Brisbane primary students search for answers over school bell stolen after almost 70 years

A group of students at an inner-Brisbane primary school have created a True Crime podcast about the theft of their historic bell.

Oakleigh State School teacher and podcast writer Nicky Peelgrane with students and co-producers (from left) Caleb Fuller, 11, Harper Ackland, 10, Luca Maieroni, 12, and James Stute, 11. Picture: Steve Pohlner

When the bell that had ­echoed through their school for almost 70 years was stolen, a group of Brisbane primary school students put themselves on the case.

With the help of teachers, the students interviewed local police officers, followed up on the results of forensic analysis, questioned fellow students for theories, and gathered potential witness statements from nearby ­residents.

They turned this investigation into a 34-minute true crime podcastStolen, published on YouTube.

The historic bell was taken from Oakleigh State School in the affluent Brisbane suburb of Ashgrove between 2am and 3am on March 19.

The evidence left at the scene consisted of an old spanner and bolts – believed to be linked to the theft – as well as a bottle of Barista Brothers iced coffee.

A neighbour said they thought they heard the bell drop and ring on the night in question, and a dent was found in the ground.

On the podcast, the ­students said that on the same morning there was ­vandalism at nearby private boys’ high school Marist College Ashgrove.

However, that was not ­believed to be linked to the bell theft.

The most prominent theory among Oakleigh students is that the brass bell was stolen for financial gain because it could be melted down and sold for several hundred dollars.

Oakleigh State School deputy principal Brian Marsden said police checked the unopened iced coffee bottle for DNA and fingerprints, but came up empty.

The stolen school bell

He said the thieves were thought to have used a wheelie bin from outside the school library.

“That may have been used to transport the bell from the school out and may have probably been put into a car or wheeled to a house,” Mr Marsden said.

Year 6 student Luca Maieroni said he liked learning new words during the making of the podcast.

“I never knew melting metals were really that interesting, but now I find them interesting,” he said.

Year 4 student Madeleine Collins said she really enjoyed the podcast ­process. “I found it helped me to build my confidence in recording and acting and I found it really fun and interesting at the same time,” she said.

Podcast writer and drama teacher Nicky Peelgrane said the podcast was part of the school’s high achievers program for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Ms Peelgrane consulted two friends who are investigative journalists – Hedley Thomas and David Murray from The Australian.

“It was a really amazing experience for the children – we all learnt a lot,” she said.

“We looked at what investigative journalism is. We also looked at means, motive and opportunity – to do with crime.

“The children were absolutely captivated by what had happened and just couldn’t get their heads around who would steal something like this that was so precious to the community.”

A Queensland police spokeswoman confirmed that the theft was reported on March 21 and remained under investigation, pending further information.