Morning bird feeding turns violent between neighbours

The court heard the woman was involved in a fight with her neighbour over bread which quickly turned violent and required assistance of police.

The court heard Susan Beverley Gill was involved in a physical altercation with her neighbour, who was also over 60-years-old, in May after an argument over bread turned sour.​

A 68-year-old Gympie woman has been fined for shoving her neighbour during a heated dispute over her early-morning bird feeding outside their units.

The court heard Susan Beverley Gill was involved in a physical altercation with her neighbour, who was also over 60-years-old, in May after an argument over bread turned sour.

Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said on the morning of May 22, Police attended the Gympie address and spoke with Gill who said she was feeding the birds by throwing bread onto the grass in front of her unit, and was called “a dirty b----” by the victim.

Sgt Campbell said the victim told police Gill was making a mess, and had come out onto the grass to clean it up.

Gill then threw more bread onto the grass to upset the victim more, before returning to her unit.

Sgt Campbell said Gill told police sometime later the victim was yelling at her through a window where she was talking to other neighbours.

The court heard Gill aggressively approached the victim, causing her to turn her back out of fear.

Gill then shoved the victim from behind causing her to yell out “she’s pushing me”, before Gill returned to her own unit.

Gill’s defence lawyer Anna Smith said her client was simply standing up for herself against this other woman, though she admits shouldn’t have pushed her.

Gill pleaded guilty to the charge of serious assault, and was fined $400 for the altercation.

A conviction was not recorded.