Well myself I like to see it be banned, sorry kids !!

We know that newly ex-Year 12 students finished 14 years of education (from Pre-school to Year 12), but Schoolies Week I heard have gone too far of having a good time by alcohol-related trouble at the Gold Coast !!

What should be banned is the feral element of non school leavers that stir things up!

NO

We need to stop spending money to "ban" things that you can't possibly ban.  You can't stop teenagers being teenagers just like you can't stop people smoking or drinking or taking drugs or all the other things that we try to ban.  All we do is spend obscene amounts of our money (it's not the government's money you know - we earned it and they took it without asking) trying in vain to police the bans.  None of these "bans" are ever going to be successful.

You can't ban something like Schoolies, its not possible. These graduates are still going to get together and have wild parties, no matter what the law says. It is a pity that so many feel the need to get drunk and violent. And thats the only coverage we ever get on Schoolies. Based ONLY on what I have seen and heard through the media, its just a drunken fest where girls are raped and guys are bashed. Does anyone have anything positive to say about Schoolies? I would like to have a balanced view.

Well, when I went 25 years ago, there was lots of easy sex to be had, and a few good fights, so I had fun. Dont think it has changed all that much.

It is not an organised event so it cant be banned. What they should do is prosecute parents who supply grog to their underage kids, and lock em up if found intoxicated. 95% of them will be under 18.

YES on behalf of ever young buck out there.
NO on behalf of every father out there.

NO

My daughter is going down to the Gold Coast when her half sister comes up from NSW with her BF to celebrate, she will stay with them the entire time. They will fly up. My daughter, 28 wants to keep an eye on her 17 yr old sister to keep her safe. My daughter goes down to the Gold Coast frequently with a girlfriend to go out, socialise and dance. Every weekend there are assaults, attacks, stabbings, rapes, other sexual assaults... you name it. Schoolies or no schoolies this happens all the time regardless. The problem with schoolies is the 'toolies' that think at their age (19-40) they can join in with the celebrations and they can't. The areas for schoolies are cordoned off and separated from the general public. They stray out of those areas in their alcohol (at the very least) induced haze and they end up fair game to these tools of society. Schoolies is deemed a 'rite of passage' and although I dread it every year at this time it is not our right to take this away from them. They have spent the majority of their lives, the last 13-14 years, in formal education, they do deserve to cut loose and let off steam. It is up to us to give them the tools and knowledge to get through the next few years, including schoolies, relatively unscathed.

Quoted from SuziH

NO
17 yr old

My daughter goes down to the Gold Coast frequently with a girlfriend to go out, socialise and dance.

Every weekend there are assaults, attacks, stabbings, rapes, other sexual assaults... you name it.

Er.... and you still let your 17 year old daughter go there?

No... the 17 year old is NOT my daughter she is my first husbands daughter from his 2nd marriage. My daughter is 28 and I had no problem with her wanting to go to Schoolies at the end of 1994. She was working and didn't want to go. My daughter is going to go to Surfer's Paradise (but not go to schoolies events), keeping an eye out for her half sister and her half sister's boyfriend. I was frankly very relieved when my very sensible, responsible daughter didn't want to attend schoolies 11 years ago BUT Schoolies is a far more organised and safer event than it was then, thank goodness.

When you think about it schoolies 'week' is a misnomer because it is longer than a week. Schoolies lasts up to three weeks with each influx of school leavers lasting around a week. NSW are now arriving on the Gold Coast with other's departing at the same time. Queenslanders are the first group to arrive at Schoolies.
This report is in today's National Nine News Online.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=71376

14 arrested at schoolies
Friday Nov 25 18:29 AEDT

Police made 33 arrests during schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast as they braced for an influx of NSW school leavers.

Fourteen of the 33 people arrested on 39 charges were schoolies.

Gold Coast district Superintendent Brett Pointing said police faced the biggest festival challenge this weekend when an expected 20,000 NSW school leavers descend on Surfers Paradise.

The strategies for police will change because NSW school leavers are mainly aged 18 and able to access licensed premises.

