Gold Coast mum seeks help over death threats against son with school bullying

A LOCAL mother has been forced to pull her 13-year-old son out of a Gold Coast school after death threats were made — and nothing was done about it.

A TERRIFIED mother says she been left with no option but to pull her son from a Gold Coast high school after he received repeated death threats from a bully.

Runaway Bay mother Yvonne says her 13-year-old son Shane (not his real name) has had numerous threats of being stabbed and has been chased by senior students who said they had previously pushed someone to suicide.

His main tormentor was this month enrolled at Shane’s school, Coombabah High School, after allegedly being expelled from another college.

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Yvonne has had to pull her son out of school following online threats. Photo by Richard Gosling

The bullying began when all parties went to the same primary school.

Yvonne said she had contacted both the school and Department of Education on numerous occasions since the start of the year and had meetings and calls about the threats.

She said the school told her they would monitor the situation and suggested if she felt her son was unsafe, Shane should move to another school.

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Despite repeated attempts, she said she was yet to speak to the principal.

“They didn’t even want to see the screenshots (of the death threats),” Yvonne said.

The threatening messages on Instagram included: “I’ll bro g (sic) a hunter knife for yah, and I’ll get everyone else to bring a knife. I’ll also get them to bring a hammer.”

Screenshots of some of the messages sent to Shane*. PHOTO: Supplied.

Yvonne said: “The first I found out about the bullying was when (my son) came out of his room in tears one night, and showed me the messages.

“I was horrified other kids were threatening to kill him — I’m not having (her son) become another Dolly (Everett),” she said.

‘Dolly’ Everett was an Australian schoolgirl who committed suicide in January, after months of relentless bullying from her peers.

She has since become the face of the anti-cyber bullying movement.

The school did not respond to Gold Coast Bulletin questions about the bullying.

NT girl Amy 'Dolly' Everett killed herself after cyberbullying.

The Department of Education said: “Coombabah SHS, like all state schools, do not tolerate bullying or violent behaviour in any form. Any situation that threatens the safety and wellbeing of students is treated extremely seriously, and dealt with as a matter of urgent priority.”

The department said it could not comment on individual cases for student privacy reasons.

Yvonne said she had spoken to the parents of the bully, who asked her not to go to the police because he had been in trouble with authorities previously.

The bullying started late last year when Shane received a message on social media: “If you go to high school you’re a dead (expletive).”

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He was targeted by senior students at the start of the year, his first at high school, and a former colleague at primary school, who went to a different high school.

That boy was allegedly expelled and enrolled at Coombabah this month, despite protests from Yvonne.

Screenshots of some of the messages sent to Shane*. PHOTO: Supplied.

Yvonne said her son with a “goofy nature” was targeted because his appearance and gentle nature.

At one stage, he lashed back and threatened to bring his own weapons and call the police.

After the run-in with the senior students in January, Yvonne said the school declined to meet with her and would only talk over the phone.

The bullying got so bad a teacher was escorting Shane to the bus after school.

After the incident Yvonne said she heard nothing from the school about how the senior students were dealt with.

The threats were made via Instagram.

Shane was to speak with a counsellor. However, he spoke to a teacher who Yvonne says told him: “This was what happens in high school. It is just seniors checking on how far they can push juniors.”

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After hearing the latest bully was enrolling at Coombabah this month, Yvonne, who has kept a diary of her conversations with authorities, said she visited the school office on Monday, June 4 to speak to the principal and was instead directed to another staff member.

“I have all these messages that he is going to kill my son. Why would I want him at our school? He isn’t even in the catchment,” she said.

Yvonne was told there was nothing the school could do.

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Coombabah State High School.

Left without options on how to protect her son, Yvonne pulled him from the school.

“I’m worried about his life. The school couldn’t give me any assurance on his safety.

“I was told they would just watch the situation.

“I call but have heard nothing. The principal hasn’t called or met with me. My friends joke I am the invisible mum.”

Yvonne said the school recommended her boy be enrolled at another school.

“Why should my son miss out on his education? This child is a threat.”

The single mother said she would struggle to send her son to a school so far outside of her catchment.

“I wouldn’t be able to afford it. He would have to leave at seven in the morning to make it in time.”

If you or anyone you know is seeking support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25).

Yvonne has had to pull her son out of school following online threats. Photo by Richard Gosling