Keep it safe plea as schoolies land
POLICE TO STEP UP PATROLS
POLICE are set to ramp up patrols as thousands of secondary school leavers descend on the region’s seaside towns to celebrate the end of their secondary studies. Schoolies Week opens today and runs until Friday. Surf Coast police area commander Inspector Monique Leffanue said up to 4000 school leavers were expected to visit the Surf Coast. “As in previous years, we will have increased police numbers and patrols along the Surf Coast as school leavers mark the end of their secondary school journey,” Insp. Leffanue said. “The message from police to school leavers is celebrate safely, responsibly and respectfully.”
Insp. Leffanue said police would focus on underage drinking and anti-social and drunken behaviour in and around licensed venues.
“Disappointingly, last year we saw a number of flares lit, which resulted in injuries and arrests,” she said.
“Flares are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury, particularly when discharged in crowded or confined spaces.
“Anyone involved in throwing flares can also face serious criminal charges.
“Police will be out and about to make sure everyone celebrates safely.”
Surf Coast Shire general manager Culture and Community Chris Pike said Lorne would be the most popular schoolies destination on the Surf Coast this year.
“Some accommodation providers in Lorne have chosen to accept schoolies bookings this year and those providers are being well supported by school leavers,” he said.
Mr Pike said that in recent years the council had worked well with partner organisations Red Frogs Australia, YSAS (Youth Support and Advocacy Service) and Victoria Police in running the Good Times, Great Breaks harm minimisation program for schoolies on the Surf Coast.
Mr Pike said the shire was asking young people to register on the Good Times, Great Breaks website, to respect residents and to look after themselves and their mates.
About 1200 school leavers were heading to Lorne to stay across five properties affiliated with booking agency schoolies.com, a spokesman for the site said.
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Roger Grant said people returning to their schoolies location later in life was very valuable for tourism.
“There’s a bit of a pilgrimage later in life some 10 or 20 years later,” he said. “It’s actually quite good business.”
Mr Grant said Geelong, the Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road were “geared up” to provide schoolies an experience that included opportunities for outdoor adventure.
“At the end of the day, we want to deliver a fantastic experience that is not just a big alcoholic binge,” Mr Grant said.
“The last couple of years, the behaviour of kids on schoolies has been a lot better than what it used to be, in response to more activities and change in the (behaviour of the) kids themselves.”