Trying to get a message to a politician isn't always easy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Just ask Red Hill resident, 70-year-old Geoff Agnew.
Mr Agnew was trying to send Lyne MP Dr David Gillespie his 5 Point Fitness Plan which he believes is a "game changer for the obesity crisis gripping Australia".
Instead, Dr Gillespie's home went into lock down, the bomb squad was dispatched from Sydney and Mr Agnew was hauled before local police after it was suspected the strange cylindrical package was a bomb.
The suspicious package was found outside Dr Gillespie's home in Sancrox on the NSW Mid North Coast just before 10am on Wednesday.
It all went awry for Mr Agnew when he met Charlotte Gillespie, the wife of Dr Gillespie, at a funeral for Penelope Bligh, the wife of renowned medical practitioner John Bligh a few months ago.
Ms Gillespie is believed to have expressed some interest in Mr Agnew's 5 Point Plan, so Mr Agnew decided to send the couple a copy of the plan.
He believed this would get the plan into the public as he was aware Dr Gillespie was a member of parliament, doctor and former assistant health minister.
Mr Agnew describes himself as "old school" and after finding out Dr Gillespie's address through a mutual medical friend he decided to hand deliver the package instead of posting it or sending it via email.
He wanted to do something "special for the couple to get their attention" so he elaborately packaged the plan, which was sent on a USB stick along with two pedometers in a postal cylinder.
He then attached the cylinder to the Roman flag with the letter SPQR which stands for Senatus Populusque Romanus (The Senate and the Roman people).
Two dog collars were used to keep the parcel together.
Mr Agnew understood Dr Gillespie was a keen philosopher who was a fan of the ancient Roman philosopher Seneca.
Mr Agnew was unaware a growing number of white supremacist groups have begun adopting the ancient acronym to symbolize their movement
"I knew David would understand once he read it," Mr Agnew said.
"I used that flag because David was a politician and I wanted to bring it to his attention, it was a health plan but unfortunately it was seen as some type of bomb threat."
It was a bit of theatre but poignant, I wanted to get their attention.
- Geoff Agnew
Mr Agnew attached the package to a pole so it would be something like "the Romans would have delivered".
He then went to the Gillespies' home late at night and attached the parcel to the gate.
"The scenario would be they would see it, look at it as some kind of present and be impressed," he said.
Mr Agnew had no idea the drama he had caused, until the police came knocking and he was questioned for hours about why he was sending packages like this to members of parliament.
"I told the police officer I had also sent the identical package to Phillip Adams and I couldn't believe the police officer didn't know who Phillip Adams was," he said.
Mr Agnew said he was distressed to have caused alarm to "good people like David and Charlotte who are trying to do their best for the public and have been put into this situation".
He plans to write a letter to the couple to apologise.
Mr Agnew works as a farm worker at Ricardoes Strawberries and Tomatoes
His manager Tony Sarks said it was all an innocent mistake.
"Geoff is a wonderful fellow, very smart and very well read but he is also eccentric," Mr Sarks said.
No question about it ... I think he wouldn't have seen any red flags, he's not great with current events or technology and he wouldn't have known how this was going to pan out.
- Tony Sarks
Mr Agnew swears by the success of the 5 Point Plan which involves "small minimum training, a very simple plan to build muscle and burn fat".
But Mr Agnew said he will use more traditional, less risky, methods to get it out there next time.
NSW Police said it was an unfortunate case of miscommunication and no further action would be taken against Mr Agnew.
Dr Gillespie's office did not wish to comment any further on the incident.
