Herald Sun: East West protest pair celebrate anniversary on the picket line. Ashley Argoon. February 28, 2014 8:27AM
East West protesters Ash Hall (top left) and Toby Dite (right) are removed from drilling equipment. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
AN East West protester perched five metres high on a drill this morning couldn’t let his girlfriend have all the fun.
Ash Hall was winched down by a search and rescue team after a three-hour vigil, a day after his shoeless girlfriend Kat Galea had clashed with police.
Kat Galea jumps on to a moving truck as East West Link protesters try to stop the set-up
Kat Galea jumps on to a moving truck as East West Link protesters try to stop the set-up of a new drill site. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
East West protesters Ash Hall (top) and Toby Dite are removed from drilling equipment. Pi
East West protesters Ash Hall (top) and Toby Dite are removed from drilling equipment. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
Despite walking around on crutches, Ms Galea had tried to climb on a truck in a bid to halt test drilling in Fitzroy North.
“We spent our anniversary on the picket line,” Ms Galea, 24, said.
The teaching student got her boyfriend into the protest, admitting he had been hesitant.
“Ash has never been involved in anything like this,” she said.
East West protesters Ash Hall (left) and Toby Dite sit on drilling equipment before being
East West protesters Ash Hall (left) and Toby Dite sit on drilling equipment before being removed. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Hall, a 23-year-old student, and Toby Dite, a 24-year-old scientist, will not face charges after climbing through fencing to the test site on Alexandra Parade and sitting on the drill from about 3.30am.
Despite not wanting to be rescued or needing to be sought out as they sat high on top of the drill, search and rescue workers arrived and pulled the pair down within half an hour.
“We’ve had an impact,” Mr Dite said.
“It’s just not as long as other days.”
