“I was sure I had locked it the night before,” Mr Elmaz said of the shower and toilet facility, which was free to use during the day.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark — the sensor light had been stolen — he saw the window to the bathroom was smashed in, the shower railing was torn down and donated food was strewn all over the floor.
Mr Elmaz said the vandalism at 2:30 am on August 2 wasn't the first time the space he and his wife maintained had been targeted, but it was the most serious.
Security camera footage of the incident was "disturbing" to watch, Mr Elmaz said, and the perpetrators — who were familiar to him — appeared to be releasing a lot of anger.
Although he is rarely seen without a smile on his face, Mr Elmaz can't help but feel angry in the aftermath.
“I put my own time, my own money, and I don’t expect praise or anything in return,” he said.
“But at least respect the space.”
{image:865176975}
Mr Elmaz said he chose not to involve police after incidents in the past; however, the severity of damage caused on Monday warranted a report.
For now the bathroom will remain closed, not just for repairs and cleaning, but because Mr Elmaz wants people to see how the actions of "a few bad apples" can impact a valued community resource.
More than 100 people commented on a video of the damage posted on the Lutfiyes Shish Kebab Facebook page with messages of support.
“Your family and you do more than your share of work for the local community,” Shepparton rapper Adam Briggs wrote.
“Disappointing to see this.”
“So sorry this has happened, hard to not be disheartened, but I know you will keep trying to help people who need you to,” Susan Johnston wrote.
Mr Elmaz said he was grateful for every donation of food, blankets and clothing from the public and he couldn't bear to see anything wasted.
“It's a tough experience, it's quite a challenging experience . . . It's sad,” he said.
Despite his frustration, Mr Elmaz said his patience would "never run out”.
