The Memorial’s recent vandalism case has helped inspire the NSW Government to introduce increased penalties for intentionally or recklessly damaging a war memorial
By Michael Burt
The bill to restore the Dorrigo War Memorial after the drunken vandalism attack in April this year could exceed $50,000.
The Dorrigo RSL Sub-Branch met with Bellingen Shire Council and a stonemason this week with the aim of completing the restoration project by Anzac Day next year.
A Central West NSW couple were convicted of vandalising the 103-year-old memorial at a Coffs Harbour court hearing in July. The court heard after a night of drinking, Joshua Claridge, 28, broke off part of the statue while climbing it and Toni Cardow, 24, used a piece make lewd gestures.
Claridge was fined $400 and agreed to pay $25,000 compensation to Bellingen Shire Council to contribute to repair costs. He was also sentenced to a 12-month Community Correction Order. Cardow was convicted of committing an offensive act on a war memorial/interment site and fined $750.
Dorrigo RSL Sub-Branch secretary Phil Corlis said the stonemason will assess the damage with an onsite visit this week.
“The stonemason has already done some assessing of the damage through photographs and estimates that it will be over $48,000 to repair,” Mr Corlis said.
Mr Corlis said the $25,000 compensation payment and council’s insurance policy will cover the repair bill.
“It’s good news that we are moving ahead with restoring the memorial. It holds a lot of value for our community.”
Originally established in 1921, the memorial was rededicated by the Dorrigo community on 25 April 1998. The soldier was widely missed in the latter half of 2020 whne it had ot be removed to repair the memorial’s base after a car accident.
The vandalism case this year added weight to the introduction of a Crimes Legislation Amendment (War Memorial Offences) Bill 2025 by the NSW Government this month.
The bill increases the maximum penalty from five to seven years’ imprisonment for intentionally or recklessly damaging a war memorial. It also amends the Summary Offences Act to allow the court to order a convicted person to pay up to $4,400 to compensate for any loss or damage they cause.
Mr Corlis welcomed the state government attention on protecting the war memorials, but said the fines are insufficient.
“It’s good that jail sentences have gone from five years to seven, but a $4400 fine is still pitiful. It should be for the full cost of repair to a damaged memorial.”
Minister for Veterans David Harris said the new penalties demonstrates the Minns Government is serious about the protection of states war memorials.
“Our veterans should be celebrated, their memories do not deserve to be desecrated like we have been seeing across the state.”