Police welcome QLD schoolies to beachside communities

Schoolies are opting out of the Gold Coast experience and venturing to campgrounds and beachside communities from Fraser Island to Inskip, Rainbow, Teewah and the Sunshine Coast.

The Class of 2022 has traded the wild Gold Coast experience for a peaceful week on the beach as volunteers and local communities prepare for hundreds of schoolies celebrating the completion of their schooling careers.

Thousands of schoolies will be heading to beaches between Fraser Island and the Sunshine Coast, including the hugely popular Cooloola Recreational Park, from this Saturday, November 19 through to November 26, and the Red Frogs will be present at campgrounds and Airbnbs this year at Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island.

The Red Frogs are volunteers offering pancake cook-ups, walk-homes and other support services to schoolies who have partied too hard.

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Red Frog Queensland state director Chris George said there was a mass migration to Noosa, Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island following Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk cancelling schoolies at the Gold Coast in 2020.

After speaking with local high schools, homeowners and business owners, the Red Frogs expect up to 500 schoolies on Fraser Island and 300 at Rainbow Beach.

Mr George said the teens are drawn to the quieter and peaceful experience as self-sufficient beachside campers.

“They’re different because they don’t want the Gold Coast experience,” he said.

“They don’t want to be around thousands of people.”

Mr George said he is thankful to the local community for accommodating their team of volunteers and offers help to anyone in need on their hotline during their one-week stay.

With hundreds of happy campers visiting the region for the beaches, cafes and peaceful atmosphere also comes a boost for the local economy.

Local shops, camping and caravan parks, restaurants and more dine-ins will benefit from the increase of visitors drawn to the beachside communities.

“As long as everyone is on their best behaviour, I think tourism coming to the area is a good thing,” Rainbow Beach Hotel venue manager Pesch Dodd said.

Police have indicated they will focus on Noosa, Teewah Beach, Double Island Point, Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point next week to maintain a safe environment for schoolies.

Rainbow Beach. Photo Craig Warhurst/The Gympie Times

“Police will have a high visibility and high volume enforcement strategy,” Inspector Brad Inskip of the Gympie Patrol Group said.

“This includes high visibility patrols targeting reckless, unsafe, and irresponsible driving practices on the beaches, road network, tracks or in the campgrounds, while also targeting anti-social behaviour from campers involved in beach parties and the use of fireworks.”

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Patrols, including alcohol and drug testing, will remain on the roads to Tin Can Bay, Rainbow Beach and Inskip Avenue.

Units will also be covering the beaches from Rainbow Beach to Double Island Point and south to Teewah Village, police said.

Police are reminding schoolies that road safety applies both on the road and on the beach.

“While we recognise it’s important for schoolies to celebrate the end of 12 years of schooling, we urge them to do it safely; not only for themselves, but also considering their actions could influence others,” Gympie high patrol OIC Chris Watson said.

“Any dangerous or careless activities will not be tolerated.”