Vic: Eternal flame extinguished at Shrine

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2006
Vic: Eternal flame extinguished at Shrine

By Catherine Best

MELBOURNE, April 12 AAP - The eternal flame that burns at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance
has been extinguished by vandals armed with a beer bottle.

The flame, which has burned since 1954 in honour of Australia's war heroes was snuffed
out at 8.45pm (AEST) on Thursday, just weeks before ANZAC Day commemorations.

Shrine guards discovered the flame out on Thursday night and found a discarded beer
bottle smashed inside the gas burner.

Operators of the site are shocked that the perpetrator could be so disrespectful.

"Obviously (we are) very disappointed that this actually happened, assuming that it
was a malicious act and we can reasonably jump to that conclusion," Shrine of Remembrance
chief executive Denis Baguley said.

"(It is) disrespectful in the extreme given that the eternal flame is part of the WWII
memorial, it's meant to represent eternal life, it's a significant memorial to the service
and sacrifice of service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice."

The flame has been deliberately extinguished three times in the past 12 years and occasionally
blows out in strong wind but Mr Baguley said vandalism at the site, off St Kilda Road,
was rare.

The flame has since been relit and police are investigating the incident, which Mr
Baguley says is particularly disturbing so close to ANZAC Day.

"It brings another focus on it without a doubt.

"The only good thing that potentially comes out of it is the fact that people are further
aware of the shrine and it's relevance to ANZAC Day," he said.

Acting Premier John Thwaites described the incident as appalling but said there was
no evidence linking it to Aboriginal protesters who have illegally set up camp in nearby
Kings Domain.

The protesters, who are refusing to leave after declaring a fire in the area sacred,
have until tomorrow to disband.

"This was quite an appalling act," Mr Thwaites said of the flame being extinguished.

"There's no evidence as to who the perpetrators are and we certainly urge anyone who
has information to report it to the police."

Sergeant Dave Spencer said the shrine guards - a division of Victoria Police who patrol
the site around the clock - were investigating the incident.

"I can't believe that anybody would put out the eternal flame ... it's a highly symbolic
place so any kind of damage is disturbing," he said.

Mr Baguley said beefing up security at the shrine would be considered, including introducing
alternative forms of surveillance.

AAP cmb/dk/jnb/nf

KEYWORD: FLAME

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