,” Ms Simon Ralph said.
Ms Simon-Ralph said Deputy Premier Peter Ryan had also phoned to offer assistance.
To cap off the week, a dinner meeting to mark the finalisation of Community Recovery Committee funding was held at the hall on Saturday, attracting about 70 people.
Murrindindi Shire Councillor Sally Abbott Smith said the hall was looking “magnificent” for the professionally and beautifully organised event.
“It was a happy and joyous occasion for people to get together to catch up and enjoy each other’s company as part of the on-going healing process,” Cr Abbott Smith said.
Cr Abbott Smith said the food and entertainment were fantastic and praised hall committee member David Ralph for his stunning “organic table centrepieces” comprising driftwood decorated with candles and native flowers.
“It was a really swanky affair.”
