Golf course targeted in ‘disgusting’ anti-Semitic attack
A Victorian golf course has been plastered with swastikas, vulgar graffiti and a homophobic slur.
Vandals sprayed the Nazi symbol and the image of a penis at the Cranbourne Golf Club between 7pm on Tuesday and 9am on Wednesday.
Victoria Police confirmed on Thursday it was investigating a criminal damage incident at a golf course in Cranbourne.
The graffitied area is temporarily closed to patrons.
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich slammed the graffiti on the club's fourth green as "sickening and chilling" attack.
"Another day, another sickening and chilling incident of swastika vandalism, and if this hate spree continues, Melbourne will soon be known as the swastika capital of Australia," he said in a statement.
"This is not just graffiti on the ground - it is an attack on all of us, and I never I thought I'd say this, but this is becoming the norm."
Jewish golfers founded the club in 1953 to cater for those who were prevented from joining other clubs due to their religion, Dr Dvir said.
A spokesperson for the club published a statement on Facebook describing the vandalism as “abhorrent in its nature and unacceptable in any forum, at any time”.
“As a not-for-profit Club where 'everyone is welcome' regardless of race, religion, faith or gender, the only prerequisite is that our Members be of good character,” the club wrote, adding that staff were working quickly to paint over the graffiti and it would be back in play by the weekend.
A witness, who did not use his real name, told the commission it was a "disgusting" and "cowardly" attack.
Dr Dvir has called on the state government to organise a roundtable to find measures to "fight against this toxic bigotry".
with AAP
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