VANDALISM at the Swan Hill Model Aero Club (SMAC) has seen the club put out a desperate public plea to respect their grounds.
Situated in a paddock just off Blackwire Road, on a windy day it is abandoned, but once the weather clears up flying enthusiasts can be seen taking to the skies — from the safety of solid ground.
But these flights are intermittently interrupted by vandalism, theft and damage to the club’s rooms and grounds.
In the past few weeks and months the door to the clubrooms has been kicked in, while hoon drivers have ripped up the landing strip, a fire pit was stolen, bollards knocked over and a $1000 charging system destroyed.
“There is a toilet block over there, what we did in the past was put gates on the toilets so people couldn’t just come in, one of those gates got taken off the walls about three months ago, someone unbolted it and we found it in the paddock,” Mr Van Heumen said.
“Because we aren’t out here all the time we don’t see [the vandals], but we notice it… it is just affecting us all the time.
“We are just hoping that letting people know about this they will stop, because if they don’t we will have to take it to the next level.”
Police have already been notified about some of the thefts.
Mr Van Heumen said the club hoped letting the public know they were there may decrease the incidence of vandalism — and the cost to members.
“We have got annual fees to pay, that covers our insurance, membership and some goes to the club for running costs,” Mr Van Heumen said.
“But at the end of the day, the direct cost comes out of our pocket every time.
