Gold Coast Schoolies: Police arrest 27 older revellers on Monday night, emergency services praise this year’s crop of school leavers
Older revellers continue to take up the majority of police time at Schoolies, witth more than 40 arrested this year, while school leavers are well-behaved, police say.
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Older revellers continue to take up the majority of police time at Schoolies 2021 on the Gold Coast, while school leavers appear to have been relatively well behaved.
Emergency services have lauded the current crop of schoolies as the best behaved cohort in years.
A Gold Coast police spokeswoman said two schoolies were arrested for “street offences” on Monday night.
However, police arrested 27 non-schoolies – or “toolies” – for street offences and public nuisance.
“Police continue to be pleased with the behaviour of the 2021 schoolies, with many out and about enjoying all the fun Surfers Paradise has to offer,” the police spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, Queensland Ambulance paramedics assessed 83 patients within the Schoolies Emergency Treatment Centre on the third day of the annual celebrations.
Of those people, four patients required further assessment at hospital and two more patients were transported from the event precinct directly to hospital.
Six school leavers were arrested for minor matters and three more were fined at the weekend, while 21 toolies were arrested and 12 received infringement notices, according to Queensland Police.
CHECK OUT OUR GALLERY OF ALL THE SCHOOLIES ACTION HERE
Schoolie suffers broken leg, 21 toolies arrested
The class of 2021 has been labelled the best behaved schoolies cohort in years, but “toolies” are still keeping police busy.
At the weekend, six school-leavers were arrested for minor matters, a further three were fined and 213 drinks were tipped out by officers.
It was the “toolies” who appeared to be most rowdy with 21 arrested and 12 hit with infringement notices.
Paramedics also recorded fewer teens presenting to their medical hub for drug or alcohol effects, suggesting that “they aren’t as drunk as they used to be”.
However, one school-leaver suffered a broken leg after some overzealous dancing at the beach party.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman praised the behaviour of the class of 2021.
“Since 2017, over the past five years of Schoolies operations being recorded here on the Gold Coast, figures so far have revealed this cohort of schoolies are actually the best,” he said.
“That is a really, really encouraging sign. I know we’re only heading into day three of seven, but so far … it was fantastic interactions … between not only the police and the schoolies, but in among the schoolies themselves.
“It’s a real credit to everyone … and also some relief for parents who are no doubt a little concerned about sending their children down to Schoolies.” He said 104 people were “wanded” under the trial across the weekend.
“Toolies” were an ongoing issue, but police were out in force, Supt Wildman said.
Justin Payne, of Queensland Ambulance Service, said the number of incidents they responded to were “significantly lower than in the past”.
“Over the weekend, we’ve seen 120 odd people through the emergency treatment centre. Most of those things were relatively minor,” he said.
“There is still the intoxication levels that we would expect to see with a Schoolies response, however, the levels of intoxication aren’t as high, and school-leavers aren’t as drunk as they used to be.
“We actually did see a broken bone incident (a broken leg) last night due to some rigorous dancing activity down in the mosh pits. That person was conveyed to hospital for further treatment.”
Mr Payne said they were not seeing the high levels of assault, compared with previous years – and based on the evidence they were seeing “we think these kids are here to have fun and enjoy their time”.
Bree Maloney, events and entertainment manager for Surfers Paradise nightclubs Sin City, The Bedroom and Havana, said it could pan out to be the most mellow Schoolies yet.
“Across three venues we had our all-ages opening weekend parties and everyone was on their best behaviour,” she said.
“Despite being at nearly full capacity for the events, it was an exceptionally good start to Schoolies, with no issues.
“Even outside on the streets there were no signs of trouble.”
Ms Maloney said she believed this year’s cohort were “more mature”.
Quiet start to Schoolies 2021 on Gold Coast
November 21: Three school leavers were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital and another 42 were assessed in the medical hub in a quiet start to the Schoolies festival.
The biggest pests for police were toolies with 11 post-secondary school age arrested.
Surfers Paradise restaurant owners said the week-long festival was traditionally a quiet period for trade.
However, one said she was happy with the respect shown by graduates.
A police spokeswoman said authorities were pleased with the behaviour of teens on Saturday night.
Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Group chairman Mark Reaburn said about 57 per cent of school leavers were under 18 – meaning the response to the annual event, which didn’t go ahead last year because of the pandemic – had not changed.
Organisers are preparing for up to 20,000 teens to attend the festival, despite interstate school leavers being locked out because of border closures.
About 15,000 attended the last event in 2019.
“What we’ve found from experience is that the schoolies will stay together,” Mr Reaburn said. “That’s the reason for the hub, it’s a safe zone, (it has) two stages, 175m apart.
“It’s Schoolies only, you need the wrist band … that’s the key to the door to the beach party, and from our perspective that’s our safe zone.
