An elderly veteran living in a retirement village has described lying bleeding in the carpark of the Manunda facility, begging for help after he was allegedly brutally bashed and “hysterically” laughed at by a neighbour. Wayne Maxwell Campbell, 73, spent a week in Cairns Hospital’s intensive care unit and the Cairns District Court heard he would likely have died from his multiple injuries if they had not been treated, following the alleged assault at the hands of fellow veteran Robert Glenn Speakman, 73, in the Warhaven complex where they both lived. Mr Speakman has pleaded not guilty to grievous bodily harm. On the opening day of the trial on Monday, the court heard it was alleged Mr Campbell was repeatedly kicked, punched and kneed during the July 3, 2018 attack and suffered multiple broken ribs, along with other injuries. Crown prosecutor Tegan Grasso said it was only when Mr Campbell said “I’ve had enough, you’re going to kill me”, that Mr Speakman allegedly briefly stopped the attack, but returned to kick him as he tried to stand. “He could barely breathe, he was in agony and he was bleeding from the face,” she said. Ms Grasso told the court another resident who witnessed at least part of the alleged assault then saw Mr Speakman “laugh quite hysterically” before saying “what a girl, what a girl”. In a prerecorded interview played to the court, Mr Campbell said the pair had known each other for several years but did not get on and at the time of the alleged assault they were not speaking. He told the court on the day of the incident Mr Speakman approached him and “looked drunk”. “He asked me if I wanted to fight you old c***,” he said. “I was stunned. I told him to go away and go home.” He said after the alleged assault he was dizzy, sick and struggling to breathe as Mr Speakman called him “an old woman, old bastard”. He managed to get back to his unit, where he collapsed on the lounge room floor. “I realised I was covered in blood,” he said. “I had to get up, I’m not going to die here lying on the floor.” Mr Campbell said he managed to walk next door and ask a neighbour to call for an ambulance. Defence barrister James Sheridan asked Mr Campbell whether he was the “aggressor” in the fight, which he denied. Mr Sheridan also named three other people it was alleged Mr Campbell had previously had disputes with, which he also denied. The trial continues.
November 26, 2020
A s.185 – (Enterprise agreement) application from Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre Inc for the CANN VALLEY BUSH NURSING CENTRE INC. NURSES ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT 2020 has been agreed by Fair Work Deputy President Masson in Melbourne on 23 November 2020.
November 25, 2020
A s.394 (unfair dismissal) application by Nicholas Carter against National Patient Transport Pty Ltd has been dismissed by Fair Work Commissioner Williams in Perth on 24 November 2020.
November 25, 2020
The Health Services Union and Western Health have a s.739 – (Application to deal with a dispute) on foot in front of Deputy President Mansini (By Telephone) in Melbourne.
November 25, 2020
Debarl Yerrigan Health Service Corporation is facing a s.526 – (Application to deal with a dispute involving stand down) to be adjudicated by Fair Work Deputy President Binet (In Conference Room 12.34) in Perth (Payor).
November 24, 2020
The former Lendlease Retirement Living Managing Director will take up his new role at Aveo earlier than expected. Randello will work between Aveo’s Sydney and Brisbane offices between 2 and 22 December 2020. The new CEO will be joined by former Lendlease Head of Village Management for Retirement Living, Natalie Patterson. Ms Patterson will assume the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).
November 24, 2020
Department of Health (Federal) is fighting a s.372 – (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) in front of Deputy President Dean (By Telephone) in Canberra (Stewart).
November 24, 2020
St Vincent’s Care Services will answer a s.372 – (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) before Vice President Catanzariti (By Telephone) in Sydney (Neupane).