Police worry the combination of NSW and Queensland school leavers could create havoc on Surfer's Paradise streets.

Compared with this time last year, police had arrested 254 people, including 75 schoolies and 179 toolies (older people who gatecrash the festival).

This year at the same stage they have made 260 arrests - 65 schoolies and 195 toolies - indicating school leavers have generally been well behaved.

On Thursday night police confiscated a knife from a 17-year-old and arrested a schoolie for cannabis possession.

"Overall we thought the crowds were up and police had a very busy night," Supt Pointing said.

"One thing we did observe was a lot more minor scuffles.

"I think that's consistent with last year when towards the end of the first week people become tired and partied out.

"Last night we arrested a high percentage of people for disorderly conduct."

Quoted from Gizmo

Banning would never work

Prohibition just makes people more creative.

It always beats me WHY responsible parents let their underage kids go away on these trips when they KNOW full well it is a time of booze, sex and drugs.

Quoted from Lawnbowler

It always beats me WHY responsible parents let their underage kids go away on these trips when they KNOW full well it is a time of booze, sex and drugs.

Don't forget Lawnbowler that after letting their kids do this and something bad happens to their child they blame the government or the police or anyone but themselves.  

Quoted from cactus

Prohibition just makes people more creative.

I'm gonna make that a bumper sticker Cactus.  Have never heard it said better

Quoted from BSquared

I'm gonna make that a bumper sticker Cactus.

That's okay; I though you were gonna have a go at my comment given my stance on regulation (prohibition) in advertising!

SA Police arrested 19 people during schoolies' week in Victor, 18 of whom were not school leavers...

I'm starting to get a clearer picture of Schoolies now. It does seem to be the Toolies that cause the problems.

Toolies (read Tools) permeate every facet of our lives. When the Schoolies aren't on the Gold Coast the Toolies are still their doing what they do best, being tools.
I think it stinks that the 'organisers' of 'Schoolies' in Surfer's have closed up shop and left. No Beach Disco's for NSW and Victorian schoolies. No organised fun. No BMX displays. NOTHING for anyone under 18. They claim that most schoolies from the southern states are 18 or over and therefore can go to licenced premises. There are a lot of student/schoolies who are under 18. What do they get to do? This was not made known until today when the organisers began to pack up. There wont even be assistance for those young adults who need it for example: if they are drunk, attacked, sexually molested or suffering the effects of drugs. There will be regular police and ambulance services but that's it. I think it stinks and I believe the Gold Coast City Council have made a huge blunder and tourism will be the loser (after the new influx of Schoolies who are the real losers right now).

This guy has been banned from Schoolies!

Schoolies 'brawler' banned
Joel Dullroy
29nov05

AN alleged serial Schoolies brawler has been banned from returning to Surfers Paradise after being arrested for the third night in a row.

Southport magistrate Catherine Pirie yesterday ordered 17-year-old Adam James Pluta to stay away from Schoolies celebrations for the rest of the event.

Pluta was charged with causing a public nuisance after allegedly attempting to start a fight with a fellow Schoolies reveller who was dancing with his estranged girlfriend.

It was Pluta's second Schoolies-related court appearance in three days. On Saturday he pleaded guilty to charges of common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm and was fined $2050.

That same evening television crews filmed Pluta being arrested on the beach for further alleged offences.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jim Pedlow said Pluta was a repeat offender who should not be allowed back into Surfers Paradise.

"He was arrested every night for three nights, and was previously warned by police," Sgt Pedlow said.

"He was seen with his fists raised . . . he constantly stated that he wanted to smash the other person."

Ms Pirie released Pluta on bail until December 9 on the condition that he "not attend Surfers Paradise".

However, Pluta loudly objected to the condition and insisted he had a right to continue partying.

"It's my Schoolies year. I was trying to have a good time," said Pluta, an apprentice renderer from Southport.

School leavers from southern states will continue to celebrate their Schoolies Week until Friday night.

The official 10-day beachfront entertainment program ended on Sunday night, and schoolies are now expected to retreat to nightclubs to find entertainment.

