Sun lover fights charges

Richard Finnila

May 08, 2006

POLICE will attempt to prosecute a 75-year-old Sunshine Coast man today for the fifth time for sun baking nude on a secluded Coolum beach nearly a year ago.


Retiree Ken Wenzel is determined to beat the wilful exposure charge and has an army of supporters behind him.

The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has described the charge as an abuse of police powers and have called on authorities to drop the case.

"Haven't they got anything else to do than chase a harmless man in his 70s for bathing in the nude?" QCCL president Michael Cope said.

Mr Wenzel was caught bathing at Third Bay Beach at Coolum, south of Noosa, which has been a well-known nudist beach for more than 30 years.

Of the 100 nudists Sunshine Coast police nabbed during the mid-winter raid last July, Mr Wenzel was the only person to fight the charge.

Mr Cope said: "If necessary, the State Government or relevant councils should take steps to designate nude beaches and to mark and publicise them."

Source: http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19059090-5003401,00.html