THE theft of two Australian flags from the Berrima Memorial Gardens on the eve of Australia Day, for the second time in two years, has angered and disappointed Berrima residents.
The flags were taken from the gardens at some time on Saturday and the theft was discovered by a volunteer rostered to lower them in the afternoon.
The flags were a gift from Hume MP Alby Schultz to replace two flags stolen in the lead up to Australia Day 2007.
Berrima Residents Association president Keith Walker-Smith said he was horrified to think that someone had been parading around on Australia Day draped in a stolen flag.
“Stealing flags is bad enough but to steal from a memorial garden built to honour people who were patriotic and died for their country... it’s just absolutely infuriating,” he said.
“The fact that it happened before Australia Day is an insult to the people who made the garden.”
Mr Walker-Smith said the theft of two sets of flags was demoralising for the volunteers who maintain the garden and raise and lower the flags daily.
“Every time Australia Day comes along is some low life going to steal the flags?” he asked.
For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, January 30
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