Toowoomba region mum racially mocked by Harristown State High School students at public park after defacing toilets

A mum’s afternoon at a Toowoomba park turned into a horrifying experience when uniformed school students hurled racial abuse towards her and her children.

Toowoomba region resident Natasha Lim said she was racially mocked by Harristown State High School students at a public park in Toowoomba during school hours. She also believes students were responsible for defacing the park's public toilets.

A Toowoomba high school is investigating some of its students after a mum says she was racially mocked by a group of uniformed teens at a public park.

Natasha Lim was at Coronation Park on Tuesday afternoon with her children when she says a group of Harristown State High School students sat near her family at one of the barbecue areas.

When one of students asked for one of her doughnuts, Ms Lim told her she was saving them for her husband.

“They started pulling Chinese eyes and talking in a Chinese accent at me — he was mocking me and I said ‘you didn’t have to be so rude’,” she said.

Toowoomba region resident Natasha Lim said she was racially mocked by Harristown State High School students at a public park in Toowoomba during school hours. She also believes students were responsible for defacing the park's public toilets.

“They were spitting at the ground close to me — I was a bit uncomfortable, because I know what they could be capable of.

“They moved on because they needed to go and get a bus, about 20 minutes later they did come back and so we left.”

Ms Lim said when her child had to use the nearby public toilets, she discovered they had been recently tagged by graffiti.

She said while she wasn’t hurt, the incident had left her questioning the role of both the school and the children’s parents.

“It was just immature, but if your kids are getting out like that, maybe parents need to take control,” Ms Lim said.

“It makes me question what we can do to establish better foundations.

“If they’re in school hours, I would expect the school to be responsible.”

In a statement, a Department of Education spokeswoman said the school was investigating.

Toowoomba region resident Natasha Lim said she was racially mocked by Harristown State High School students at a public park in Toowoomba during school hours. She also believes students were responsible for defacing the park's public toilets.

“Where students in school uniform demonstrate unacceptable conduct during school hours, students, families and members of the community are encouraged to report incidents to the

school,” she said.

“The leadership team will investigate the matter and will take action in line with the school’s

student code of conduct. 

“Any form of racism and discrimination is unacceptable and Harristown State High School, as

with other schools in the state, will continue to work on strategies to promote cultural

inclusion, diversity and respect in the school community.

“In addition, the department provides a range of support to schools to prevent and address

discrimination, including teams of experts providing specialist assistance in student

protection, mental health, and student behaviour.”

The spokeswoman said the school used standard procedures to combat truancy, including roll-marking and parent notifications.

“To promote school attendance and address truancy that may occur during the school day,

schools and regions work with parents, carers and a range of school-based officers and

other stakeholders such as guidance officers, youth support co-ordinators, school-based

police officers, chaplains, community leaders and non-government organisations,” she said.