1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Now, moving away from crime and onto a very different topic. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: We've been contacted with concerns about the safety of students 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: at Nightcliffe Primary School. Now some parents are saying that 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: the school fence currently is only about the same height 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: as a toddler and a number of children have gotten 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: out of the school grounds and onto the road. And 7 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: there are some parents who are concerned about the situation. 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: And one of those parents, Raylena, joins me on the 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: line right now. Good morning to you, Raylena. 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. How are you? 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, really good? Thank you so much for your time 12 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: this morning. Now, can you paint a bit of a 13 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: picture for me of this school fence and how tall 14 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: it is? 15 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: Okay, so it's the same height as my eighteen month old, 16 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 2: so it's not very high at all. 17 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: And Raylena, is it just at one part of the 18 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: school or is it right around the school? 19 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: It's right around the school and then there's areas where 20 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: it's open, so it's not forty. 21 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: Fence yeah, right, And so what exactly what's the concern 22 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: that you've got. I'm assuming that it is sort of 23 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 1: children being able to get out of the school. 24 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I've got a now six year old which 25 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: started at Marcol's Primary last year. There was only five 26 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: at that time, so he is quite an active boy. 27 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 2: So I've had multiple phone calls last year due to 28 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: my son trying to lead the school ground and due 29 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 2: to the height of the fence. Yeah, that doesn't help 30 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: as well. So as a parent, getting these Paine calls 31 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 2: is quite you know, nervous and scary for me thinking 32 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 2: that my kids able to leave the school grounds. It 33 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 2: has been brought to the attention of the school and 34 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: the actual Chief Minister, which I've written to her about 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 2: that she is actually on the school committee. I did 36 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: not get a response to her regarding that letter I 37 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: sent to her, and I actually was in the papers 38 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 2: last year regarding the fencing. I did get a bit 39 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: of backlash regarding the fence and that I was trying 40 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: to asking for a great wall to be built, which 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: I thought was ridiculous. All I was asking for was 42 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: just a higher fencing around the whole school ground, just 43 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: for the safety of the children. And I think I'm 44 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: not just speaking for Nightclift, but I'm speaking for all 45 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: the primary schools here in the Top End should have 46 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: high fencing. It's interesting, not just my son. But there's 47 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: been other children that have been leaving, leaving the school grounds, 48 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: crossing the roads, going down the street. And these are 49 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 2: little children, like five, from the age of five. 50 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, because this is the thing. I guess once they 51 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: get a bit older, they do, you know, like they 52 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: do seem to be alright in terms of not trying 53 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: to run away or I guess they get older and 54 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: they work out how they can get out regardless of 55 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: how tall the fences. But when they're little, it is 56 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: it's a really different story. You know, you do feel 57 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: concerned about them. And I know that at some of 58 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: the schools, the school that my children used to be at, 59 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: they've ended up putting up really quite a high fence 60 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: right around the place, and some people did sort of 61 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: complain about it and the way that it looks, and 62 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: that it sort of looks as though it's a place where, 63 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: you know, where the children are locked in there now. 64 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: But fundamentally the reason that they've done it, from my understanding, 65 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: was exactly the reason that you've pointed out for safety. 66 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, so there's so many reasons. Yes, the kids 67 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 2: keep leaving the school grounds. You've got trespasses coming in, 68 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: leaving very dirty things in the premises. Yeah, you've also 69 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: it's open to the public apparently, for the public to 70 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 2: use the school oval, which I think is really unfair. 71 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: You know, this should be the kids safety, not regarding 72 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 2: the public. Natasha apparently put a stop to the fence 73 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: and because she is part of the committee. So I've 74 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 2: been back and forth with Education department and the school 75 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: regarding the fencing situation. So i just feel like nothing's 76 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: being done about it. And you know, I've heard from 77 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: teachers themselves where the kids have Actually the other day 78 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 2: they were sitting in the office, the kids just walked 79 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: straight to the jump the fence and off he went. 80 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 2: And I don't think you know, as a parent, you're 81 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: leaving the kids in the hands of the school, and 82 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: you think that'd be well looked. They are looked after. 83 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 2: The teachers are really nice the primary but it's not 84 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: the teachers. And I know a lot of I've had 85 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 2: a lot of backlash regarding the fencing. I've got a 86 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: lot of good people as well on my side regarding it. 87 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 2: But some people are saying I'm trying to build a 88 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 2: prison there for them and stuff like that. But it's 89 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: not that it's the safety of the kids. Well, you know, 90 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 2: there are young kids there, and I know some people 91 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: are saying, you know, teach a kid wrong from right. 