Local Man Thinks He's Helping By Mailing Bullets To The Mayor Over Proposed Rail Trail

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

A French Quarter pensioner has today expressed genuine confusion as to why everybody is so upset with him, after he attempted to advance the cause of regional public transport by posting a live .308 round to the Mayor Keith Carton.

Keith Doolan, of Rue de Branlette, says he was simply "adding his voice to the conversation" surrounding Council's controversial plan to convert the long-abandoned Quilpie–Birdsville rail corridor into a recreational rail trail for cyclists, walkers and other people who own moisture-wicking clothing.

The disused line, which hasn't seen a passenger service since the Holt government, has become a flashpoint in the Diamantina, with many of the town's older residents insisting that the trains will one day return, provided everybody just believes hard enough.

"I thought I was helping," said Doolan, speaking to The Advocate from the balcony of his apartment.

"The rail trail mob have got their petitions and their Facebook groups. We've got nothing. So I sent the Mayor a little something to let him know the Bring Back The Trains committee means business. I told him the next one (bullet) would be coming alot fucken [sic] quicker if he kept up this trail business."

The package, opened by a visibly rattled junior staffer at the Council chambers on Tuesday, contained one rifle cartridge and a four-page handwritten note covering a broad range of grievances, including the rail trail, daylight savings, the price of diesel and a string of defamatory remarks regarding the sale of dog meat from a French Quarter deli.

Doolan's fellow committee members have been quick to distance themselves from the gesture, with secretary Norma Pratt confirming the group's official position remains "strongly worded letters to the The Advocate only."

"We told Keith to write to the paper," said Pratt.

"We did not tell him to write to the Mayor and include ammunition. There's a difference and we've now explained that difference to him several times."

Mayor Keith Carton has described the incident as "not ideal," noting that while he respects the passion of the pro-train lobby, posting live rounds to elected officials is "generally considered a step beyond."

Doolan is expected to front Betoota Magistrates Court next month, where his LegalAid lawyer will reportedly argue that his client is of otherwise good character, is very sorry, and genuinely believed the bullet would be interpreted as "a metaphor."

Doolan was granted bail and is expected to be back before the courts later this quarter.

More to come.