The pictures of the beaten and bloodied face of Mark Dower, a 55-year-old resident with health issues, are sad and disgraceful.

Mr Dower and his niece Brittany Jones have bravely spoken out about the attack, in which two men pushed him to the ground and bashed him in his East Street home.

Going public is a courageous thing to do, knowing these low-lives are still out there somewhere.

The attack is another ugly example of the drug problem in regional towns like Nowra –  it’s hard to imagine any other reason why people could act in such an inhumane fashion.

This attack calls to mind the 2013 incident where elderly North Nowra resident Francois Beugels was viciously attacked as he went for his evening walk in Page Avenue.

Mr Beugels only survived because residents of the street came to his aid.

Two men were jailed for six years for this attack, but from our records, it looks like they will be due for parole shortly, after three and a half years behind bars. 

But as bad deeds bring out the good in people, the residents of Page Avenue at the time held a march in the street to assure residents they need not be cowed by these pathetic individuals. 

People from the Shoalhaven and beyond were touched by the grace and dignity Mr Beugels showed when he said, though disappointed with the lenient sentence, he hoped his attackers could rehabilitate themselves. 

Also showing courage and grace was 83-year-old  Rear Admiral Neil Ralph who was the target of a home invasion in February 2016.

Mr Ralph challenged the man and hit him with a chair, later saying he was thankful that the intruder only retaliated in self defence and didn’t launch a full scale assault on him.

He too showed amazing compassion, saying he felt sorry the intruder had chosen that life for himself. 

Sadly, these three examples are not isolated incidents. There would be plenty of times when people are too traumatised and afraid to come forward.

After their long and worthwhile lives, and having contributed so much to society, surely our elderly and vulnerable residents  have earned the right to feel safe in their own homes.