Destruction of cemeteries by vandals are becoming more common place and doesn't seem to be related to any specific reason: just a minority of people wanting to desecrate grave yards for what they regard as fun.

The following are examples from several newspaper reports in different parts of Australia:

"Vandals have destroyed some of the oldest graves in a malicious attack at a cemetery. The Wesleyan Presbyterian section looked like it had been hit by a cyclone yesterday. Heavy 1.5m-tall headstones had been pushed over, causing the tombstones to cave in and leaving interiors exposed. Decorative vases as well as other features had been senselessly smashed. Some of the graves date to the 1800's. They had survived two centuries of damage from wind and weather but they crumbled under the vandal's spite. "They desecrated 45 headstones by smashing and kicking them over. There appears to be no motive, just a senseless attack on grave sites, said Police."

"Three male teenagers have been charged after allegedly damaging tombs during a vandalism spree. An 18 year old and 17 year old were charged with five counts of wilful damage, one count of public nuisance and one liquor related offence. Some of the headstones look to be beyond repair".

"A funeral director says the descration of up to 50 graves at the cemetery is demoralising, and he has never seen such destruction. Headstones and statues were smashed during the vandal's attack, causing an estimated $400,000 damage. It was like history going down the drain - there was a mixture of granite but most were marble, dating back to 70- to 80- years ago, and one was 100 years old. The headstones had been pushed or kicked over, smashing as they hit the ground. Police believe the vandals were adults rather than teenagers or children because of the extent of the damage. Poice subsequently arrested a 22-year-old man and later charged him with one count of malicous damage and one count of supplying liquor to a minor. Bail was refused".

"Solving the Impossible" has a different view on the punishment of this senseless type of destruction and desecration. Graveyards are still a mostly unexplored phenomenon - we are yet to find what the accumulation of death in a relatively small area hides or one could say, protects. Our knowledge of the power of the psyche is yet to be deciphered.

My belief is that the ultimate punishment for these people will occur in their minds rather than in the courts- mysteriously every day there will be something psychologically reminding them of what they have done: their painful guilt will become heavier, in the quiet times out of the corner of their eye will sometimes be a haunting shadow and as quick as it came, it is gone; a strange change in temperature; a sudden experience of fear for no logical reason, many things won't go as well for them as they would expect, illness and generally not feeling well will be a constant companion, and their mental state in later life will inevitably become an issue.

What they have done, cannot be undone - this should be a dire warning to others not to risk repeating their folly.