Koonwarra L/RSL cricket club set back

KOONWARRA Leongatha RSL Cricket Club suffered a significant setback overnight on Friday January 12 with the theft of two mowers from a locked shipping container near its clubrooms.

The container was locked about 6pm on Friday, with club president Nick Arnup discovering it open and the mowers missing when he arrived just before 8am on Saturday.

One is a large gang mower, formerly owned by Richmond Football Club, that is used for the cricket ground, while the other is a smaller Toro ride-on mower to cut the surrounds.
Both are red.

Police are investigating and the club has to speak to its insurer.

Depending on the timeframe involved, the Cougars may need to rely on the generosity of another club to lend it a mower to keep the Koonwarra ground playable.

Nick said someone must have scoped out the scene, with the shipping container behind the clubrooms and not easily visible.

He spoke of how common such crimes have become.

“It’s been happening not just to us, but a lot of sporting clubs around the area getting stuff knocked off,” Nick said.

“We’ve been broken into at least five times.”

Items have been stolen in previous incidents, while in one case entry was forced into a storage shed with nothing taken but the door kicked in.

“Everyone’s busting their backsides to try and keep clubs up and running and then you get these people who knock off lawnmowers or money, alcohol and TVs and stuff, and it’s frustrating,” Nick said.

“Some people just wreck it for everyone else.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Wonthaggi Police Station on 5671 4100.