One punch victim David Cassai’s mum taking to Rye streets to keep schoolies safe
Thousands of schoolies are flooding the Mornington Peninsula for a massive music festival. Here’s how one mum is helping to keep them safe.
South East
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A grieving mum has made a painful return to the scene of her son’s death in a bid to keep thousands of schoolies safe on the Mornington Peninsula.
Caterina Politi, who’s son David Cassai was killed by a coward punch in Rye in 2012, has taken her Stop One Punch Can Kill campaign to the foreshore ahead of a massive two day music festival on Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s hard to be here, so close to where David was killed. But, I don’t want another family to go through the same pain,” Ms Politi said.
“I want to make sure the message gets through. Walk away. Keep your fists down. Look after your mates and call them out if they misbehave.
Ms Politi also wanted young people to be responsible for their actions.
“Don’t expect others to look out for you and then be left with the burden of guilt if something happens.”
Mornington Peninsula Shire youth workers will wear Stop One Punch Can Kill T-shirts and hand out branded wrist bands to schoolies during the festival which is expected to attract at least 7000.
Local traders have also put up posters for the campaign.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Steve Holland said Ms Politi’s involvement added an extra layer of security to the event and spread a message that was important year round.
“Since Covid young people have forgotten how to behave,” Mr Holland said.
“This is a reminder that hopefully will make them think twice.”
The music festival, to be held on the Rye foreshore, was a welcome change of direction for the council, Mr Holland said.
“The council used to try and stop people coming here for schoolies. There was a real ‘no fun, no nonsense approach’,” he said.
“But the thinking now is that they’re coming anyway and formalising the celebrations with events like the festival make it easy to manage and safe for everyone.”
Ms Politi also welcomed the council’s hands on approach to schoolies.
“The kids need something to do and an organised event helps stop them looking for their own fun, which often leads to trouble.”
Ms Politi said her son’s death on New Year’s Eve had “changed Rye forever”.
“It used to be this safe haven for people to have fun and then the violence started to take over,” she said.
Mr Cassai, 22, was walking along the Rye shopping strip on their way back to Rosebud campgrounds on December 31, 2012 when he was fatally hit in an unprovoked attack.
In 2014 Dylan Closter was sentenced to a minimum of six years jail for manslaughter and affray.
He was released in 2020.
Since David’s death, Ms Politi has successfully campaigned for strict coward punch laws that imposed a minimum 10-year sentence
She also lobbied for CCTV cameras on the Rye foreshore and in 2018 13 were installed.
Mobile cameras will be used along the foreshore to increase security during schoolies.
Extra security was also being brought in to monitor “problem” short stay rentals with a history of disrupting nearby residents.
Rental property owners in the area can also be slapped with fines of up to $3700 if neighbours complained about their guests.