Schoolies shamed over disgraceful act on first week of parties
Damning videos are emerging on social media, shaming school leavers for their disgusting acts in public.
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Videos are emerging on social media showing school leavers’ disgraceful behaviour on the first weekend of Schoolies, including a mess on a plane and rubbish lining the entertainment strip at Surfers Paradise.
Virgin Australia flight attendant Ashlee Rogers filmed the inside of a plane after a trip to the Gold Coast, revealing a huge pile of crushed chips left behind underneath one seat.
The video, which was posted to TikTok, appeared to show the entire contents of the bag had been emptied out across the carpet floor.
“Could of (sic) just said they didn’t want the chips. #cabincrew #cabincrewlife,” Ms Rogers wrote.
About 20,000 school leavers are expected attend the first week of celebrations, prompting extra police officers called on to keep watch.
Authorities said the first night kicked off “spectacularly”, with only four people arrested on seven charges.
But one school leaver was less than impressed, posting a damning video on Sunday morning showing a trail of rubbish lining the beachside city’s entertainment strip, Cavill Ave.
“Schoolies, this is f***ed,” the school leaver says with a look of disappointment on his face.
The camera pans down the street to show it covered in a layer of fast food packaging and rubbish.
The TikTok video – which has amassed more than 270K likes – attracted outraged comments from Australians far and wide.
“Brush does no one know how to use a bin or what,” one user wrote.
“That’s foul,” another said.
Some joked that this was to be expected by school leavers who have a reputation for letting loose during their end of high school celebrations.
Many suggested it was particularly disheartening sight given that this cohort of graduates have grown up being taught about their impact on the environment.
“So disrespectful to the environment,” one user wrote.
“The beach is right beside that strip – we don’t need anymore pollution harming our oceans,” a second user wrote.
However, a number of people were less critical, saying the street looked like that on most weekends and it was not unusual for schoolies to leave a mess.
“All we need is a teacher to tell them they have to pick up 10 pieces each before going out to play,” one person joked.
Gold Coast District Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said it was almost identical to last year’s numbers, but this year there were an extra 10,000 school leavers attending.
“So when you work those numbers out, it just highlights the incredible behaviour that’s being displayed by our school leavers,” he said.
“We’ve seen our school leavers displaying a lot of maturity for their young years.”
On the same night, three adults were arrested for carrying knives, all in Broadbeach, Superintendent Wildman said.
Police Minister Mark Ryan had earlier warned this year’s graduates to avoid the mistakes of years past.
He said while Schoolies had become an Australian “rite of passage” for many, it was important to put safety first.
“I urge all young people to look out for their mates, stick together, and check in on one another. Take note of your surroundings and take care while on high-rise balconies,” he said.
“Charge your phones, plan ahead and check in with your loved ones back home.”
In 2019, Melbourne graduate Charlie Scott died after falling from a high-rise hotel balcony.
The 18-year-old had been celebrating with friends when he fell from the Hilton Tower about 2.30am in the morning.
One year earlier, Hamish Bigood, fell from an 11th-floor balcony at the Surf Regency apartments on the Gold Coast.
His father told The Daily Telegraph at the time that his son had been hallucinating after drinking and inhaling nitrous oxide.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said earlier there would be an increased police presence on the Gold Coast this week, with an estimated 130 officers on duty each night in the Schoolies precinct.
Police will conduct random wanding for concealed weapons within the Safe Night Precinct, while governing bodies will conduct venue checks for underage and fake IDs.
School leavers are encouraged to visit Recharge Zones located within the Schoolies Hub and along the Esplanade if in need of water or assistance.
Originally published as Schoolies shamed over disgraceful act on first week of parties
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