What’s happening?
Parents and family members rallied outside Yeppoon State High School, calling for harsher penalties for bullying and stronger action to protect students.
Organisers say they will keep protesting each morning until they see meaningful change. Families involved say student safety has become a serious concern and the community has had enough.
David and Amy Thomas, who are part of the rally organisers, say their daughter has faced physical and verbal bullying since starting high school.
David Thomas thanked students, parents and community members for standing together at the rally.
“I just want to say on behalf of all the students here, all the parents, all the community members, thank you guys for turning up for your community, thank you guys for turning up for each other, and thank you guys for turning up for our kids,” he said.
He said children should be able to attend school safely and enjoy being with their friends.
“Make sure that our kids can come to school safely, that they can focus on learning and having fun with their friends. And that’s just not the case anymore,” he said.
“When bullying has been normalised, assaults have been normalised, assaults on boys to girls being normalised, it just goes to show how broken the system is.
“And hopefully here today, the school gets to see that the community’s had enough, including their own students.
“So thank you guys so much for being here.
“And yeah, let’s see if we can get a few things changed.”
Why it matters?
The protest shows deep concern among local families about bullying, alleged assaults and whether students are being kept safe at school.
Parents at the rally said school should be a place where children can learn, grow and feel secure. Instead, they say some students are dealing with fear, distress and repeated harm.
Kelly Murfett said her daughter and her daughter’s friend were assaulted after concerns had already been raised.
“My name’s Kelly Murfett. And Kelly, you’re a Yeppoon local? Oh yeah, I come from Emu Park, but my two children come to Yeppoon High School,” she said.
“I am, because my daughter and her friend got bashed at the bus stop down here after they told the principal and Yeppoon Police Station, and they still went and let it carried on.
“She got physically assaulted, had to go to hospital, she’s left school.
“My daughter still has to go to this school, unfortunately, and so has my son in grade 7 as well. So we’re here today with all the kids, with all the parents, just trying to get, yeah, the bullying to stop, mate.
“Some say kids’ safe place is only school for some kids, not all kids, but, you know, it should be a safe place to school for our children, and it’s not.
“Not even the bus stop is, mate. My kid’s got assaulted, like I said, at the bus stop. After telling the principal at 12 o’clock and the police at 12 o’clock what was going to go on, they still let them exit this gate at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and get assaulted.
“Assaulted by another girl. And it’s just ongoing, it’s not stopping. Ongoing.”
Local Impact
The rally has drawn support from parents, students and community members from Yeppoon and nearby Emu Park.
For families involved, the issue goes beyond school discipline. They say it is about whether children can feel safe on campus, at the gate and even at nearby bus stops.
Wade Smith said the issue should concern every parent.
“Yeah mate, I’ve got a young fella here, young Jackson. He’s in Grade 8,” he said.
“Oh, absolutely. It should be a concern for all parents. I mean, a school should be a safe environment for everyone, and especially our kids.
“We entrust a lot in Education Queensland to provide a safe place for our children. And it’s disappointing that it’s come to this level, that it can’t be managed internally, and that we have to stand our ground to make a point of what’s actually happening.
“Absolutely. I mean, it’s, like I said, schools should be a safe place. It’s a place for young ones to learn and grow. And to have that sort of impact on children where, you know, all you can just see today was so many people here that it affects everyone.
“And it should be, school should be fun. When I was at school, it was fun. We had mates, we hung out, we had a really good time.
“And now it, I don’t know, I think we’re going down a rat hole where it doesn’t really need to be.
“And like I said, it’s great to see the support from the parents and kids out here wanting to see a change and have a positive impact on what’s going on locally.”
By the numbers
- One family at the centre of the rally says their 12-year-old daughter has been physically and verbally bullied since starting high school.
- Protest organisers say they will return at 8.30am each morning, with David Thomas saying they had already been rallying every morning for the last week.
- Kelly Murfett said warnings were raised at 12 o’clock, but her daughter was later allowed to leave through the gate at 3 o’clock and was then assaulted at the bus stop.
Zoom In
The strongest message from the rally was that parents believe bullying and violence are no longer being treated as isolated incidents.
David Thomas said the situation showed “how broken the system is”, while Kelly Murfett said the problem was still continuing. Their comments framed the protest as a stand for student safety and community accountability.
Zoom Out
The concerns raised at Yeppoon State High School reflect a broader issue for many families about how bullying is handled and how safe students feel in and around school grounds.
When parents lose trust in a school’s ability to protect children, the issue quickly becomes a wider community matter.
What To Look For Next?
Parents say they will continue rallying each morning until they see meaningful change.
