A small New South Wales community which has bent over backwards to accommodate grey nomads and other travellers has been left reeling after a senseless act of vandalism which has made a mockery of all their hard work.
Lions Club volunteers worked countess hours to provide superb amenities at the old railway station precinct at Grenfell, 370 kilometres west of Sydney. Overnight campers were welcomed and encouraged … but that could all be about to change.
Some time on Sunday night, an individual or a group entered the amenities block and proceeded to rip off toilet seats, damage the toilet roll holders, and throw toilet paper all around.
The secretary of the Grenfell Lions’ Club, Terry Carroll, is understandably enraged.
“Normally these toilets are closed at night, but because of the large number of Recreational Vehicles staying in the park, they have been opened for their convenience,” he said. “The Grenfell Lions Club is very disappointed that they will now have to lock the amenities block at night owing to the thoughtlessness and warped attitude of a small minority.”
While police are investigating the attack, Mr Carroll is confident that travellers are not to blame.
“Having met and spoken with some of the overnight campers, I find it very unlikely that they would stoop to this destruction,” he said. “Perhaps we have some misguided youth with nothing to do, or perhaps a disgruntled ratepayer … whoever you are, please wake up to yourselves!”
The facilities are certainly very much appreciated by most travellers with the Lions Club and the Weddin Shire apparently receiving almost daily notes praising the beautiful surrounds and the clean, well-kept amenities at the park.
Most likely damage caused by locals.
I have stayed at this facility and was very impressed with the Lions Club work. I would have hoped that with RV ‘s present it would be a form of security for the site. I found the donation box a bit obscure. May I suggest a more obvious placement would encourage more use – also hoping it would not be vandalised.
Is there a caravan park in the vicinity??
We came across this at a free camp on the Calliope River years ago.
Someone with an obvious invested interest kept putting socks full of quick drying cement down the toilet bowls.
No toilets…no free campers….now who would do that???
This is a wonderful facility requiring only a donation. I am very saddened to hear that this has happened. I hope Grenfell Lions Club gets to the bottom of it and that this incident doesn’t cause its closure.