Police have been kept far busier in the second week of Schoolies, with a higher number of arrests of both school leavers and gatecrashers at the weekend.

Article in todays Courier Mail (Brisbane paper) about how kids are going to Thailand instead, no enforcement of drinking laws and much cheaper.

Actually I am suprised this has not occured earlier.

It is obvious that not ALL schoolies from all over Oz go to the Gold Coast, it just seems that way at the time! I have heard of school leavers going offshore, on cruises, and visiting Qld Islands. Here on the Sunny Coast many quieter more studious and serious school leavers have been seen having an enjoyable but inconspicuous time.  

Ban whom, from what, when and how? If your intention is to ban young people and others from migrating to Queensland ask yourself those questions

Maybe we should keep Queensland for the boring!

My 28 year old daughter went down to 'watch over' her 17yo sister and her sister's boyfriend. She spent only 3 days with them last week as it got washed out. While she was there she found the management and staff of the accommodations rude, disrespectful and taking advantage of green kids who have yet to learn about life. The kids paid exorbitant prices for accommodation and were treated like less than human beings. In one unit block the management and staff would burst into the rooms unannounced and rifle through all the schoolies belongings, then leave. All hours of the day and night. My daughter went to enter a place as a 'guest' of a paying guest to use the pool which under normal circumstances IS allowed but not that week, she was told to leave. When questioning the staff as to why she was treated badly. She is a strong girl my daughter and insisted they answer her question that if it was any other week but Schoolies would she be allowed to enter as a guest of a guest. They eventually answered her...'Yes'. When she was scheduled to leave there was a time she had to be out by. She was running a few minutes late, rang the reception to tell them and a woman ripped through her and said she had to be out NOW. My daughter tried to get a word in and tell the woman why she was running late and that she would be another 10 minutes Max. In the end she was persistent enough for the woman to actually listen and said 'I WILL be out in 10 minutes, I just have to pack up my things and I will leave.' I would not return to a place that treated me with such disrespect. These kids should warn everyone about what a rip off it is and how badly they were treated.

Well you dont think they put up with the underage drinking and partying out of the goodness of there hearts - they are taking as much advantage as the older kids and others whom also go to schoolies - its like the annual sardine run, all the sharks show up.

I think schoolies sounds bad, I don't want to go, to the coast. Not to say I wouldn't go elsewhere.. but not the sunshine/gold coast.
BTW most Qld people are 17 when they finish school, but nsw people are 18 :S

lol awful
that would just make people rebel

and it's no better this year.  I do think that the QLD. govt. is partially at fault, or at least complete morons,  if what this report says is true...

Quoted Text

It also came as the Queensland Government faced criticism for allowing the open sale of drug paraphernalia at chemists offering "schoolies week specials" on bongs and the $20 glass pipes used to take the drug ice.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20820068-2,00.html

Quoted from BSquared

NO

We need to stop spending money to "ban" things that you can't possibly ban.  You can't stop teenagers being teenagers just like you can't stop people smoking or drinking or taking drugs or all the other things that we try to ban.  All we do is spend obscene amounts of our money (it's not the government's money you know - we earned it and they took it without asking) trying in vain to police the bans.  None of these "bans" are ever going to be successful.

... that is SO true...

I didn't go to schoolies. I don't like the drugs and the assaults that happen every year, so I instead had a party with my mates. Apart from alcohol, there was nothing dangerous there. However, I don't think Schoolies should be banned. It's the toolies that are ruining it for everyone.

Yeah stupid creepy adults!!
Only 2 years until I finish

Quoted from dara

I think schoolies sounds bad, I don't want to go, to the coast. Not to say I wouldn't go elsewhere.. but not the sunshine/gold coast.
BTW most Qld people are 17 when they finish school, but nsw people are 18 :S

You should of written 'most NSW school leavers are 18' not all are Dara. My daughter was born in April and after year 12 would of turned 18 the following April. Several of her friends were in the same situation. I am happy to say my daughter never had any desire to have a week long holiday at any schoolies venue. We were on the Sunny Coast by then and she worked as well as attending school, from the age of 14. She has made up for the lack of schoolies since turning 18 though. And YES Dara, it is the adult or non-school leavers who ruin it (mostly) for the real school leavers.

