... All your responses were so heart warming & i'm so overwhelmed by all your thoughtful suggestions.

Two reasons why DP & i didn't refuse this rude woman a seat was Firstly we didn't know what our rights were ' if ' we actually HAD TO ... and Secondly we could see she was clearly getting ready to debate it & we had a long way still to travel on our train journey to Melb and didn't want an ugly situation happening all that way.

Sadly were she pushed me was right in the area of my shoulder blade were i have had extensive physio treatment ... and i felt so bad for DP as he was complaining of his right knee causing him severe pain during the week.

DP made me laugh as he said i should have just fallen to the ground & screamed for help that i'd been attacked rather then save myself from triping as i did loose my footing as the push was that hard.

Also THANKU to those that noticed in the manner in which i conducted myself. I used my manners, was polite, never swore, never insulted (well, actually i did but she didn't know that when i mentioned she is of mature age & should know better) and i never physically touched her nor pushed her and i never got within her personal space. Oh and i never yelled UNTIL she pushed me. My Mum always taught me it takes a much stronger person to contain & try to control their unnecessary actions like swearing, insulting or physical violence AS it only brings you down to that other persons level ... and YOU have just become THEM so what good did you get out of it yourself. I would rather chose to feel proud of myself then ashamed. To know me i'm not of a meek character but actually the opposite. Even DP's Dad after he met me for the 1st time years ago said i have b@lls to other people when they asked what i'm like BUT he apparently said it in a way of respect as to be a strong person you need NOT be a cruel or rude person.
Life is far to short to be surrounded by these sorts of people but sadly they ARE there so it's best to make your point & make it of fair reasoning then it's time to walk away as YOU don't want to waste another moment in the presence of a person of such ill-manner whom doesn't grasp that they may have possibly done something wrong to another human being !!!

Don't get me wrong i'm no angel i too have had moments in life where i have felt my fist clenching getting ready to want to punch but i use every ounce of ' good ' in me to get past that point. And i have to admit to feel that was frightening & i haven't gone there with that feeling in a long time. For that i feel especially proud and hope that my DD has that quality within her too (thanks to her Grandma's too).

****** I will keep you all updated IF i hear anything from V/line what my rights, etc are as a train passenger. ******

I was thinking next time to maybe buy my DD a ticket but i could most likely still have someone expect her to give up her seat even if she has a ticket and paying a Full-Fare ticket for her is just insane & out of the question ... remembering my ticket is not metropolitan but a much more expensive V/Line ticket.

Thank you all again ... and i'm still welcome to any more ideas xox

P.S - seats on this train are not priority nor allocated seating to give you all an idea. The woman in question her ticket would have been classed as a Metropolitan ticket as she boarded in suburbia Melb (i know as i've caught the train from her station before).