ORGANISERS of camps for boys to experience life in a rural setting and take part in old-school activities have been rocked by the theft this week of items used on the camps including mountain bikes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The bikes, power tools and an air compressor belonging to Boys To The Bush were discovered stolen from a shed on the Albury High School grounds.
The thefts come in the lead-up to the latest camps to be held for more than 20 boys from NSW and Victoria near Howlong in mid-January.
Boys To The Bush is a fledgling organisation co-founded by teachers Adam DeMamiel, Richard Leahy and Tim Sanson and has had camps at Howlong and Lake Cargelligo this year attended by 168 boys, with many living in out-of-home care arrangements.
“They were bikes we had raised money for over the last 18 months from donations and small grants we’ve been able to source from the community,” Mr DeMamiel said.
“They had only been used on one camp pretty much.
The boys themselves will be filthy when they hear what has happened
- Boys To The Bush co-founder Adam DeMamiel
“If we had to re-purchase everything that has been stolen it would cost between $4000 and $5000.
“They are things we need to replace because they make the camps so much easier and give the boys some of those old school activities to do.”
The bikes were also assembled with the help of the Howlong Men’s Shed.
Mr DeMamiel went to the shed to begin preparations for the January four-day camps and discovered the signs of forced entry.
“The boys themselves will be filthy when they hear what has happened,” he said.
“The items taken weren’t insured because we’re not at that stage yet.
“Unfortunately we need to take a hit on this one and look for a better storage option.”
- Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here
