Editorial: Vandals actions hurt us all

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Like most of our sports, cricket in Whanganui is pretty much run on a shoestring.

It relies on a lot of hard effort from volunteers, parents and the like, and the support of local businesses.

We are fortunate that among our many fine sporting facilities we have a venue like Victoria Park, and in recent years it has played host to a growing number of North Island cricket events.

So Thursday night's stupid act of vandalism - reported on our front page today - is particularly upsetting. It may cost Cricket Wanganui in the region of $30,000 to repair the damage and it knocks some of the shine off a popular sport - and off Whanganui itself.

It's the sort of mindless behaviour that blots the landscape from time to time, fortunately not too often. And it is not just the cricketing fraternity suffering ... it hits all of us who call the River City our home.

What possessed those who hijacked a motorised roller and crashed it into a building, we may never know. What we do know is that a $500 reward has been put up for the conviction of the culprits.

The police have a hoodie (pictured on Page 1), fingerprints and security camera footage, so we must be hopeful that a diligent investigation will lead to the arrest of those responsible.

If that happens, we can only hope that they reflect fully on what they have done and the distress they have caused and look on things with a changed perspective.

The good news is that Bullocks, whose roller was bashed, will stick with its support of Whanganui cricket, and no doubt other local businesses and individuals will add their support.

And the game must go on ... United will carry the hopes of the city into a cup semifinal at Victoria Park this afternoon.