Protester thought she could dance

Adam Wratten | 13th July 2009

JUNE Norman put the left foot forward, then police stepped in.

Police speak to June Norman at Byfield on Saturday. The great-grandmother was arrested for contravening a police direction.

Photo: Supplied

Photos

Anti-Talisman Saber protests

View Photo Gallery »

JUNE Norman put the left foot forward, then police stepped in.

Ms Norman, a 69-year-old great grandmother, was arrested on Saturday after allegedly crossing the line as protesters performed the hokey pokey at Byfield.

Hers was the only arrest during a busy weekend of protest action in Central Queensland against the military training exercise Talisman Saber, which started last week at Shoalwater Bay.

Other weekend protests included a candle vigil in Rockhampton on Saturday night, a protest yesterday outside the Western Street barracks and a march through Yeppoon yesterday.

At the barracks Frank Vavasour, a member of the Catholic organisation Pax Christi in Sydney, was spoken to by police after he tried to climb over the security fence.

Protesters claimed he was arrested, a claim rejected by police.

According to police, Mr Vavasour got stuck at the top of the fence and tore his jeans before being helped down.

Ms Norman is the third protester arrested since the military exercise started.

After her arrest the Peace Convergence protest group released images of Ms Norman confronting police along with a statement which said protesters had gathered at a road block on Byfield Road where they performed the hokey pokey and called on the military to “pull their whole bodies out” of the military base.

The statement said police told the protesters they could not proceed towards the military gates.

Ms Norman allegedly danced beyond the road block sign before she was arrested.

“Rather than participating in the horrors of war we need to build a powerful committed peace movement that can enjoy themselves while getting their message across,” Ms Norman said in the statement.

The group claims about 80 people were present.

Police media said Ms Norman allegedly refused to comply with a police direction and was arrested.

She was charged with one count of contravening a direction and released on bail to appear in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 31.

The military exercise, a joint operation between Australian and US troops, continues this week.

About 24,000 troops are taking part in the exercise.