Shadow over roof work

By Tania Martin
VANDALISM of the Emerald RSL garden is overshadowing the celebration of its newly completed roof works.
Veterans were admiring the completion of another stage of its building upgrade when they noticed someone had stolen the club’s lavender plants.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said whoever stole the plants should be ashamed of themselves.
“These vandals are tarnishing the work of the veterans,” he said.
“The hard work of the local members is being destroyed by a senseless attack of vandalism.”
Steve Griffith vice-president of the RSL said it will be another 12 months before he can replant the lavender.
Mr Griffith is disappointed that the plants were stolen after he had spent hours tending the garden.
“If they rang us and asked for some lavender, we would have given them some,” he said. “But to just rip it out of the garden is senseless.”
Meanwhile, the RSL club is continuing to forge ahead with its plans to upgrade the club by seeking further funding from the Federal Government.
The club has already spent $40,000 of its own money renovating the interior of the club rooms by ripping up the old carpet, painting the walls and putting in a new bar.
But, Mr Griffith said the club has now run out of money and will be applying for government funding to finish the work.
He said the club still has plans to upgrade the kitchen and put in better disable access.
Mr Wood said he commended RSL members on their patience and dedication to improving their club.