Eastside Lutheran College principal says ‘gang of youths’ to blame for violent attacks on students

Two Hobart principals have spoken out about a series of violent unprovoked attacks on their students at a bus stop, saying something must be done before a child is ‘seriously hurt’.

A “gang of youths” has been blamed for a series of unprovoked attacks on school students at a Sorell bus stop and there are fears a child could be “seriously hurt” if the violence isn’t urgently stamped out.

Eastside Lutheran College principal Wendy Ruback said a number of her students had been assaulted at the bus interchange on Station Ln, where the coach service Redline drops off passengers.

A Redline bus picks students up from Eastside Lutheran College about 3.10pm every weekday afternoon and arrives at the Sorell stop about 4pm.

One Year 7 student from the Warrane school was recently hospitalised overnight after being “set upon” by “about 20 kids” as he disembarked the bus, Ms Ruback said.

“It’s a gang of youths who are hanging around (carrying out the attacks),” she said.

“It’s ongoing and it’s real violence. It’s ridiculous when a Grade 7 child can’t feel safe.”

Ms Ruback said another of her students had been “bashed” at the bus stop, and that “a few small incidents” had also occurred there.

Eastside Lutheran College principal

“The police are saying that they’re under-resourced so they can’t be there,” she said.

“It’s only through luck that somebody hasn’t been badly hurt. It won’t be long before they either pull a knife or they do something else.

“Someone’s going to get seriously hurt.”

MacKillop Catholic College principal Stephen Hill also fears for the safety of his students, after one of them was assaulted recently at the same bus stop.

“Following the incident at Sorell, we met with our affected students to check on their welfare and offer pastoral support,” he said. “I’m pleased to say our students are OK, despite the confronting nature of the incident.”

“We have also been in contact with parents of the students involved, and some parents have chosen to remain at the Sorell bus interchange before and after school to ensure their children remain safe. While this is not a long-term solution, it is giving our students some peace of mind.

“We are concerned that the same group of young people responsible for the assaults on students continue to frequent the Sorell bus interchange.”

A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said police patrolled Sorell “at all times of the day” and were “committed” to keeping the community safe.

“Police are aware of a small number of incidents involving youths in the Sorell area in recent weeks,” she said.

“Those involved have been identified, and the matter is being actively addressed by police.”

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