Alleged anti-vaccination Canberra protesters Tony Michael Evans, Kerrie Lynne Woolley face court

Convoy to Canberra protesters - including a ‘sightseeing’ retiree who allegedly assaulted a police officer - have faced ACT Magistrates Court.

A NSW woman and a South Australian man appeared at the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday on charges related to an anti-vaccination protest known as the Convoy to Canberra, organised by the so-called “sovereign citizens” movement.

The Convoy to Canberra protest, inspired by the Canadian anti-vaccine and anti-mask mandate trucker protests, began on Monday with vehicles flooding into the national capital from interstate.

The movement calls for an end to vaccination mandates for certain workplaces or professions.

Protesters, who have set up camp on the Patrick White Lawns in Parkes, clashed with police on Wednesday after officers asked protesters to leave.

Three people were arrested in relation to the protest, including one man who was granted police bail.

Convoy to Canberra protesters have set up camp on the Patrick White Lawns, Parkes, adjacent to the National Library and Lake Burley Griffin. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Narrawallee NSW woman Kerrie Lynne Woolley, 66, is charged with resisting a territory official and assaulting a police officer.

According to the statement of facts tendered to the court, police allege Ms Woolley yelled and took video of a police officer at the protest on Wednesday.

Police allege after being asked to move along she pushed the cop on the back of his left shoulder, causing him to lose balance.

Her solicitor, Edward Chen from ACT Legal Aid, told the court his client would plead not guilty to both charges.

Ms Woolley applied for bail, which was not opposed by the prosecution, but the parties disagreed with the bail conditions.

Mr Chen told the court his client lived a nomadic retirement lifestyle and said the initial address listed for Ms Woolley was not accurate.

Magistrate Louise Taylor raised concerns her lifestyle would make it difficult to ensure she would return to court at her next appearance.

“(Woolley) is adamant she is not guilty,” Mr Chen said.

“She would relish the opportunity to vindicate herself.”

Magistrate Taylor said she was not concerned about what the defendant would “relish” but was concerned about how the court could contact her.

In response, Mr Chen nominated his client’s residence in Narrawallee NSW as her address.

He also told the court his client would remain sightseeing in Canberra until Monday and raised concerns she would not be able to visit national institutions if his client was not allowed within a certain distance to the Patrick White Lawns in Parkes.

The magistrate said Ms Woolley would still be able to go to tourist attractions under bail conditions.

Before going through bail conditions Magistrate Taylor addressed Ms Woolley, whose mask hung below her nose.

“You need to put your mask over your nose or else it’s no value for anyone,” she said.

Ms Woolley responded: “I have an exemption,” while she pulled her mask above her nose.

Ms Taylor granted bail on the condition the defendant not go within 100m of the Patrick White Lawns in Parkes and that she live at her Narrawallee home from February 7.

Ms Woolley will return to court for a hearing on August 12.

South Australia man Tony Michael Evans leaves ACT Law Courts. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Tony Michael Evans, from the Adelaide suburb of Paralowie, was charged with resisting a territory official, namely an AFP officer in relation to Wednesday’s protest.

Mr Evans did not make a plea but applied for bail, which was granted.

The defendant told the court he planned to make the 14-hour drive back to his home in South Australia later that day.

Tony Michael Evans is charged with resisting a territory official following Wednesday’s protest. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mr Chen, who also represented Mr Evans, applied for his client to be able to attend court via phone which was accepted by the magistrate.

She granted bail with the condition he appear at the next court date via phone and that he live in South Australia from February 4.

He is due to appear for a mention at the ACT Magistrates Court on February 24.