Duck hunting forum at Oakleigh Grammar cancelled after organisers planned to raffle off firearm

A duck hunting information night at a Melbourne private school has been cancelled after it was revealed organisers were planning to raffle off a firearm.

A duck hunting forum at a Melbourne school has been cancelled after it was revealed organisers planned to raffle off a firearm.

A duck hunting forum at a Melbourne school has been cancelled after it was revealed organisers were planning to raffle off a firearm.

The Victorian Duck Hunters Association was due to hold an information night at Oakleigh Grammar’s school hall ahead of the 2025 duck season.

But Oakleigh Grammar on Tuesday confirmed the February 26 event would not go ahead on its grounds after duck rescuers alerted the school.

It’s understood the school uses a booking system to rent out the hall but weren’t aware of the exact details of the event.

Promotional material for the event, obtained by the Herald Sun, revealed that a “massive prize pool” was on offer, including a firearm.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said: “As we watch on in horror at school shootings around the world it is a reminder that our gun laws that we as Australians should be incredibly proud of.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell and anti-duck hunting campaigner Laurie Levy. Picture: Doug Gimsey

“The fact that the duck shooting fraternity thought that it was in any way appropriate to take firearms into a school grounds for an event where children would be present and then promote it as a raffle prize says absolutely everything that we need to know about them,” she said.

“Despite making up such a tiny percentage of our population, duck shooters are dangerous, they are harmful and I will never forgive the Allan government for backing them in.”

In a statement, Oakleigh Grammar Principal Mark Robertson said the event would no longer take place on school grounds.

“I confirm that I have not approved the intended hire due to my concern of alignment of the proposed hirer to our school’s mission, values, associated ethical considerations and the potential impact on our community,” he said.

“No hire contract has been signed nor have any monies been received by the Victorian Duck Hunters Association.”

Oakleigh Grammar is located in the electorate of Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos, who last year ignored the key recommendation of a government-established parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry recommended the state government ban duck hunting.

A Victorian Duck Hunters Association spokesman said firearms would not have been taken onsite.

“Any winners of any such prizes have to be licenced and the prizes collected from a licenced firearm dealer as per the usual process in acquiring a firearm – a process that is quite onerous,” he said.

“We accept that the school has every right to manage its facilities as it sees fit, however the bullying (we have) received from anti hunting activists and extremists should signal concern for other like minded organisations.

“Our booking at Oakleigh Grammar was for an estimated crowd of 250 people. We are now seeking larger venues as the feedback we have received indicates we will attract a much larger crowd.”