Racist past of white couple who tried to tear down neighbour’s Aboriginal flag

A McDonald’s franchisee sacked after racially abusing his Aboriginal neighbours also called Chinese people ‘c**nks who were taking over Australia’.

Rob Vigors and his wife Karen Ridge were filmed storming up to the garage of indigenous couple Robby and Jackie Wirramanda-Knight’s home in Mildura, Victoria, on Friday night.

Ms Ridge was seen trying to tear down an Indigenous flag flown on the couple’s car, while Mr Vigors accused them of not being ‘real’ Aboriginals.

The footage, filmed by Mr Wirramanda-Knight, quickly went viral and resulted in McDonald’s terminating Mr Vigor’s franchise agreement.

Rob Vigors was the franchisee of the Mildura McDonald’s until his contract was torn up two days after a video of his racially abusing his Aboriginal neighbours emerged

About a week before the confrontation, Mr Vigors, 64, used a racial slur in a rant on Facebook about Chinese investment in Australia. 

‘At the rate that the c**nks are buying up our land, Chinese will soon be a compulsory language,’ he wrote.

‘Do you really want this to happen? I don’t. It is time to stand up for our country and not let those political dodo’s (sic) sell us out.’

Ms Ridge has also made Facebook posts targeting minorities and figures on the other side of the political spectrum.

In July she shared a meme attacking foreign-born taxi drivers, adding four laughing emoticons.

‘While holidaying in Phuket recently, I saw a taxi with a sign ‘English speaking driver’. I thought to myself, what a good idea, we should have that in Australia,’ it read.

About a week before the confrontation, Mr Vigors, 64, used a racial slur in a rant on Facebook about Chinese investment in Australia

His wife Karen Ridge was seen trying to tear down an Indigenous flag flown on the couple's car while Mr Vigors accused them of not being 'real' Aboriginals

His wife Karen Ridge was seen trying to tear down an Indigenous flag flown on the couple’s car while Mr Vigors accused them of not being ‘real’ Aboriginals

Another post Ms Ridge, a former president of the Gold Coast Young Liberals, shared attacked Labor politician Penny Wong.

The meme showed a photo of Senator Wong alongside deputy leader Richard Marles and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese with the caption ‘two and a half men’.

Ms Ridge is believed to have been at a Christmas party the night of the incident with photos showing her with other guests in fancy dress.

The party was Old West themed with Ms Ridge dressed as a cowgirl – including some of the clothes she was wearing in the video.

Ms Ridge told Daily Mail Australia that she had received death threats since the video went viral on social media and did not feel safe giving her side of the story.

‘There are always two sides to every story and there was a great deal of harassment before this event occurred,’ she said.

‘They even caught and claim to have eaten my pet cat.’ 

Ms Ridge shared a meme attacking foreign-born taxi drivers, adding four laughing emoticons

Ms Ridge shared a meme attacking foreign-born taxi drivers, adding four laughing emoticons

Another post Ms Ridge, a former president of the Gold Coast Young Liberals, shared a meme attacking Labor politician Penny Wong

Another post Ms Ridge, a former president of the Gold Coast Young Liberals, shared a meme attacking Labor politician Penny Wong

Mr Wirramanda-Knight later said it was not the first time the two couples had clashed since they moved in about four months ago.

He said the conflict began immediately and Ms Ridge had allegedly called them ‘bludgers’ before.

He claimed that later on Friday night Mr Vigors returned and put a screw under his car tyre, which police have since dusted for fingerprints.

Mr Wirramanda-Knight called police to the house, who said they were taking the matter ‘very seriously.’

‘Police have spoken to all parties involved and an investigation was initiated at the time. The investigation is ongoing,’ police said.

Friday’s incident is believed to have been sparked by Mr Wirramanda-Knight complaining to Ms Ridge about her dog.

Rob Vigors and Karen Ridge appeared to take issue with their neighbours in Mildura, Victoria, for flying an Aboriginal flag

Rob Vigors and Karen Ridge appeared to take issue with their neighbours in Mildura, Victoria, for flying an Aboriginal flag

Robby Wirramanda-Knight, pictured with his wife Jackie Wirramanda, filmed the incident, which was shared by himself and later a family member

Robby Wirramanda-Knight, pictured with his wife Jackie Wirramanda, filmed the incident, which was shared by himself and later a family member

Mr Vigors was the franchisee of the local McDonald’s since 1992 but on Sunday the fast food chain announced he had left the company.

