Geelong Grammar ‘boys from Bourke’ Charlie and Barney Mort finally across border

Geelong Grammar’s ‘boys from Bourke’, kept “virtual prisoners” in Victoria for weeks because of COVID-19 border closures, have been granted an exemption and finally made it home after their plight made it all the way to the Senate.

Brothers Barney and Charlie Mort are trapped at Geelong Grammar by current border restrictions. Picture: Mark Stewart

Geelong Grammar’s ‘boys from Bourke’ – trapped in Victoria for weeks because of COVID-19 border closures – are finally home.

Barney and Charlie Mort’s story was raised in the Senate last week after being revealed in the Herald Sun, with New South Wales Senator Perin Davey saying they were being kept “virtual prisoners” in Victoria.

Barney, 18, said they left Geelong with their dog Barty at 4am on Saturday, in their farm ute, after finally being granted an exemption permit to cross the NSW border.

“We are very happy to be home,” Barney said.

The brothers have been granted an exemption after their story made it to the Senate. Picture: Mark Stewart

At 5.30pm on Saturday, their mum Michelle sent a photo of the boys at the farm mailbox.

Barney and Charlie, who board at Geelong Grammar School, told their story to the Herald Sun late last month, worried they had nowhere to go when their boarding house shut for the school holidays, because border closures meant they could not drive home to their farm, 150km west of Bourke, in northwest New South Wales.

At the time, Barney said he and Charlie, 17, felt stressed, “stranded … and somewhat homeless”.

President of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Claire Butler said she was pleased to see “common sense has prevailed”, and the boys had been allowed to drive home to see their parents.

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