Cardinia councillor Kate Lempriere with the remains of eggs thrown at the front door and windows of her Pakenham home on Tuesday night. By Paul Dunlop
EGGS were pelted at the home of Cardinia Shire councillor Kate Lempriere this week as a campaign of terror that has plagued her for two years again raised its ugly head.
Cr Lempriere was shocked and angered by the assault, which renewed a hostility she hoped had ceased.
The eggs were thrown at the front door and windows of her and husband Jeff’s home in Pakenham on Tuesday night.
It was the first attack since police were called to investigate several strikes on the councillor’s home last October.
Cr Lempriere said it was horrible to be targeted in such a way and had no idea who could be behind the attacks.
“It’s obviously somebody with a beef, it’s not kids playing games,” she said.
“It is dreadful for it to happen again. I had hoped to put it behind me.
“I can understand that people can have an issue with council, they might not even like me personally, but you don’t go on like this.
“To come to our house in the early hours of the morning and do this – what normal person would do that? It’s just horrible, it’s ridiculous and I can’t for the life of me work out why.”
Police have been called to investigate and are treating the latest attack as seriously as the incidents last year.
Police said the attacks constitute stalking and that the person or persons responsible could face severe penalties.
The incidents began almost two years ago and peaked with five attacks in as many weeks. Usually, eggs are thrown at the house but the trees on the Lemprieres’ property have also been ringbarked.
Cr Lempriere said she was determined to be undaunted by the attacks, but admitted they took a toll on her and her family.
She said she had kept quiet initially but was speaking out now in a bid to meet her attacker – or attackers – head on.
She would not be intimidated, she said.
“It’s been going too long, it’s madness,” she said.
“It’s very stressful. I’m waking up in the middle of the night, I don’t know what to think. It’s really quite sinister.
“I’m not sure what is setting this person off, but it is just crazy.”
Cr Lempriere said she and her husband had stepped up security around their house to discourage the attacks.
She said her house was set back away from the road, which made the incidents all the more disturbing.
Cr Lempriere, who served a term as mayor in 2003-04, said she refused to let the incidents affect her work on behalf of the community.
“I speak my mind and I am going to continue to,” she said.
Cr Lempriere and Jeff are Rotarians and strongly involved in local business and community organisations.
Cr Lempriere, who has developed a reputation as a strong-willed and independent councillor, was re-elected in the November poll and is the only woman on the new council.
Anybody with any information about the attacks is urged to contact Pakenham police on 5941 1033.
