The duo - a 44-year-old man and 31-year-old woman - were convicted of six charges by the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court, despite their failure to attend separate hearings in November.
The pair were fined $20,000 and $15,000 respectively after being found guilty of illegally cutting, removing and selling firewood from the Lower Goulburn National Park in March 2023.
Additional charges included causing damage and disruption to wildlife habitat and native vegetation.
Despite this being their first firewood-related offence, the presiding magistrate recognised their actions were part of a broader, illegal firewood operation.
Consequently, the chainsaw and trailer used as part of their illegal activity were seized and ordered to be destroyed, while 2.3m³ of seized river red gum will be donated to the community.
McQuillen returns home
Students and community members at St Joseph’s Rochester and Nanneella Estate Primary School enjoyed a visit from Paralympic medallist and local James McQuillan.
The wheelchair rugby star, who grew up on a dairy farm at Nanneella, took an opportunity to return home and speak to locals about his journey.
McQuillan was left a quadriplegic at 20 after suffering a spinal injury playing football for the Albury Tigers in 2014.
During his presentation, McQuillan detailed those first weeks and months of surgery and rehabilitation that resulted after his injury and how he was feeling during that time.
Filling in for a few games of wheelchair rugby, James was approached to try out for the national team by one of their assistant coaches.
“I laughed at him because I thought that was absolutely ridiculous.”
In less than a year, McQuillan was a world championship winner with the Steelers and then went on to claim a bronze medal at this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
McQuillan brought his silverware with him on his visit, giving the gathered students and community members a photo opportunity with a piece of history.
Another car burnt out
Berrigan Rural Fire Service responded to a car fire north of Berrigan at 11.20pm on Tuesday, December 3.
The Berrigan RFS responded with two tankers, on arrival they found a car fully engulfed in flames that had looked to have been dumped.
It is believed the car has been stolen from Deniliquin earlier in the week.
The grass around the vehicle had also caught alight.
Both the vehicle and the grass were extinguished with the help of the Berrigan Fire + Rescue NSW brigade, which had one truck on site.
The police are still investigating the vehicle blaze, and the car theft in Deniliquin.
Customer not McHappy
A man grabbed a McDonald’s employee by the throat and held him against a drink machine after his partner was told the breakfast menu had ended, a Shepparton court has heard.
A 41-year-old Shepparton man pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to affray.
The man was “immediately aggressive” when he walked into the Shepparton store on July 5, the court heard.
He pushed another worker out of the way during the incident, Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Anna Hanlon said.
Magistrate Simon Zebrowski told the man it sounded like he had “just snapped”, but his behaviour was “disgraceful”.
“These kinds of things are terrifying,” he said.
“Some people suffer all sorts of stress from it.”
The man was placed on an adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour for 12 months, with the condition he continues to follow the mental health plan from his GP.
• Anyone requiring crisis support can contact Accessline on 1800 800 944, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. Resources and pathways to help are also available at www.denimentalhealth.org.au.
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