ABOUT 29,000 school leavers on the Gold Coast were “kept safer” thanks to Rosies volunteers and others from November 20-26.
This is the 24th year Rosies has offered this kind of support at the annual celebrations for school leavers.
Rosies Schoolies co-ordinator Catherine Mil-ton spent six months preparing for the seven days of Schoolies for 2010.
She was trying to “leave no stone unturned in making sure volunteers were ready to support the young people”.
Catherine said that in previous years a number of school leavers had said to her “Please don’t leave me”.
“In fact I had one young girl come in distressed because her friends had ditched her,” she said.
In line with that, a major message this year in all information programs to Year 12 students was to “look after your mates”.
Rosies chaplain Oblate Father Pat Dwyer said parents were very worried about their children going to “Schoolies”.
He said they were concerned because “they are moving into adulthood but still in a lot of cases inexperienced in the world away from home”.
Fr Dwyer said alcohol consumption can be a problem as it may lower inhibitions and lead to “uncharacteristic behaviour”.
This year it was noted many school leavers were “more restrained” but the presence of older revellers was also noticed.
Rosies first began assisting Schoolies Week participants on the Gold Coast in 1987. The purpose was to provide a safety net for the Year 12 graduates celebrating the end of their secondary education.
A Rosies spokesman said “much has changed since then with government and community organisations taking a more proactive role in providing a safer environment for the young people”.
