The famous Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial erected in Albert Park’s Lemnos Square five years ago has been defaced by vandals.

The vandals struck last Saturday, 26th September. They used some form of black marker to ink parts of the statues. During the attack Local residents who witnessed the vandals, confronted them and urged them to stop. Thankfully there does not appear to have been any physical damage to the Memorial.

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee was alerted to the damage by Ms Maria Kefalas, who had been notified by a friend who lived near the Memorial. The Committee informed the custodians of the Memorial, the City of Port Phillip, who will repair the damage as soon as possible.

Cr Bernadene Voss, the Mayor of Port Phillip, was saddened by the vandalism. She has participated in the Committee’s annual commemorative service for many years.

A local resident, Ms Voss has enjoyed seeing the Memorial on her regular local walks.

“I am absolutely horrified. We don’t normally get this type of destruction. Sometimes tagging, but that is truly disgraceful … I feel quite outraged, as I am sure you all do also,” she said.

Cr Voss told the Committee that she had requested that Council officers repair the damage as a matter of urgency.

Mr Tarlamis said that the Committee was particularly saddened that a memorial to the work of nurses and other medical staff had been attacked at this time, when we are all as a community so proud of the work of medical staff during the pandemic. He pointed out that not only was this attack criminal but was also in violation of the current COVID19 restrictions. The vandals obviously came prepared with their materials to carry out their horrible act.

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Mr Tarlamis thanked both the Mayor for her swift action and Ms Kefalas for letting the Committee know about the vandalising of the memorial. He also thanked the local residents who tried to intervene to stop the vandals.

“The Committee is very appreciative of the intervention of local residents. Their action most probably stopped any more major damage to the Memorial. It is also an indication of the affection with which the Memorial is held by the local community. We thank them,” Mr Tarlamis said.

This year’s annual commemorative service was cancelled due to the COVID!19 pandemic and associated restrictions. The Committee hopes to be able to hold its normal service next year.

Anyone else who witnessed the attack on the Memorial should contact the City of Port Phillip and/or South Melbourne Police on 9257 3800.

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Jim Claven is a trained historian, freelance writer and Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee and author of Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed: A Pictorial History of the Anzacs in the Aegean, 1915-16. He can be contacted at jimclaven@yahoo.com.au