A CHADSTONE Football Club and an Ashwood Scout group are in shock after their clubrooms burned to the ground.
The fires were two of several suspicious blazes which are being investigated by Oakleigh and Glen Waverley criminal investigation units (CIU) as well as the arson squad.
Fire gutted the clubrooms of the Syndal Tally Ho Football Club on Sunday, April 22, destroying 35 years of memorabilia and causing $150,000 damage.
The fire broke out about 5.30am after several bins were deliberately set alight near the front of the Jordan Reserve pavilion.
In a similar incident, the 2nd/7th West Waverley Scout hall in Jamboree Lane, Ashwood was set alight about 2.20am yesterday with damage estimated at more than $40,000.
Syndal Tally Ho Football Club president Peter Kostakos said he was “disappointed”.
“We are still in a bit of shock considering we were there on Saturday celebrating our first win for the year in the first round,” he said.
“Within 24 hours our dreams had gone up in smoke.”
The church-founded amateur football club lost 10 premiership flags, team photographs and trophies in the blaze as well as medical, social and match-day supplies.
“We are looking at about $30,000 and some things you just can’t put a price,” he said.
A spokesman for the 2nd/7th West Waverley Scouts said the group had lost 42 years of history.
“Two weeks ago a bonfire was lit at one end of the hall, causing $17,000 damage.
“This time they gutted the whole thing,” he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Dolman of Oakleigh CIU said police were investigating links with a fire that occurred last Tuesday at a medical centre in Chadstone.
He said bins were set alight at the rear of the Huntingdale Road surgery, causing about $10,000 damage.