I'm not 18 yet

Lol
well mainly in nsw cuz if i was there i would only be in year 9, because of the prep year they are a year behind.

Most in SA are 17 when they finish year 12.

Thats still not old enough to drink and go on the binge....................I said last year it should be stopped and nothing this year has made me change my mind.

Yes, those outrageous kids shouldn't be out at all.
What is schoolies about? Sex, drug, stealing, and destroying properties.

It's actually the toolies that bring this to the parties, not the party goers themselves.

And I wouldn't call them kids

Quoted from dara

Yeah stupid creepy adults!! . . .

Nice!

Quoted from normangerman

It's actually the toolies that bring this to the parties, not the party goers themselves.

Now you are fooling yourself . . of course many of the 'schoolies' use/take drugs to this event.

Quoted from normangerman

And I wouldn't call them kids

Come back and talk to us when you are 21 . . you will look back on that comment with deep embarrassment . .  

Just wait 'til you have given life to a baby and nurtured it, cared for its health, educated it and loved it fully for 17-18 years . . then he/she goes off to 'schoolies' with thousands of other teens  . . and is returned to you either dead. . or worse . . brain injured for life . . just remember, he was having fun!!  and it was all in the spirit of youthful game playing    . .  you will only understand the fear of parents . .when you are one.

If I have kids, I wouldn't allow my boy to get wild with schoolie as an excuse, and I would tell my daughter how easy it is to get drugged then raped.

A sane people won't stay in the same accommodation with uncontrollable schoolie kids. They showed no respect to any properties and expected to get trapped in the fire.

"and is returned to you either dead. . or worse . . brain injured for life"

Hmm, I can't remember hearing about anyone killed out there... or even getting brain damage. And neither have I heard anything of houses on fire or property damage...

Quoted from normangerman

"and is returned to you either dead. . or worse . . brain injured for life"

Hmm, I can't remember hearing about anyone killed out there... or even getting brain damage. And neither have I heard anything of houses on fire or property damage...

Let me fix that right now .  . .he is in a coma.  

http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/article/2006/11/24/2002_printstory.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20813688-5006786,00.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20813388-1702,00.html

But Gizmo, what should the people who finished Year 12 do instead? I mean, they have just finished a 13-year long stage of their life that they worked and learnt extremely hard under. Isn't it a bit too conservative to just leave them locked up at home, and be anti-social? But I guess you have your own views and opinion, and I do respect that.

It's sad for the guy in the coma... but that's 1/50,000 people or so... no more of a chance than someone getting killed or injuried in a car accident. In life we sometimes have to take that risk. And it's not compulsory to go... if you don't like it you can leave at anytime. If the parents don't like it, they can stop them.

I see it more as a big party, a big reward of some sort than a big brawl as others might like to describe it as.

I agree with what Norman said.
And just because you don't have kids doesn't mean you can't understand. And I didn't mean every adult obviously Giz, just toolies.

Ps just because you are above 21 doesn't make you smarter than someone below 21.

In SA the kids behaved well.  

Quoted Text

SOUTH Australia's schoolies celebrations wrap up today with police generally happy with the behaviour of those gathered at Victor Harbor.

and

Quoted Text

Police made more than 40 arrests over the three nights...a police spokesman said only four of those arrested last night were considered schoolies.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20827737-5006301,00.html

Quoted from normangerman

But Gizmo, what should the people who finished Year 12 do instead? I mean, they have just finished a 13-year long stage of their life that they worked and learnt extremely hard under. Isn't it a bit too conservative to just leave them locked up at home, and be anti-social? ...

They can do what you did, Norman;  go out and have fun.  Or what my year 12s did (some at least), have a great meal with their wonderful English teacher.

Quoted from dara

Yeah stupid creepy adults!!

With an attitude like that Dara ,it will be ages before you are one yourself  

LB - I think she was referring to the "toolies" type adults, not the respectable "normal" ones like you and me.  

