It is the stuff of many a neighbourhood dispute: loud music, booze-fuelled parties and short tempers.
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But one elderly couple's decision to confront a group of noisy Australia Day revellers sparked a brawl in their Albion Park street and left them with lasting injuries.
Frank Bernard Milroy Mulcahy and his wife Kathryn, "fed up" with the noisy, drunken party next door, confronted some teens outside their Charlotte Crescent home on Australia Day evening, 2014.
On Monday, Albion Park Local Court heard how Mrs Mulcahy had filmed the group on her phone, and taunted "Smile for YouTube", while her 75-year-old husband stood with her, holding a metal bar behind his back.
Mrs Mulcahy's action provoked an angry response from the youths, who had gathered outside to farewell some friends.
The former retired security guard struck one of the men on the back of the neck.
He retaliated, punching Mr Mulcahy two or three times in the head, as a teenage girl began fighting with Mrs Mulcahy.
Mr Mulcahy then came to his wife's defence, striking the teenage girl as she lay on the ground.
Amid the struggle Mrs Mulcahy was pushed over onto a rock garden bed. She broke teeth, her jaw, her collarbone and several ribs.
Mr Mulcahy, who emerged with facial bruises and a cut to his forehead, was later found to have suffered brain damage.
Facing court on an affray charge on Monday, Mr Mulcahy expressed remorse for his actions and agreed he had been wrong to confront the group. He pleaded guilty.
His lawyer, Cathy Doosey, told the court he had a clean criminal record and had only reacted violently when the group "set upon" his wife.
Magistrate Mark Douglass sentenced Mr Mulcahy to a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.
Earlier, three of the teens were convicted of affray and fined $850, $450 and $350.