Schoolies Tidal Wave Samps Gold Coast

Sun Herald

Sunday November 21, 2004

By AMY LAWSON and MICHAEL CREW

DESPITE bad publicity in recent years, school-leavers are still flocking to the Gold Coast in record numbers for the annual schoolies celebrations.

Bookings are up 5 to 10 per cent this year, with the first tidal wave of schoolies hitting the Gold Coast yesterday.

The vast majority of NSW school-leavers will start their celebrations next weekend.

Luke Jamieson, of BreakFree-owned schoolies.com, said 30,000 school-leavers had booked their holiday through BreakFree this year, including 12,000 from NSW, while bookings for Byron Bay, Noosa and other Sunshine Coast centres remained stagnant.

"The kids all want to come to the Gold Coast," he said. "Even after 2002, supposedly the worst year of schoolies, the numbers increased. There's just a lot more things to do here."

Last year the Gold Coast event was soured by allegations of police misconduct, including accusations a sergeant ran his gun along the leg of a girl in the so-called "sex pistol" scandal.

School-leavers who register with the event organisers will receive an ID bracelet for free access to concerts and events and two free meals a day. They will be sent text messages from mascot DJ Betty about activities plus emergency phone numbers and health and safety tips.

Sally Freud, spokeswoman for event organiser Media Rare, said activities would start earlier in an attempt to tire schoolies out and cut down on drinking. "We want them to be exhausted, go back to their hotels to sleep and do it all again the next day," she said.

"We want this to be a positive festival this year. The more we can keep away that ugly factor from the event, the better."

Up to 300 police will patrol the main Gold Coast areas during the busiest periods of schoolies, along with more than 1100 volunteers.

Inspector Jeff James of Surfers Paradise Police said police would crack down on under-age drinking, false IDs, drinking in public and drugs.

Last year school-leavers represented less than a third of 451 arrests during the festival's first 10 days, with offences mainly relating to public nuisance and drinking in public.

Gold Coast-bound schoolie Michael Varga, 17, said the destination's reputation convinced him and his friends it was "the place to be".

"It's the beach, the weather, the women, plus there's lots of things for under-aged people to do," he said.

Non-drinker Jarrod Hornby, 17, said the Gold Coast offered many alternative activities, such as theme parks.

IT'S ON FOR YOUNG AND YOUNG

* More than 14,000 schoolies, mostly Queenslanders, arrived on the Gold Coast yesterday and on Friday, with police reporting a relatively quiet start to the festivities.

* Queensland Police reported 30 arrests only two of which were schoolies in theSurfers Paradise precinct by late yesterday.

* There were also 23 fines issued for drinking in a public place, which carries a penalty of up to $225.

* "Generally the first night of the festival is fairly quiet," said Gold Coast district office Superintendent Brett Pointing.

JARROD HORNBY, 17

Destination Surfers Paradise Accommodation $460

Travel $260

Alcohol nil

Souvenirs $100

Extra activities

(theme parks, bungy jumps).. $200

Food $150

TOTAL $1170

MICHAEL VARGA, 17

Destination Surfers Paradise

Travel $270

Accommodation $425

Alcohol $500

Souvenirs $100

Extra activities

(boat hire, mopeds) $300

Food $500

TOTAL $2095

DAVID KERR, 18

Destination Surfers Paradise Travel $270

Accommodationh $425

Alcohol $500

Souvenirs $50

Extra activities

(Laser Zone, go-karting) .... $200

Food $150

TOTAL $1595

AMY WILLIAMS, 17

Destination Vanuatu, New Caledonia (schoolies cruise)

Accommodation $1650

Alcohol $350

Souvenirs $250

Extra activities (snorkelling, island tours)... $200

Food $100

TOTAL $2550

© 2004 Sun Herald

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