LW I didn't mean every adult I meant toolies as I said before >:C

Lol paula did you really have dinner with them?

I'm not going to schoolies.

Quoted from Lawnbowler

With an attitude like that Dara ,it will be ages before you are one yourself  

BTW that is true anyway. I am only 15. Therefore it is literally ages until I will be an adult.

I feel, and this is just my opinion.... that schoolies who want to misbehave, act up, drink alcohol (legal or illegal) or do/try illegal substances do go to the Gold Coast. Schoolies who don't intend to do those things also go to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. At these venues there are schoolies only areas fenced/roped off and under security and police patrols. In Queensland it is illegal to walk around with alcohol in public places and streets. If you are caught you are fined. I love that law because it has made park land areas and beaches alcohol free and family friendly. I feel that schoolies who just want to have a good time and let off steam after 13 years of non stop schooling tend to stay in their local areas. The idea that going to the 'Goldie' for schoolies is to be as far out of reach of parental control as possible. It is controlled and policed and events organised very well IMHO but there will always be the few bad apples who spoil the whole barrel.  

sorry Dara, misunderstood your remark....................................

They have shown footage of the schoolies over here in the west hitting our SW town of Duns borough and Rottnest Island.  About 30 evictions so far from the island and numerous kids admitted to hospital with alcohol poisoning.  The behavior of those kids in front of camera was utterly disgusting and gross.  I pity the parents who see their kids on TV in this situation, utterly drunk.  
I thank god that none of my 5 daughters ever acted in this way, they were not angels but at least they knew when to stop.
Perhaps I was just lucky.....

Quoted from normangerman

But Gizmo, what should the people who finished Year 12 do instead? I mean, they have just finished a 13-year long stage of their life that they worked and learnt extremely hard under. Isn't it a bit too conservative to just leave them locked up at home, and be anti-social?.

There is middle ground too . . I didn't say they all had to stay locked up and out of sight.

Somewhere in between staying home alone and a drunken crowd of 50,000 there has to be something to do that does not involve a whole week of unguarded risk taking  . . that's all I was saying.  

Quoted from dara

... Lol paula did you really have dinner with them?...

Yep, last Friday night at Fasta Pasta!  

Quoted from Paula

Yep, last Friday night at Fasta Pasta!  

Hahaha, funny-as. Did you bring your cat?

Did you mark them on eating efficiency and then scaled them up or down?

Haha, some random thoughts there...

Lol!

It is ok LawnBowler.

Didn't go to schoolies this year, and frankly I don't know anyone in my year that would have, or would have been allowed to.

I think get-togethers and the like are a more appropriate means of celebrating the end of our schooling days as we know it rather than the orgy of drunken teenagers known as Schoolies Week.

When I left Year 12 waaaaay back in 1983 there was no such thing as Schoolies (not in Gladstone anyways!).  We had our Year 12 Prom and the next day the school had "Recovery Day" where the Year 12's went over to one of the local islands with our teachers/classmates and had a huge BBQ/end of Year 12 celebration.  It was great!  No drinking or abuse, everyone had a great time.  It was our way of saying goodbye to teachers, friends etc and moving on to our next stage of adulthood.  Yes school years are a hard slog and yes kids shoud be allowed to celebrate it but at what cost?  Most of the kids will never remember it anyway especially if they have wiped out a few brain cells in the process.  I think parents should encourage their kids to celebrate the end of school in different ways.  Remember these kids are our next doctors. lawyers, politicians, teachers, mothers, fathers etc...

My friends brother came back from schoolies on the gold coast and she said he said it was really safe. Like you have id card thingies and you are not allowed places without them and there are helpers everywhere and it was really fun not all drugs and stuff.
That said I still don't think I'll go.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a prom (or "formal"), but I was really miserable that night because one of my best mates didn't turn up, and I watched the "woman I love" dance around crazily all night.

Dammit I didn't even have anybody to waltz with.

hey, Sup.
what's ur opinion on this topic, What do u think? do u think it should b banned?

