Steele, The Herald Sun puts attendance at the UPF rally at 1,000, the UPF are more conservative and claim 600-700, The Age initially reported the counter rally as about 20 locals and 50 from Melbourne, though it may have been as many as 100 with curious onlookers joining in.
The UPF and Catch The Fire gathered 1500 signatures on a petition against the Mosque over the course of the day, so it's not a small movement in a town the size of Bendigo.
The fact remains, the UPF comprises only ten men, they were invited to speak by Bendigo residents and it was Bendigonians who organised and directed the demonstration with an estimated 60 people traveling from other parts of the state and a few from interstate.

SRX Yes I figured that is what it was.
This UPF is against the labor party, it’s a front for anti Muslim race hate. Who set this up Abbott, Bendigo just happens to be a labor represented town, both State and Federal.

So this mob are Far right Conservatives, and Racists, and the other lot are anti racist and labeled Left wing. That sounds very convenient to me.

I would dispute the validity of that labeling. How many of the UPF thugs were amongst the Left wingers as you call them. Nothing is good when both sides have to be separated. The whole thing sounds like a set up.

The police said 2 knives were confiscated during the day. and a couple of other items. There was 2 choppers floating around Saturday arvo. With the two opposing teams separated how did the fights come into it.

That facebook site is a Rant of mega proportions, We do not need such stupid language used. It is set up for persons that want to cause trouble, this is where you get your extremism training from. With venues to carry out your extremism. That is what it said to me loud and clear.

It would have to come close to being a terrorist site. It is inciting racist and violent behavior. I trust in our law , and i say that site would be closely monitored. Probably what all the special cameras were about, from the air as well.

I have never seen any sort of protest or whatever it is called, like this ever in Bendigo before. No doubt it has cost a lot of money to control, let alone Saturday traders closing, and the wine festival that was cancelled. Not the way to gain friends. I do not know why it was allowed to happen. The forest street McKenzie street Corner was blocked off early last week.

I reckon the showground’s should be the venue for protests or demonstrations. That way interested persons could go to the showground’s to see what interests them, without disrupting traders or shoppers.

The weekend riotous behavior in Bendigo at the weekend, has not been reported in the local paper, not today anyway. The sun is shining and all is good

Successive governments have lost their way as they focus more on the likes of 'how many women do we have on the front bench', or 'whether or not two gays can marry.

I note just today that they are in talks with Muslim leaders.

Hang on, why on earth do we even have Muslim leaders here in the first place, because after all, they came here seeking a better life. All we are doing is allowing them to continue their barbaric ways in our country, and in many circumstances, with the support of the tax payer as many have several wives, ten kids and refuse to work.

If only we had someone with balls and a big stick, but then the squeaky wheel brigade would soon put a stop that that as well.

Hopefully at 55 I won't be here to see them take over, but I can't help but feel for my kids, and their kids because the peace loving nation both they and myself were brought up in is fast deteriating as we watch and no one of power seems to care.

A huge error in judgment.

Doog, for you, seems the crowd was nearer 1000 by the end with another hundred or so watching from the sidelines and pretty much everyone there was from Bendigo:
http://www.facebook.com/unitedpatriotsfront/videos/186146955053098/