‘McDonald’s confirms the company has taken over the operation of the Mildura and Irymple restaurants, effective immediately, and Robert Vigors has left the system and is no longer involved,’ it said.

‘McDonald’s will be engaging with its employees regarding the change in arrangements, to ensure the ongoing operation of the restaurants.’

Ms Ridge runs travel agency Food and Wine Travel that organises food-themed tours around the world.

Her website says the company offers ‘unique, memorable, individually tailored holidays, based around food and wine experiences’.

Ms Ridge is believed to have been at a Christmas party the night of the incident with photos showing her with other guests in fancy dress

Ms Ridge is believed to have been at a Christmas party the night of the incident with photos showing her with other guests in fancy dress

The party was Old West themed with Ms Ridge dressed as a cowgirl – including some of the clothes she was wearing in the video

Ms Ridge runs travel agency Food and Wine Travel that organises food-themed tours around the world

Ms Ridge runs travel agency Food and Wine Travel that organises food-themed tours around the world 

The Indigenous couple, two well-respected Aboriginal artists, had the flag flying on their white 4×4 outside their new home in Mildura.

The video filmed by Mr Wirramanda showed Mr Vigors accusing them of ‘being only 1 per cent Aboriginal’.  

He is seen standing next to the family’s car wearing a white and red checkered shirt and a brown hat. 

Mr Wirramanda is heard calmly saying: ‘I sincerely hope that we don’t have to talk again.’

He then turns the camera to film Ms Ridge desperately tugging at the family’s flag.

‘Look at you, trying to rip my flag off. You’re a drunken, f*****g bum,’ he went on.

‘It’s too strong for you, Karen!’ 

Having given up with her effort to rip the flag, Ms Ridge then says: ‘Take this s**t down, it’s a disgrace’.

Ms Ridge (pictured) tries to rip the family's Aboriginal flag in the shocking footage filmed in Victoria

Ms Ridge (pictured) tries to rip the family’s Aboriginal flag in the shocking footage filmed in Victoria

Mr Vigors (pictured) appeared on the family's driveway and insisted they 'weren't real Aboriginals'

Mr Vigors (pictured) appeared on the family’s driveway and insisted they ‘weren’t real Aboriginals’

Mr Vigors and Ms Ridge are understood to have walked onto the Wirramandas property in Mildura unannounced and started to berate the family. 

As the shocking footage continued, Mr Wirramanda then calls Ms Ridge a ‘racist pig’, to which the couple protest and insist she ‘isn’t racist’.

Despite saying she isn’t racist, she then asked him: ‘which half of you is Aborginal?’

The man – understood to her husband – then chimed in: ‘Which 1 per cent of you is Aboriginal? Mate, you’ve got nothing in you that’s Aboriginal.

‘You make me laugh. You do some nice paintings and I respect that work. Don’t get me wrong, I respect that work. But you claiming to be Aboriginal? 

‘You make me laugh. You really, really do. Because this is the problem with this country and so many people in this area and this country – people like you make a mockery of true Aboriginals.  

‘I have a lot of good Aboriginal friends that live in far-north Queensland and the Northern Territorial. They’d love to see you and come and give you a lecture on what Aboriginal is.’

Keeping his cool, Mr Wirramanda then wishes them goodnight saying: ‘Good night Karen, good night Karen, good night Karen.’

Ms Ridge then replied: ‘Go and live in your f*****g humpy down the river.’

The couple’s child confirmed their parents had reported the incident to police and were looking for a lawyer.

They added that their three young brothers saw the exchange. 

Ms Ridge (pictured) eventually gives up trying to tear down the family's flag, but tells them to 'take this s**t down'

Ms Ridge (pictured) eventually gives up trying to tear down the family’s flag, but tells them to ‘take this s**t down’

In a statement from his wife Jackie, which was posted online by their child, she said the family were ‘sickened’ by the incident.

‘This happened to my family last night,’ she said.

‘These racists behaved this way in front of my children. They entered our garage where I was painting and started their ugly racist rant. This is not the first time racism has reared its ugly head with these two either.

‘I feel sickened, as does my family. Trying to stay positive right now. Thank you to everyone who has supported us at this time. 

‘I must say though, Robby stayed super calm throughout this disgusting racist rant. He is a legend in my eyes and also that in my sons.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk