Gold Coast police say they could prosecute the horseman who galloped through the crowd during yesterday's lockdown protest on the Queensland and New South Wales border.
Key points:
- Polce say the horseman's actions are being investigated
- Coolangatta cafe owner Anna wants to thank the customer who gave a $500 tip
- Many businesses based on the Queensland-NSW border are struggling financially
The closure of the Queensland-NSW border to everyone except essential workers sparked a peaceful protest yesterday that was attended by 1,000 people, according to Queensland police.
One of the protesters was riding a horse and Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the man's actions were being investigated.
"There were a lot of families, young children, and he actually — a number of times — rode through the crowd trying to whip the crowd into a bit of frenzy."
Queensland police arrested one man during the protest and charged him with public nuisance.
"We have identified a number of individuals who are of interest to us and we will actually make enquiries this week to chase those individuals up and take appropriate action," Acting Chief Superintendent Wildman said.
New South Wales police arrested eight people and issued more than 50 infringement notices.
$500 tip for cafe
The man's behaviour was in stark contrast to another mystery man who dined at a nearby Coolangatta cafe and walked out leaving a $500 tip for the staff.
Bellakai owner Anna, who asked that her surname not be used, said the man walked into her business on Saturday and ordered a cup of English breakfast tea, Mexican eggs, and toast.
"This gentleman came in and had a quick chat. He said, 'I'm not from the area, just coming down to Coolangatta because I've heard there are businesses struggling down here'," she said.
"So he just proceeded to have his breakfast … he did sit for quite some time.
"He said, 'Thanks very much' and he got up and left and it wasn't until he'd physically left the cafe that one of my staff approached me and mentioned that he'd left a $500 tip."
Anna said she had never seen the man before and did not have any way of contacting him to say thank you.
"We have been in hospitality for 15 years and never have I experienced anything like it," she said.
The cafe owner said the $500 tip would normally be shared among the staff.
"As owners we don't participate in tips, they go to our staff, they're split equally with the staff that are working on the day," she said.
"Our staff on the day said there's absolutely no way we're taking the tips, we'd like it to go to the business which is insanely generous again.
"It was because he specifically said to the girl that was serving him 'please, can you ensure that this goes to the business'."
Anna said her business struggled during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 until the government's JobKeeper payments began.
"Coolangatta took a huge hit because we rely so heavily on domestic tourism," she said.
"We are not seeing any of Tweed-based customers because they aren't coming across the border so we are relying on any locals in Coolangatta and others that come further south."
Loading form...