ORGANISERS of the hay bale art in Tarrington say they will not be deterred by vandals who set one display on fire.
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A gingerbread man display on the Hamilton Highway was set alight and destroyed on Wednesday night.
The display was part of Tarrington’s Laternenfest, a yearly celebration of the town’s German heritage.
Organising committee chairman Colin Huf said it wasn’t the first time the displays had been vandalised but he would not let it dampen his enthusiasm.
“The owner was quite upset by it,” he said.
“They had to dismantle the whole bale to make sure it was out.
“Sadly there are people out there that think that’s the way to speak to society and we have to live with them.
“Maybe their guilt will gnaw away but we just have to move on.
“We’ve got too much wonderful momentum.”
Mr Huf said the festival had attracted more than 40 entries and it had been embraced by the community.
Entries included Angry Birds, dinosaurs, Dame Edna’s glasses and Santa on the Kangaroo run.
“People have really taken the hay bales on board,” Mr Huf said.
“It’s exciting that people are taking it upon themselves and creating this community spirit. I can see three cars out my window now and their windows are down and their camera is out.”
The Laternenfest is on Friday, November 30, and includes a lantern parade celebrating Monk Martin, who spent his life serving the poor.
Mr Huf said pupils from Tarrington Lutheran school had prepared a presentation to tell the story of Monk Martin.
The event will include stalls and a barbecue of German bratwurst sausages and German beer. After dark children and parents will parade lanterns around the oval at the Tarrington reserve.
Tarrington, formerly known as Hochkirch, was settled by Germans in 1853.