‘I owe my life to those kids’: Teacher tells of alleged assault

Andrew Powell with Tony Hartley and Dennis Hensby at Maleny-Kenilworth Road in Witta.

Cr Law: Yes, it’s a problem and we need to look for fresh solutions that will work

Division 10 Cr David Law said he understood public concerns about safety in Nambour but the recent assault of a teacher in Nambour needed to be taken in the context of broader statistics.

Cr Law said he kept up to date with publicly-available police figures showing that, statistically, Nambour had less of a crime problem than Maroochydore. 

“The population for Maroochydore is 20,000, plus or minus, and it’s the same population in Nambour. And yet, when you look at the total number of crimes, the total number of crimes in Maroochydore are almost double what they are in Nambour. That’s over the last three months.”

Cr Law questioned whether the Gazette’s coverage of Nambour CBD safety issues might make the problem worse by making people hesitant to come in to town.

“It seems to me that if you were in Nambour looking at crime, you’d think it was the worst place in the world. And then in Maroochydore, where it’s in fact double with the same population, it gets a mention in the media, as it should, but it doesn’t get this intense focus as it seems to in Nambour.

“I guess one difference is the number of people who visit Maroochydore would be quite different to the number of people who visit Nambour.

“So we need to encourage people to want to visit Nambour. And if we keep focusing and highlighting on our crime and our good order misconduct offences, then we’re going to struggle to encourage people to want to come here.”

Cr Law said that following some feedback on local Facebook Page Living in Nambour he spoke to about 12 people – including businesspeople and the teacher who was assaulted – at an impromptu open meeting he organised in the town square.  

He said the conversations helped reinforce his understanding of CBD businesspeople’s concerns and he was keen to look at new solutions that might work.

“I’m not suggesting that what businesspeople are experiencing isn’t happening. What I’m saying is, ‘we may have different views on how to deal with that’.

“And, yes, let’s put the call out for more police. And that’s happened. And we’ve worked with them to get a Mobile Police Beat in Nambour.

“We know what the challenges and the problems and the issues are. And I’m really wanting to focus on giving people a reason to come to Nambour, rather than focussing on reasons to stay away. When I talk to the wider community, there are some amazing things happening in Nambour.

“The safety study that Council has done with the University should be with me by the middle of March. And I will certainly be talking to the community about that.”

A 59-year-old teacher says he’s lucky to be alive following a sickening attack in a car park in Nambour CBD.

A video of the attack which left him in hospital with a broken eye socket shows a 32-year-old man delivering a sickening kick to the head. The video was posted on the Gazette’s Facebook Page and has been given to Nambour Police.

The Nambour man was walking through a car park in Short St about 6.35pm on Tuesday when the assailant knocked him down and punched him repeatedly until a young male and female nearby helped by bravely distracting the alleged offender. 

“I can’t believe that I’m standing,” the teacher said after seeing the footage of the incident. “Especially after that last kick to the head.  I owe my life to those kids.” 

“It happened so fast with no warning,” he said. “He came straight up, and smacked me in the face, and he was running.

“It was so fast that I actually didn’t even get a fright.  This guy was crazy. His eyes – when I did catch his eyes – he was just so high, it wasn’t funny. And those people are really strong. 

“I just went down and a few blows later, I thought: ‘If I don’t start fighting back, I’m dead here. I’ve got to do something here or I’m done’.  And I threw a few punches, which probably meant nothing to this guy as he was that drug-crazed.  

“I did get a few swings back, but I was on the ground and he was pinning me down. But I did manage to get a leg up between him and me, and pushed him away a bit. And then I don’t know who my guardian angels were, but they pulled him away.”

The man said he had been on his way to a trivia night at Beach House Hotel. 

Following the attack there was blood coming out of his face everywhere and he went into the hotel confused until patrons noticed and took him to hospital.  

“My head was very dazey. He hit more than once in the head, I’ve got to tell you. My head feels like the Swiss Alps.”

The man said he didn’t think there was anything he could have done to avoid the situation except stay out of town altogether. 

“I think the only thing you can do to avoid that situation is just not go there. 

“I don’t like to use the phrase, ‘I was in the wrong place at the wrong time’, because I was in the car park and I should be allowed to be there without getting my face bashed in.

“And that’s the issue now. It’s a major parking area. And I shouldn’t have to be on the lookout for the type of people who hang out there — they drink, they take drugs. 

“From what I understand this guy had been ripped off in a drug deal, and he thought he was chasing the guys who ripped him off. And he just ran straight up and smacked me.

“People may say ‘it was one of those things’, but it shouldn’t be one of those things. People should be able to go wherever they like, whenever they like, and feel safe about it.”

The man said despite the situation he was grateful to police, hospital staff and his spirits had been lifted from the outpouring of support he received on Facebook Page “Living in Nambour”. 

He said police were doing the best they could but were understaffed and burdened with drug and domestic violence issues. “I really do believe that they just have got no staff. They work really hard and do everything they can.”

He would also like to know the identity of the young samaritans who came to his assistance. “Nambour is a good place,” he said. “I’ve never been happier living anywhere. Its just sad that a few make life not nice for us all.”

Nambour Police have charged a 32-year-old Yandina man with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of wilful damage. He’s been scheduled to appear in the Nambour Magistrates Court. 

An ambulance arrived and took the alleged attacker to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The victim also broke his thumb in the incident.   The Short Street-Lowe Street area is notorious for unlawful behaviour.

Anyone with information or video footage should contact Policelink or Crime Stoppers.