Former long-time Marine Rescue volunteer is now afraid to leave home as sister questions why no charges have been laid

A 61-year-old Ballina woman living with significant health challenges is recovering at home after being violently pulled from her tricycle and assaulted in broad daylight near the busy Kerr and Fox Street intersection.

The woman, referred to as “Patricia” for privacy, was riding her red three-wheel trike shortly after midday on Friday, November 1 when she saw a group of girls playing “chicken” with cars approaching the traffic lights. 

Concerned someone would be hurt, she called out for them to move off the road. Moments later, she was allegedly dragged from her trike, knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked.

Her sister “Justine”, who lives in Victoria, told Ballina News Daily the attack has left Patricia traumatised and fearful — and she is deeply frustrated at the lack of progress in the investigation.

“She doesn’t cry, but she cried when she told me what happened,” she said. “She’s disabled, she has a heart condition, she already had injuries… she didn’t stand a chance.”

Emergency services attended the scene and Patricia was taken to Ballina District Hospital, where she remained for about nine hours before discharging herself due to severe institutional anxiety. 

“Her condition means hospitals set off the voices,” Justine said.

 “She panics, and it overrides everything.”

Now too afraid to leave home

Despite her challenges, Patricia is a well-known in Ballina, having volunteered with Marine Rescue for 15 years.  Along with her trike, she’s familiar to many in central Ballina.   According to her sister, the assault has stripped away her confidence.

“She’s too scared to go out,” Justine said. “She thinks they’ll come back. She worked so hard to rebuild her life — and now she’s terrified.”

Patricia is now being supported by her social worker, psychiatrist and GP, but remains bruised, shaken and largely housebound.

What troubles the family most, Justine says, is the sense that the system is not moving.

She has contacted Ballina Police multiple times and has given names, photos and private messages supplied to her through community members who witnessed the aftermath.

“I’ve rung three times and still have no answers,” she said.

“We have photos. We have people who saw it happen. People have come forward. I just cannot understand why nothing has happened.”

She said Patricia is now doubting whether she will ever see justice, fearing her disability and mental health history will make her less likely to be believed.

“She even put me on speaker at the police station so I could hear what was said, because she’s scared no one will believe her because of her condition,” Justine said. “How can that be right?”

Justine said the girls reportedly involved in the attack were identified by several community members, yet weeks later no charges have been laid.

“What message does that send?” she said. “If you can pull a 61-year-old woman off a mobility trike in broad daylight and nothing happens, what’s to stop them doing it again?”

An appeal was made by police via the Ballina Crime Reports (BCR) Facebook page for footage showing the actual assault, saying it is needed to progress the investigation. 

Photos taken immediately after the incident have been provided, along with a number of witness statements.

Police have been contacted by Ballina News Daily for comment.

Main Image: A still from a video posted to the BCR Facebook page as the alleged attackers walk away following the incident, leaving Patricia down on the ground (obscured behind the bike’s rear wheel)