Vandals threatened to disrupt a solemn ceremony at the Dubbo centre for the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG) this week.
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Staff have told of solar panels being smashed and two cars damaged on Wednesday.
Despite their “disappointment” they conducted the 11th remembrance service for pregnancy and infant loss on Thursday.
Dubbo NALAG cheif executive officer Trudy Hanson said they reported the incident to local police.
“The staff and volunteers were just disappointed, they’ve put in such a big effort,” Ms Hanson said
The Dubbo NALAG centre have provided support services for grief, loss and depression, stress and anxiety since 1992.
As part of their service to the community, they hold an annual Remembrance Ceremony for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance day on October 4th.
Ms Hanson said they had put fairy lights up for the event on Wednesday to ensure the decorations would be ready by the event on Thursday at 6.00pm.
“Yesterday afternoon, we think somebody came past and smashed all the glass, the solar panels, pulled up a garden grate and damaged a care belonging to one of our staff and scratched another car with that,” Ms Hanson said.
“Well because there wasn’t much sunlight we put the new lights up [on Wednesday morning] and at 3.00pm I went out to test to see how they were going and found them all smashed.
“They didn’t stay up long, the ceremony’s on Thursday night and we were trying to get ahead of ourselves and test them.”
Ms Hanson said the alleged vandalism “was disappointing” for the organisation “who wants to support the community in grief”.
“Particularly because we have been running this remembering ceremony for 10 years now. We see it as very beneficial for those parents and grandparents that have lost a baby.”
Ms Hanson said the outpouring of support from the community had been “overwhelming”.
“Again the positive out of this was that we’ve been overwhelmed by support from the community, where enough lights have been received so we can replace what’s been broken,” Ms Hanson said.
“Members of the community have rallied around and supported us, by cash donations and actually bringing fairy lights for us to use.”
“It shows people appreciate the work NALAG have been doing in the community for the last 40 years.”
Ms Hanson said, “because public funds support NALAG, the public should be aware of these acts”.
To access NALAG support services call 6882 9222.
Do you have a story? Email: antonia.oflaherty@fairfaxmedia.com.au
