Gemma Partridge, John Hoar sentenced over Cannonvale New Year’s Day attack

A Whitsundays woman ended up on the ground screaming for help as a Noosa couple went wild after she accidentally hit their boat with her car door.

Gemma Fleur Partridge and John Wayne Hoar appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on September 15, 2025, both pleading guilty to common assault.

A couple from Noosa unleashed a racially charged tirade that left a woman on the ground screaming for help.

Gemma Fleur Partridge and John Wayne Hoar were holidaying in the Whitsundays with their boat parked outside a unit in Cannonvale when in the early hours of New Years Day when they heard the thud of a car door hitting the boat, Proserpine Magistrates Court heard this week.

While only surface damage was sustained it was heard 47-year-old Partridge began yelling from her balcony at the woman who hit the boat, shouting things like “you black c**t you f***ing scratched my boat” and “I own this f***ing joint”.

The court heard she used a number of racial slurs during the attack.

Police prosecutor Lynda Hughes said the victim told Partridge she was filming the altercation at which point Partridge exited the building and pushed the woman in the neck with an open hand and the woman pushed her back in self-defence.

Hoar, 46, then became involved, telling the woman “don’t touch my missus you black c**t” before punching her twice in the face Ms Hughes said.

The court heard Partridge then punched the woman in the face twice while she was pinned between the car and the boat before Hoar punched the victim again.

The couple fronted Proserpine Magistrates Court pleading guilty to common assault.

Partridge grabbed the woman by the back of her head and dropped her to the ground and then Hoar grabbed her hair and pulled in the opposite direction.

The woman was yelling for help and visibly distressed and upset when police arrived.

It was heard both Partridge and Haor appeared to police to be heavily intoxicated.

Barrister David Cole appeared on behalf of Partridge, telling the court his client would not have been the only person drinking that night given the day of the year.

Magistrate Anna Smith said hoped there were very few of those people conducting themselves the way she had.

She said the assault was serious and in company but fortunately did not leave anyone injured.

It appeared to be out of character for Partridge and a one-off type of scenario, Ms Smith added.

“I suspect it has been a bit of a wakeup call,” she said.

Rosemary Varley appeared as duty lawyer on behalf of Hoar, telling the court he was embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.

“His intention was to break up the altercation between the two parties however unfortunately matters have escalated,” she said.

Partridge and Hoar both pleaded guilty to common assault.

Partridge was ordered to pay $500 compensation to the complainant and complete 120 hours unpaid community service.

Hoar was sentenced to 100 hours of community service which Ms Smith said took into account him not being the instigator and having a lesser role in the altercation including fewer acts of violence.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Gemma Partridge, John Hoar sentenced over Cannonvale New Year’s Day attack