Gold Coast mayor reveals radical plan for Schoolies Week amid fears it will be cancelled due to COVID-19 - and it is not good news for graduates
- Schoolies could look very different this year thank to the coronavirus pandemic
- Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has suggested student s host a Zoom party instead
- Queensland had a COVID-19 scare after women lied about visiting Melbourne
Thousands of unlucky school leavers could be forced to put their party plans on hold as the Gold Coast mayor issues a grim warning ahead of Schoolies celebrations.
Tens of thousands graduating Year 12 students are expected to flock to the glitter strip in mid-November for the end of year party.
But Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the three-week event could be cancelled if the coronavirus crisis continues to escalate.
He told the Courier Mail if chief medical officer Dr Jeannette Young says the event is too risky, it 'will be finished'.
He suggested doing a Zoom party as an alternative.
Tens of thousands graduating Year 12 students are expected to flock to the glitter strip in mid-November for the end of year party (Pictured: The event in 2019)
The Gold Coast is home to the country's largest schoolies celebration but events are also held in Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach and Lorne (Pictured: Students arriving to the event last year)
'You’re the technology people. Maybe you use Zoom or whatever it is, social media, to do Schoolies like that from home.'
The state government overseas the safety of thousands of revellers who flood the Gold Coast for the event.
Share this article
And while there are no plans to shut down the popular event just yet, Child Safety and Youth Minister Di Farmer said the decision could change and would be based on expert health advice.
'I’d call on all Queenslanders to do the right thing now and into the future including following health advice, maintaining social distancing and staying COVID safe.'
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate suggested doing a Zoom party instead
The event sees thousands of students flock to the glitter strip to dance the night away
Schoolies is a rite of passage for many school leavers across Australia which began in the late 1970s.
The Gold Coast is home to the country's largest schoolies celebration but events are also held in Byron Bay, the Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach and Lorne.
South Pacific and Asian countries such as Bali and Vanuatu have grown increasingly popular in recent years as teenagers ditch overcrowded sites along Australia's east coast.
But with international flights likely to remain off the cards until next year, those destinations are no longer an option.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
