Miriam Vale Bowls Club president faces court after run-in with ‘excluded’ man

After the president of a Central Queensland bowls club “excluded” a man from the club, their dispute turned ugly when the former hurled abuse in a heated street exchange captured on video by witnesses.

Miriam Vale Bowls Club president Keran John Joseph Crozier, 74, was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court for a public nuisance offence. Generic image.

The president of a Central Queensland bowls club has faced court after an ugly street confrontation with a man he “excluded” from the club.

Keran John Joseph Crozier, 74, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Tuesday to public nuisance.

The court heard that about 4.10pm on September 13, police were called to the intersection of Roe St and Messmate Dr, Miriam Vale, in relation to a disturbance.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jessica McLaren said witnesses provided police with a video recording of an incident involving Crozier.

Snr Const McLaren said the recording showed Crozier in his vehicle with the window down, yelling to another man: “F*** off, you’re not welcome, I wouldn’t p**s on you, if you come out here you better get your f***ing running shoes on.”

The prosecutor said Crozier then got out of his vehicle and pointed his finger at witnesses, yelling: “The biggest piece of sh**, his name is (man’s name), gutless.”

Crozier was arrested, taken to Miriam Vale Police Station, and subsequently charged.

The court heard that Crozier had no Queensland criminal history.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Solicitor Stacey O’Gorman said Crozier, retired having served in the Australian Navy, was the president of the Miriam Vale Bowls Club.

“He and his wife had originally retired to Tasmania but relocated to Miriam Vale two years ago to assist one of their sons who is in need of a kidney transplant and is quite unwell,” Ms O’Gorman said.

Ms O’Gorman said the man Crozier had been yelling at during this incident was someone who Crozier had “excluded” from the bowls club “due to certain behaviour... at the bowls club.”

“And that resulted in a dispute between the two men.”

Ms O’Gorman said the other man had decided to “take his frustration out” on Crozier’s son and that had been reported to police as an alleged assault.

“(Crozier) got quite angry that (the other man) had chosen to (allegedly) assault an ill person who needed a kidney transplant who had nothing to do with the dispute between these two men.

“(Crozier) decided he wanted the neighbours to know what sort of man they were living next to - that’s what led to his behaviour on the street.

“He (Crozier) understands that he handled this poorly.”

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Crozier $300 and no conviction was recorded.