Great to see your interest in the subject Mini/My Chem Fan, but you have not posted your opinion on the topic! Tell us what you think and why. Don't be shy!

I went to Schoolies...but not at the Gold Coast.

I went to Port Stephens lol and it was a lot more quieter. There were a couple of schoolies groups there. I had lotsa fun over there!

Beautiful part of the NSW Central Coast, Shawty! I used to live on the Central Coast. Once around the late 70's and the next time around the mid 80's. I would of loved to live in the Forster, Port Stephens area. It would of been fun having a schoolies there and cost a lot less than the Goldie!

Oh I want to go to port stephens! On the way back from sydney we stopped at a rest stop there

No way should schoolies be banned. I went to The Gold Coast for schoolies in 2006 and it was the best week and a half of my life

I finished year 12 last year but I didn't go to schoolies coz I was sick   but i will hopefully go this year (i will have only just turned 18 so you cant call me a toolie lol) hoping to go to the gold coast though, itd be good to go on a holiday

Quoted from Matt

I finished year 12 last year but I didn't go to schoolies coz I was sick   but i will hopefully go this year (i will have only just turned 18 so you cant call me a toolie lol) hoping to go to the gold coast though, itd be good to go on a holiday

are you going? toolie!
my friends have had to pull out ! told them not to book so early

I went to The Gold Coast for schoolies in 06, best time ever and I highly reccomend it. Then last year I was a bit of a toolie when I went to Dunsborough in South West WA which was alright too.

Quoted from Lowie101

I went to The Gold Coast for schoolies in 06, best time ever and I highly reccomend it. Then last year I was a bit of a toolie when I went to Dunsborough in South West WA which was alright too.

Did you go in week 1 or 2?

Quoted from Dara

are you going? toolie!
my friends have had to pull out ! told them not to book so early

would love to but can't. all my mates have work and stuff, don't think their bosses will give them time off to go to qld for schoolies.

looks like another "teenage" experience ill miss out on

Quoted from Matt

would love to but can't. all my mates have work and stuff, don't think their bosses will give them time off to go to qld for schoolies.

looks like another "teenage" experience ill miss out on

What else did you miss out on?
Well I'm not going either.. going somewhere though.  

Like running amok at school, going out to parties every weekend, having mates over my house often (I've only ever had mates over my house twice), stuff like that. Even now that I'm 18 I want to go out clubbing and pubbing every weekend but most of my mates don't have the $$$, have work, or are too tired from work.

Quoted from Matt

Like running amok at school, going out to parties every weekend, having mates over my house often (I've only ever had mates over my house twice), stuff like that. Even now that I'm 18 I want to go out clubbing and pubbing every weekend but most of my mates don't have the $$$, have work, or are too tired from work.

Twice :O Wow.
What about uni friends, none of them want to go clubbing?

I don't really have "friends" at uni. I talk to people yeah, but aren't really friends with anyone. I don't make friends easy (I'm the quiet one who looks like a loner lol) and I'm fine with the 10 or so close friends I have. So yeah, I'd prefer going with my good mates anyway.

Quoted from Matt

I don't really have "friends" at uni. I talk to people yeah, but aren't really friends with anyone. I don't make friends easy (I'm the quiet one who looks like a loner lol) and I'm fine with the 10 or so close friends I have. So yeah, I'd prefer going with my good mates anyway.

That's what I'm scared will happen lol, like I'll make no new friends there.

Quoted from Dara

Did you go in week 1 or 2?

I was there for three weeks, so both and then some. Im kind of in the same  boat as you Matt, I talk to people at uni, but I wouldnt really call them close friends. Oh and all my mates are poor or busy too so I only go out maybe once every two weeks.

I finished up uni last year (thankfully!!!) after seven years part-time as a mature-age. I made friends and aquantinces, but only one that has really stuck over all this time and out the other end. Perhaps school should just be Online  

I said No but there needs to be some kind of measure so it won't get out of control eg getting rid of the Non school leavers

i myself believe that schoolies should be banned with students raging and ready to go it can only be marked a recipe for disaster. parents should be more responsible !