Brooks High School, Rocherlea, have been experiencing seriously negative impact on their students with 23 break in’s, resulting in significant damage to property, stolen property and all round destruction, in the last 12 months. That’s nearly one break-in every two weeks.
Brooks School Association, Chairperson, Mrs Tanya Cavanagh said, “Enough is enough, whilst the school’s hands are tied in being unable to speak publically on this matter, ours, as the school association, are not.”
“I’ve personally seen the disruption this causes within the school.” Tanya stated “Arriving in the morning and finding the café area, a vital part in the student’s day via its breakfast club, closed and out of bounds until police forensics arrive, results in many of our young people not getting breakfast. The saddest part is for some of our students that’s the only meal they get for the day.”
“Approx. 70% of our school population is from a low-socioeconomic environment. It’s not even remotely acceptable, to take from battlers and many of our students and their families are doing the best they can.” Tanya stated
“Our student’s well-being is being impacted by the outright villainous behaviour of people not giving a damn about our young people” Tanya stated, “The students can be overheard expressing their disappointment and anger that this keeps happening in their place.”
“Our students are proud of their beautiful school and it deeply upsets them that its constantly being targeted. It’s just cruel.”
The targets are varied within the school, sometimes specific items taken like mountain bikes, TV’s, tools, EFTPOS machines, café stock and more. One attempt even smashed through a wall and yet another drove their ute through a perimeter fence. Many are in broad daylight. The significant damage and mess left for clean-up and subsequent repairs, greatly impact on staff and students time.
“There is also considerable financial impact on the school.” Tanya Cavanagh explains “Insurance doesn’t always cover the replacement cost of items. This constant onslaught of attacks has resulted in tens of thousands of dollars shortfall which has to come out of the school’s budget. That means we don’t have the money for programs or resources for our students this money would otherwise be used for.”
Brooks HS, admirably encourages the local community to use its grounds as there are very few amenities available within our community and still encourages it. It is an important part of the community, however its location, which is a little less visible can lead to it being a target.
The school doesn’t keep any cash on-site, has CCTV and is alarmed, however unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be a deterrent.
“As an association, we’ve asked the Education Department, if footage or still shots of the adult offenders can be shown, utilising social media. This would seem like an effective tool to assist police, in our opinion. However, we are awaiting a response on that tactic.” Mrs Cavanagh said, “In the meantime we can’t sit back and watch this continue to affect our students and staff without doing something to help them.”
“We call on our local community to become aware of what is happening, keep an eye on suspicious activity around the school, particularly with school holidays about to start and please report it to the police” Tanya requested “Please have conversations and as a community join us in standing up for our students and beautiful school, enough is enough.”
“A message to these people doing this or contemplating it, you will not be tolerated, leave our kids alone.”
STOP.
Brooks High School, School Association Chairperson, Tanya Cavanagh
