Flares, fistfights and debauchery as schoolies rampage on Mornington Peninsula
Unruly schoolies have again clashed with police in Rye on Friday night, with pepper spray used on the revellers as parties spilt out of control. It comes days after dozens of riot police swarmed the seaside town in an attempt to restore order.
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Unruly groups of schoolies have clashed with police in Rye on Friday night, with officers pelted with bottles and capsicum spray used on the revellers.
Police initially responded to out-of-control parties in Rye and Blairgowrie before the groups of schoolies, aged in their late teens to early 20s, then moved to Rye pier.
A wild brawl erupted at the pier with several people sustaining minor injuries.
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Police spokesman Luke Zammit said the group of unruly schoolies began throwing bottles at police with officers needing to use capsicum spray.
“Upon arrival, the crowd began throwing bottles at police, with capsicum spray used at the scene,” he said.
Two of the party goers are expected to be issued with infringement notices for riotous behaviour, and the investigation into the brawls continues.
Earlier, lawless schoolies set off flares and took drugs in front of police in a dramatic night of chaos on the Rye foreshore on Thursday night.
Hundreds of boozed-up school leavers took to the streets, transforming the main foreshore into a wild party zone.
Four flares were set off and thrown around the packed, intoxicated crowd before midnight.
Youths could be heard screaming as the dangerous, blazing device rocketed through the air and into groups of people.
Four marked police cars quickly responded.
A daring youth set off a flare metres away from police, who promptly confiscated it before speaking with a number of partygoers.
No arrests were made.
Meanwhile, an altercation broke out between two groups of males.
One could be heard screaming, “he touched my girl,” before charging at a young man in the crowd.
Friends de-escalated the fight, pulling both parties apart before any physical violence could erupt.
A security official who did not want to be named said more youths were arriving at the foreshore every night.
She claimed the majority were over-age “toolies” rather than new school leavers.
“Bad things come in threes,” she said, after the first flare was set off.
Youths openly talked about scoring drugs, partying at rental properties and posted nude antics on social media.
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A Facebook group titled “Rye Schoolies 2018”, which has almost 8000 members, was used by youths in search of drugs.
One wrote: “Who has choof (cannabis) to sell ASAP.”
Another wrote: “Need a lot of nangs. Who can provide?”
Nangs are small canisters of nitrous oxide gas which are inhaled for a dangerous and potent high.
Doctors have warned the recreational drug can lead to severe nerve injury.
The cans are sold in supermarkets, traditionally used for whipped cream.
A youth in Rye wrote on Facebook: “No, IGA does not sell cream f---ing charges.”
Youths appeared to be using nangs on the foreshore.
In nearby Capel Sound, there were reports of a stabbing about 8pm.
The patient, believed to be an 18-year-old male, took himself to hospital before paramedics arrived.
It is uncertain if the incident was related to schoolies.
About the same time, a lone male youth walked into the Rye front beach fully clothed with headphones.
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The youth — heard talking and laughing to himself — concerned passers-by, who phoned police.
It comes after dozens of riot police swarmed the seaside town on Saturday night after schoolies chaos broke out on the Rye foreshore.
The trouble kicked off about 9.30pm, when a bottle was thrown at a police unit.
The Public Order Response Team, police helicopter and dog squad responded to the ugly incident, which involved up to 150 youths.
And on the Gold Coast, Hamish Bidgood, 18, plunged to his death from a balcony reportedly after inhaling nitrous oxide early yesterday.
