The relief at finding the Alexander Park Dressage Clubhouse untouched by the Campvale bushfire was short-lived for the groups that utilise the building upon realising thieves had brazenly broken in and stolen thousands of dollars worth of equipment during the fire emergency.
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Bruce McVey, president and 30-year member of the Alexander Park Dressage Club, said he “felt sick” upon walking into the clubhouse at Salt Ash on Saturday morning to find a hole cut out of the roof and filing cabinets, the PA system and even the old fridge gone.
“I was just gut-wrenched,” he said. “I couldn't believe it. We're all volunteers. No one is making a quid here. We work our hardest to put on good events and then this.
“We’ve had the odd break in over the years but never anything like this. It was very well organised. They knew what they were doing.”
The dressage club, Salt Ash Pony Club, Salt Ash Riding Club, Hunter Valley Dressage Club and the park's managing committee each had items stored in the clubhouse located in the riding complex off Richardson Road.
Mr McVey said the dressage club has had to cancel its last dressage day of the season, which was due to be held at the complex this weekend, due to the theft.
Despite the alarm system and heavy bars on the windows and doors, thieves were able to cut their way into the building sometime between Friday afternoon, after a member checked that the grounds were not touched by the bushfire, and Saturday morning.
It is believed the thieves drove into the complex through the fire damaged gate, used the water tanks to climb up on the roof and cut their way in.
They have then used power tools to cut the heavy bars off the front door, which they put back into place upon leaving.
Pony club president Lisa Gregory said about $5000 worth of their equipment had been taken including $1000 worth of newly purchased club shirts and jumpers for the 2019 season and two tall storage lockers full of paperwork.
“We were so relieved that the fire didn't damage anything, which I think makes this a lot more heartbreaking – that there's such heartless people out there that take advantage of people in situations like the bushfire,” she said.
“Some of the stuff they took is worthless to them. What are they going to do with $1000 worth of purple shirts?”
The bushfire, which burned more than 1900 hectares of bush land at Campvale, Medowie and Salt Ash between Thursday and Monday, damaged the wooden fence surrounding the Salt Ash riding complex and metal entrance gate.
After filing a police report about the break in on Saturday morning Mr McVey lodged a call to Port Stephens Council to secure the site.
Temporary fencing went up about noon on Saturday. Police are now investigating.
The fire burned bushland surrounding the complex, even coming close to shipping containers on the grounds filled with horse club equipment. However, firefighters were able to stop them from going up in flames.
A shipping container at the back of the property belonging to Battlezone Playlive operators Craig and Joyce Sweeney was destroyed.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
