Dandenong South Primary School principal Leonie Fitzgerald cannot believe the damage vandals inflicted upon the school’s new shade sails during the school holidays. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Shaun Inguanzo
VANDALS have thumped the wind from excited Dandenong South students’ sails in a callous school holiday attack.
Playtime was over before it began for students at Dandenong South Primary School when they returned on Monday to find vandals had cut the shade sails covering the school’s new $250,000 playground from their supports.
Principal Leonie Fitzgerald said all signs pointed to vandalism, given the nature of the damage.
“I didn’t know for sure, but the sail company said having been cut in three separate places indicated vandalism,” she said.
“It is very disappointing.”
The attack marred the first day back for students, who were eagerly waiting to use new playground.
Ms Fitzgerald said students were not allowed to play on the new equipment because steel wires and shade sails were dangling precariously.
“It was far too dangerous,” she said.
Ms Fitzgerald said the school community was now asking why someone would do such a thing.
“It is so hard to believe anyone would do it, I don’t know why they would bother,” she said.
“It is now going to be costly (to fix it) because a cherry picker will be needed to repair the sails.”
The sail company is expected to fix the damage this week to allow students a first chance to enjoy the new playground.
“It is fabulously large,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“It covers all of the areas between our buildings and was done by a professional landscape designer.
“It provides a real focal point for the children.”
Large grassy areas were the only on-limit parts of the playground on Monday, Ms Fitzgerald said.
“The children are thrilled by it … they have been rolling around on the grass,” she said.
“The playground is part of an ongoing plan we have got to totally redevelop the school grounds.”
Other primary schools Star spoke to reported a more fortunate school holiday return.
Dandenong Primary School principal David Crozier said the school had avoided serious vandalism or heavy litter over school holiday periods for years.
“We have had very little graffiti or vandal damage over the last few years so we’ve been very lucky,” he said.