Surfers Paradise Costa D’Oro restaurant and bar owner Nuccia Fusco said while Schoolies was one of the quietest weeks of the year she was happy with how respectful they were towards businesses.
“Unfortunately, Schoolies is not beneficial for us,” she said.
“With road closures and media coverage, it scares locals and regular customers from coming into town.
“Most Schoolies seem to stay in their hotel rooms until late and then head to the beach for their entertainment, so you don’t see too many walking the streets.
“The ones we have seen, have been very well behaved and seem to be respectful and very friendly when they walk past the restaurant.
“They always wave and say hello with a smile.
“They look like they are really happy to be here.”
While it was quiet for some restaurants, Mr Reaburn said anecdotally based on accommodation and living costs for a week, students were tipped to spend at least $22m.
School leaver McKenzie Richardson said the beach party at Surfers Paradise was “such a vibe”.
“There were so many people there. We are all so tired and have no voices and sore legs.”
School friends and graduates Ella McConville, Rebecca Miller, Lily Tappenden and Mikaela Claudius said they were surprised by how much they enjoyed their first night at the beach party.
“It was actually really good,” Ms Miller said.
“We are planning on going to the themed parties, too.
“I don’t know if it has hit me yet that we have finished school because we still have a whole week together.”
By the numbers
*15,000-20,000 school leavers expected
*78,000 cups of water to be handed out
*1000 volunteers (600 from Red Frog) to be on the ground
*60,000 pancakes to be cooked, and five tonnes of red frogs to be handed out
Cops: ‘Robust’ Schoolies response planned
November 19: Emergency services are promising “very robust” monitoring of this year’s Schoolies festival.
Up to 20,000 school leavers are expected to converge on Surfers Paradise from today, with nine government agencies preparing for “anything that comes their way”.
Despite thousands of cancellations from border-trapped interstate school leavers, the crackdown will include a heightened police presence, 24/7 metal-detector wanding and an emergency medical tent that could be filled by up to 200 teenagers a night.
Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory chairman Mark Reaburn said up to 1000 volunteers would man the streets.
“It’s a rite of passage and people say ban it, stop it. But we can’t stop it,” he said.
“Ultimately, these schoolies are coming and we are responding. We are ready.”
Queensland Police acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the police response would be ramped up and “very robust.”
“We have a number of uniform, plain clothes and specialist officers who will operate across the precinct,” he said.
Supt Wildman said additional police resources were pooled from outside of the Gold Coast and Brisbane to help at the festival.
“The Gold Coast is a safe place and our operations are all about enhancing that safety and making sure parents know their children will be looked after as best as possible.”
He said the Gold Coast’s ongoing wanding trial would be rolled out 24 hours a day during Schoolies, meaning partygoers could be stopped and checked at “any given time”.
“Since April 30, we have wanded over 1900 individuals in our safe-night precincts and have recovered 56 weapons.”
Supt Wildman said drug and alcohol patrols would increase during the week-long celebrations, as well as keeping an eye out for “toolies” looking to gatecrash the festival after last year’s cancelled event.
Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Justin Payne said daytime resources would be increased and, with help from Queensland Health, an emergency treatment centre was established for evenings.
“Queensland Ambulance Service would like to remind school leavers to stay safe, watch your mates and try and avoid undertaking any risk taking activity,” he said.
Gold Coast Health, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation and Red Frogs Australia also announced plans to ensure the “safest Schoolies event possible”.
Underage drinkers on notice
Earlier: Booze retailers Endeavour Group have warned underage teenagers at this week’s Schoolies they are serious about enforcing a responsible service of alcohol.
The drinks and hospitality business is rolling out a refreshed Schoolies program in almost 250 BWS and Dan Murphy’s stores and more than 50 ALH hotels, as well as its
e-commerce businesses, including delivery drivers.
Bottle shops across the Gold Coast will be on the watch for teens flaunting fake IDs, asking someone older to purchase or those purchasing for a minor.
BWS Q1 Surfers Paradise store manager Marcus Mlcek said security would be stepped up during the festival, with checks on “every” potential underage customer at the front door.
“Security will check the IDs of anyone who looks under 25 upon entry and will refuse entry to anyone who appears intoxicated,” he said.
“All staff have undertaken additional refresher course training and are on high alert for groups of schoolies.
“Anyone in the store who is underage, who is trying to supply minors or tries to use a fake ID will be escorted out of the store immediately, with fake IDs confiscated.”
Mr Mlcek said while the Gold Coast was a favourite for schoolies and it should be a fun time, staff needed to be vigilant and well prepared.
“It has been a tough year for school leavers and we want them to be able to celebrate their achievements, but we encourage them to do so in a safe and responsible way,” he said. “My advice is to not even think twice about entering a BWS store if you are underage or planning to supply your underage friends.”
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