‘Armed with a machete’: School crossing supervisors face road rampage

Geelong’s school crossing supervisors have reported one incident almost every school day, including a driver threatening staff with a machete and another performing burn outs at the crossing.

School crossing supervisor Jade Szaran working outside the Geelong College middle school on Aberdeen St, Newtown. Picture: Alison Wynd

A driver brandishing a machete is among dozens of alarming threats faced by Geelong’s school crossing supervisors, with one incident reported almost every school day.

Council received 170 safety-related incidents between October 1, 2024 and October 1, 2025, City life executive director Anthony Basford said.

“During this time frame, there were 149 reports of drive throughs or near misses, which were raised with Victoria Police and School Crossing Victoria, as well as 21 separate incident reports that have been lodged in our safety reporting system Risk Ware,” Mr Basford said.

“Some incidents were alarming in nature, including a driver leaving their vehicle armed with a machete, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour towards supervisors, drivers performing burn outs.”

School crossing supervisor Jade Szaran outside Geelong College middle school on Aberdeen St, Newtown. Picture: Alison Wynd

Geelong College parent Kirsten Callan experienced this first-hand when her son Rupert – who was five at the time – was nearly hit by a car at a traffic light crossing on Minerva Rd.

Kirsten Callan’s son Rupert, 5, had his scooter run over and was nearly struck by a vehicle on Aberdeen St Newtown. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ms Callan said the crossing supervisor was already in the intersection and the green pedestrian light was on when a car turned the corner and came straight towards them.

She said she had to pull Rupert off his scooter to avoid being hit.

“The car just kept going … running over the handle bars,” Ms Callan said.

She said another driver who saw what happened pulled over to check if they were okay.

Ms Callan, who regularly walks her children to and from school, said she now prefers to use the Aberdeen St crossing, which she says feels safer.

Other incidents reported involve trucks mounting kerbs, signage being knocked down and a traffic light brought down by a heavy vehicle on Aphrasia St, Newtown.

School crossing supervisor Jade Szaran working outside the Geelong College middle school on Aberdeen St, Newtown. Picture: Alison Wynd

Children’s crossing supervisor Jade Szaran said she had noticed a growing number of drivers not slowing down to 40km/h as required during school times.

“There seems to be more distracted and speeding drivers now than ever before,” Ms Szaran

said.

“I experienced a drive-through at my own crossing which was very confronting.

“Somehow, I managed to leap away from the vehicle coming straight towards me, while the students ran to the side of the road.

“One of the student’s hands actually connected with the side of the car but the driver kept going and did not stop.”

When the Geelong Advertiser visited a school crossing on Aberdeen St for just 20 minutes during drop-off, three cars were seen overshooting the white stop line by about 5m – stopping directly on the crossing where supervisors, students and parents walk.

It is understood police were also called to two separate incidents in the Surf Coast region between October 1 2024 and October 1 2025, where vehicles drove through crossings while pedestrians were present.

Ms Szaran said while she welcomed the new flashing signs to improve driver awareness, vigilance from motorists remained crucial.

“I just want to remind everyone to be extra careful when driving around schools,” Ms Szaran said.

“One simple mistake can have huge consequences.”

Originally published as ‘Armed with a machete’: School crossing supervisors face road rampage