Schoolies celebrate on the Gold Coast

The biggest party night of the annual Schoolies celebrations is under way on the
Gold Coast, with police expecting around 25,000 teenagers to pack into the Schoolies
Hub on Surfers Paradise beach until the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police say while tens of thousands are likely to attend organised concerts each
night, the first Saturday night is traditionally the busiest of the week as school
leavers start to let off steam.
Many didn't wait for the official start of festivities, with balcony parties kicking
off through Saturday afternoon.
In a number of high rise apartment blocks along The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise
groups of Schoolies were leaning over the edges of balconies, chatting, singing, and
calling out to each other from one floor to another and even across spaces of 30
metres between buildings.
Police have appealed to Schoolies not to party on balconies.
Four years ago a teenager was killed during Schoolies when he fell 11 storeys from a
balcony in Surfers Paradise.
Police have also arrested a number of teenagers in recent years for climbing from
one balcony to another on the outside of high rise apartment blocks.
But the atmosphere on Saturday evening was relaxed and happy.
A group of eight Gold Coast Schoolies from Coomera said their big party was off to a
good start.
"There's no aggro and everyone's just out for a good time," said one.
"I think a lot of respect has to be given to the Gold Coast City Council for the
work they've done in helping make the whole week a lot safer," he said.
"The message has really got through about sticking together and looking after your
mates; that's what we'll be doing.
"Party on."