That's what the Gold Coast News read today about the schoolies in town. It is an annual event around this time in November when the teenagers or 'schoolies' who graduate from Year 12 who are entering college 'initiate' their freedom and independence and adulthood with this teenage ritual
sanctioned and funded by the Gold Coast City Council (Oh my God..). Every year, thousands of them descend upon the city and let loose. They come from Gold Coast and other parts of Australia. It's like pools of hormones stirred in a pot together. Havoc, that's the chemical 'X' that comes out of it.
Considering the drunken bad behaviour, teenagers getting smashed, drunk, sex, fights and vandalism and drugs, the police are stationed everywhere in Surfer's Paradise monitoring the situation and they even have chaperone volunteers helping out to keep an eye on the youngsters before they get into serious trouble. But I wonder why it is being declared as part of the Gold Coast City Council's annual calendar event. Is it because they think it generates revenue, publicity.. or just can't make it go away, so might as well sanction it... what?? If anything, it actually makes them spend more money to clean up the mess and hire more people to enforce the laws in the area. Plus it drives away business in most stores downtown. People are afraid of the noise, potential violence and drunken brawls. And my even bigger question is why do the parents allow their kids to be part of this? Is it supposed to represent a cool groovy must-do ritual and 'oh let them have their fun, they worked hard, they're grown up, they can handle it..' Well can they handle THIS??
Or THIS...?
One Gold Coaster wrote: "
"close to being out of control" that is taking chances with our kids -> PERIOD. Forget the government for a minute, besides they are concerned about global warming, where are Moms? Fathers? Shame on you "
By the early hours of Monday morning- Day 3 of Schoolies event, 36 schoolies had been arrested -- 31 for alcohol-related offences, two for possessing cannabis, one for unlicensed driving and one for stealing. Another 56 non-schoolies were arrested, largely for drunken behaviour. Meanwhile a 17-year-old
man will appear in Southport Magistrates Court this morning after allegedly stealing a woman's handbag, before punching her in the face.
Police allege that an 18-year-old woman was approached by the man at 9.30pm along the esplanade in Surfers Paradise.
The man tried to grab the woman's bag, before punching her in the chin.
Most Gold Coasters don't just tolerate this event, they hate it. It is giving Gold Coast a smutty image and bad name, alongside with Super GP, meter maids and other 'cultural' icons. Nothing to be proud of, and yet it still continues year after year. When will the change come? God knows. This city needs to re-evaluate its values and what it wants to be identified with. If it is icons and cultural events like this that rules its image year after year, not even the best spin doctors in town can salvage its reputation as the city that welcomes thrill and fun seekers who may be law-breakers.
That's what the Gold Coast News read today about the schoolies in town. It is an annual event around this time in November when the teenagers or 'schoolies' who graduate from Year 12 who are entering college 'initiate' their freedom and independence and adulthood with this teenage ritual sanctioned and funded by the Gold Coast City Council (Oh my God..). Every year, thousands of them descend upon the city and let loose. They come from Gold Coast and other parts of Australia. It's like pools of hormones stirred in a pot together. Havoc, that's the chemical 'X' that comes out of it.
Considering the drunken bad behaviour, teenagers getting smashed, drunk, sex, fights and vandalism and drugs, the police are stationed everywhere in Surfer's Paradise monitoring the situation and they even have chaperone volunteers helping out to keep an eye on the youngsters before they get into serious trouble. But I wonder why it is being declared as part of the Gold Coast City Council's annual calendar event. Is it because they think it generates revenue, publicity.. or just can't make it go away, so might as well sanction it... what?? If anything, it actually makes them spend more money to clean up the mess and hire more people to enforce the laws in the area. Plus it drives away business in most stores downtown. People are afraid of the noise, potential violence and drunken brawls. And my even bigger question is why do the parents allow their kids to be part of this? Is it supposed to represent a cool groovy must-do ritual and 'oh let them have their fun, they worked hard, they're grown up, they can handle it..' Well can they handle THIS??
Or THIS...?
One Gold Coaster wrote: ""close to being out of control" that is taking chances with our kids -> PERIOD. Forget the government for a minute, besides they are concerned about global warming, where are Moms? Fathers? Shame on you "
By the early hours of Monday morning- Day 3 of Schoolies event, 36 schoolies had been arrested -- 31 for alcohol-related offences, two for possessing cannabis, one for unlicensed driving and one for stealing. Another 56 non-schoolies were arrested, largely for drunken behaviour. Meanwhile a 17-year-old man will appear in Southport Magistrates Court this morning after allegedly stealing a woman's handbag, before punching her in the face.
Police allege that an 18-year-old woman was approached by the man at 9.30pm along the esplanade in Surfers Paradise.
The man tried to grab the woman's bag, before punching her in the chin.
Most Gold Coasters don't just tolerate this event, they hate it. It is giving Gold Coast a smutty image and bad name, alongside with Super GP, meter maids and other 'cultural' icons. Nothing to be proud of, and yet it still continues year after year. When will the change come? God knows. This city needs to re-evaluate its values and what it wants to be identified with. If it is icons and cultural events like this that rules its image year after year, not even the best spin doctors in town can salvage its reputation as the city that welcomes thrill and fun seekers who may be law-breakers.
1 comment:
I live in Surfers Paradise, the schoolies are really horrible! they are being disrespectful, shouting, screaming and urinate everywhere even next to the main road. Have a sleepless night. They feel very proud because they think they are so important they event is specially for them. What a crap.
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