Paul Anthony Johnstone, 49, of Curdies-Leitchfield Road, Ellingamite North, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to unlawful assault.

He was not convicted and fined $2000.

Police said that the couple separated about 12 months ago but continued to live on the same property 300 metres apart and work the farm while their property settlement was sorted out. 

On May 13 during the morning milking they argued, Johnstone approached the woman and slapped her across the face with motorcycle gloves and struck her legs with a bucket which caused a bruise through her gumboots. 

Magistrate Cynthia Toose said that relationship breakdowns caused a sense of loss to both parties, the couple had been still involved in hard work and were required to work together.

But she said there was never an excuse to resort to physical violence. 

Ms Toose said that a clear message needed to be sent to the community, attitudes had changed and rightly so.