As to the recent news story, a Queensland grandfather nicknamed ‘Cowboy’ has been fined for carrying a pocket knife — something he’s carried since he was 14 years old.
A grandfather known as “Cowboy” has told of his surprise after being fined for carrying a pocket knife in public in Queensland.
Wayne McLennan, 75, was heading home from his local pub in Chinchilla when he was breathalysed and found to be slightly over the limit.
A subsequent test at the police station found he was actually under the limit but officers instead fined him for carrying a pocket knife, something he has done for more than 60 years.
“Well if I got to go and put a bale of hay out, I use it to cut the string and then open a bag of horse feed, use it to open the top,” he told A Current Affair.
Mr McLennan said he didn’t know he wasn’t allowed to wear the knife, which is illegal under Section 51 of the Queensland’s Weapons Act that states a person must not possess a knife in public unless they have a reasonable excuse.
Grandfather said “I wouldn’t have had one on me if I’d known I wasn’t allowed to wear one.”.
A magistrate later fined him $100 in court, with news of the matter spreading around town.
Local Chinchilla residents expressed support for Mr McLennan after the local paper the Country Caller first broke the story.
“Oh it’s ridiculous, every second guy here that walks into the pub here on a Friday night, has a pocket knife on their belt,” Tom Latimore said.
Since his run-in with the law, Mr McLennan says he’s now stopped carrying the knife.
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A retired farmer, “Cowboy” has travelled all over the country on the rodeo and campdraft circuit.
He flicks the blade out whenever he has to cut some baling twine, castrate calves or carry out whatever other menial task might arise for a typical bushie.
He admitted to having a minor criminal history, but said he believed he was unfairly targeted by local police.
An interview with Wayne McLennan – Australia’s most colourful and capable Cowboy has been carried out with From the Saddle
“They don’t like me from way back,” he said.
“I’ve been to court two or three times in the past. I was even wearing me pocket knife then and it didn’t cause me any trouble.”
Police confirmed to the Caller that under the Weapons Act 1990, it’s prohibited for a person to carry a knife in a public place without a reasonable excuse.
