Victory College mum faces court after fight at swimming carnival

A Qld courtroom has heard the shocking details of a bitter feud between two families at a prestigious private school, which spiralled violently out of control at a swimming carnival.

Bree Robyn Walsh, 34, of Pie Creek, pleaded guilty and was convicted of assaulting another Victory College mother during a swimming carnival on November 4, 2022.

A Victory College parent who grabbed another parent around the throat during a swimming carnival at the Gympie Aquatic Centre has been fined $1000 for common assault.

Bree Robyn Walsh, 34, of Pie Creek, pleaded guilty and was convicted of assaulting another Victory College mother during a swimming carnival on November 4, 2022.

The court heard Walsh grabbed the other mother “around the throat with her hands and pushed her backwards into a pole”.

The 34-year-old Pie Creek businesswoman and mother of three, Bree Robyn Walsh, pleaded guilty to common assault.

The court hear both women had children at Victory College and had known each other for six years, during which time their sons had been friends.

Police prosecutor Christie Mahoney said conflict had recently arisen between the two boys, who were no longer friends, and there had been allegations of bullying.

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The private school mother of three pleaded guilty to common assault at the Gympie Magistrates Court after a dispute at a swimming carnival in November 2022.

The victim had seen Walsh at the swimming carnival, stopped her for a chat, and asked her if she was telling people she was leaving Victory College because of the victim’s son, the court heard.

Walsh, a businesswoman and mother of three, had told police the conversation became heated, with yelling and swearing, it heard.

Sgt Mahoney told the court Walsh responded by asking the victim ‘who had told her that’ and that her son was “a f------ c---”.

“The victim said that offended them. She said to the defendant (Walsh), ‘you can't talk about my son like that’.

“The defendant replied, ‘I can because I’m telling you to your face, and your son is a little f------ mongrel.

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“The victim reported that the defendant grabbed her around the throat with her hands and pushed her backwards into a pole and banged her head into the pole about four times,” Sgt Mahoney said.

“She said that the victim threatened to go and get her husband to sort this out,” she said.

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Walsh told the police the victim’s husband had made previous threats “to kill her and her family while they slept. He would ram his truck into their house”.

When they raised their voices the dispute turned into a public affair with Walsh’s own daughter, along with other schoolchildren, parents and staff present. To break up the dispute, a primary school teacher had to pry them apart, the court heard.

A statement by witness and primary school teacher, Racheal Belford, said she heard loud voices with a lot of swearing, Sgt Mahoney said.

The teacher’s statement described the victim with “a look of shock on her face” and Walsh with “a look of extreme anger on her face”.

The dispute occurred during a carnival at the Gympie Aquatic Centre.

When asked if the victim had blocked her from walking away, she acknowledged, “probably not, I could have just walked away,” Sgt Mahoney said.

“That was completely out of character for my client, she is the mum who helps at tuck shops, school excursion school camps, reading rooms and other school events,” solicitor Alri Maritz said.

The court heard how for the past few years Mrs Walsh’s eldest son had been severely bullied, mainly by the victim’s son, was suffering major anxiety, refused to go to school as he was scared of physical harm and constant humiliation, and was on medication for his nerves.

Walsh had tried “all options to help her son, including addressing the bullying with the school but with no avail,” Ms Maritz said.

“Your behaviour is appalling, especially in front of your daughter,” Magistrate Chris Callaghan said before he gave a sentence.

Walsh was fined $1000.