Sunday, November 27, 2005
Schoolies stoush
The Advertiser - 27nov05
"TOOLIES" who prey on students have marred schoolies festivities at Victor Harbor, gatecrashing the final hurrah after a stressful final year of study.
Eleven adults – dubbed "toolies" – were arrested for behavioural offences on Friday night as a crowd of 6000 flocked to the Fleurieu Penninsula party.
Two large brawls were among the only significant schoolies incidents – one of which involved up to 20 youths.
It spilled from the footpath on to Victoria St about 1.45am yesterday morning, but no one was arrested during the fracas.
And in what is believed to be a schoolies prank, a security guard's vehicle was overturned causing $3000 damage, and a 10m length of a brick wall was smashed in at the local lawn bowls club.
Superintendent Michael Cornish, of South Coast police, said it was disappointing adults had hijacked the event, souring what was generally good behaviour by the school leavers.
"Police were generally pleased with the behaviour of students involved. Most were responsible and well-behaved," Supt Cornish said.
"Obviously we had other people in the area not directly linked to (schoolies) activities and there was offending.
"We are not happy about that and we will continue to police the area and surrounding areas."
Supt Cornish said there had been no reports of sexual assaults or drink spiking from yesterday or Friday night.
Mounted police, police on bicycles and foot patrols monitored the event searching cars and cautioning and issuing $170 expiation notices to youngsters drinking alcohol in the dry zone.
Police also visited the township's two caravan parks, the most popular haunts for schoolies.
While excessive drinking was favoured, schoolies also spoke of other vices, including drugs, but they were less prevalent.
"My car was searched by police, but they found nothing," one male teenager cheekily told the Sunday Mail.
"Yeah, the pills (ecstasy) were in my purse," his girlfriend laughed. "They didn't look there."
Despite the cool weather and gusty winds, the main street became a sea of scantily clad females, decked in mini skirts, bikini tops and rubber thongs.
Others donned skimpy school uniforms for the last time.
The message was clear from high school graduate Jordan.
"No more school, no more school," he yelled, his voice hoarse, his body swaying to the effects of his self-confessed vodka splurge.
Seaford youths Tom "T-Bone" Robertson, 18, and mate Mickey Brown, 16, said there were ways of getting around the dry zone. "We're just chillin'," Mickey said. "We had to drink in the car before we came down."
As the night wore on some rolled out swags, others camped in cars, while many walked the 2km pilgrimage to the caravan parks.
SA Ambulance South Coast area manager Paul Weise said paramedics transported two people to hospital for excessive alcohol consumption, but there were were few other issues.
"It was the quietest Friday night at schoolies in two years." he said.
"TOOLIES" who prey on students have marred schoolies festivities at Victor Harbor, gatecrashing the final hurrah after a stressful final year of study.
Eleven adults – dubbed "toolies" – were arrested for behavioural offences on Friday night as a crowd of 6000 flocked to the Fleurieu Penninsula party.
Two large brawls were among the only significant schoolies incidents – one of which involved up to 20 youths.
It spilled from the footpath on to Victoria St about 1.45am yesterday morning, but no one was arrested during the fracas.
And in what is believed to be a schoolies prank, a security guard's vehicle was overturned causing $3000 damage, and a 10m length of a brick wall was smashed in at the local lawn bowls club.
Superintendent Michael Cornish, of South Coast police, said it was disappointing adults had hijacked the event, souring what was generally good behaviour by the school leavers.
"Police were generally pleased with the behaviour of students involved. Most were responsible and well-behaved," Supt Cornish said.
"Obviously we had other people in the area not directly linked to (schoolies) activities and there was offending.
"We are not happy about that and we will continue to police the area and surrounding areas."
Supt Cornish said there had been no reports of sexual assaults or drink spiking from yesterday or Friday night.
Mounted police, police on bicycles and foot patrols monitored the event searching cars and cautioning and issuing $170 expiation notices to youngsters drinking alcohol in the dry zone.
Police also visited the township's two caravan parks, the most popular haunts for schoolies.
While excessive drinking was favoured, schoolies also spoke of other vices, including drugs, but they were less prevalent.
"My car was searched by police, but they found nothing," one male teenager cheekily told the Sunday Mail.
"Yeah, the pills (ecstasy) were in my purse," his girlfriend laughed. "They didn't look there."
Despite the cool weather and gusty winds, the main street became a sea of scantily clad females, decked in mini skirts, bikini tops and rubber thongs.
Others donned skimpy school uniforms for the last time.
The message was clear from high school graduate Jordan.
"No more school, no more school," he yelled, his voice hoarse, his body swaying to the effects of his self-confessed vodka splurge.
Seaford youths Tom "T-Bone" Robertson, 18, and mate Mickey Brown, 16, said there were ways of getting around the dry zone. "We're just chillin'," Mickey said. "We had to drink in the car before we came down."
As the night wore on some rolled out swags, others camped in cars, while many walked the 2km pilgrimage to the caravan parks.
SA Ambulance South Coast area manager Paul Weise said paramedics transported two people to hospital for excessive alcohol consumption, but there were were few other issues.
"It was the quietest Friday night at schoolies in two years." he said.