92 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 2: My kid does no wrong from right. He's just an 93 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: active child. He likes to play, you know, and they 94 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,119 Speaker 2: just don't know dangers around them. 95 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: Ray Lena tell me, I understand that there was also 96 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: a survey that was conducted about the fence. Do you 97 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: know what that found? 98 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 2: Yes, So if you don't mind me reading it, yeah, sure, 99 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: go for it. So I did receive a letter in 100 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: the mail. I'm not sure who sent it, but it 101 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 2: did state that this person has said, I just wanted 102 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,119 Speaker 2: to let you know that the fence at Nuple Primar 103 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 2: School is not going ahead, despite the fact a survey 104 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: was completed which included staff and parents of the school, 105 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: with a ninety percent majority voting yes to a fence. Right, 106 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 2: your council have made their choice not to put a 107 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 2: fence around the school, despite the fact that they are 108 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: aware of the dangers it causes staff and the students. 109 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 2: But they are all antiferent people and that's a small majority. 110 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: So I've been to these committee meetings. I haven't stayed 111 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: for the full session of it due to. You know, 112 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: I've got other kids to attend to it's been brought 113 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: to them, it's then nothing's come from it. I've gone 114 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 2: to education department that sent me back to the principal. 115 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 2: Principal is said go to the committee, and it's just 116 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: nothing being done about it. And I think something needs 117 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,799 Speaker 2: to be done as soon as possible before something that happens. 118 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 2: There's a lot of stuff happening at the moment. I 119 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: know more important things are going on at the moment, 120 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: but I just think the school safety should be one 121 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:25,480 Speaker 2: of them as well. 122 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: Ray Lena, So what would be you know, the situation 123 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: that you would like to see here? Do you want 124 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: the school council or the school committee to at least 125 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: rethink this decision? 126 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, So they have tried to bring in other options, 127 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 2: a set of the whole school boundary. They've tried to 128 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: bring in ideas of putting more internal fensing in the school, 129 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: which I don't think is going to fix the problem 130 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: because I've got internal fensing in there now and the 131 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 2: little ones are stalled escaping from that, and not only that, 132 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: I just feel like that's going to be more of 133 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 2: a prison for them than the one around the school 134 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: because they're just getting locked in a small area where 135 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: all I'm asking for is just the whole school grounds 136 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: to be fenced. I know the public use is the oval, 137 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: but at the end of the day, that is school 138 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: grounds and that should be for the children there. There 139 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: are overs across the road where the public can use, 140 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: So I don't know why it's such a big deal 141 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: that they can't sense the oval as well because of 142 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: the public access to it, But yeah, something needs to 143 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: be done. I've heard of the kids getting a needle 144 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: prick and finding you know, needles, people sleeping at the 145 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: grounds overnight. You know, there's a lot of things happening 146 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: there and this should be a number one priority of Also, 147 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 2: I got told to go to Eva Laula. I had 148 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 2: called Truda, were offered. Didn't get through to Eva. I 149 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 2: know she's very busy, but I did speak to one 150 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: of her colleagues, which I wasn't really happy with her 151 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 2: opinion on it. Yeah, she was hearing them out and 152 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: then she just said to me, you know, if you 153 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: really want my personal opinion, not my work opinion, I 154 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: don't see what the problem is with the fencing that's 155 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 2: there now, because the public likes to use and take 156 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 2: their dogs for walks from the ovals. 157 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: But yeah, yeah, right, oh, Raylena, it sounds like a 158 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: bit of a It sounds like a bit of a debarcle. 159 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: I know, I've got friends that do have children at 160 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: the school, and I know that you know that some 161 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: of them are all for the fence, some of them aren't. 162 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 1: They're totally against it. So I can tell that it 163 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: is one of those issues that you know that that 164 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: not everybody's going to agree on. But I can certainly 165 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: understand your concerns, particularly when you're talking about the little 166 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: ease and and you know, making sure that they are 167 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 1: safe and that they're they're kept on the school ground. 168 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: So I can certainly understand your concerns. Leave it with us. 169 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:51,839 Speaker 1: Let us see whether we can get some kind of 170 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 1: response from the Chief Minister's office as well, because I 171 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: know that she's obviously the local member and as you've said, 172 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: they're on the school committee as well, So let us 173 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: see what we can find out. 174 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 2: That's okay, Love, And I know I did get told 175 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 2: there was not enough funding, which I just find that 176 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 2: very hard to believe. You know that is a priority 177 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: safe you for the children, so I'm sure there should 178 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: be enough funding there to fence the school. They not 179 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: just like but all primary schools should be fenced with 180 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: high offensing. 181 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, Ray Lena, thank you so much for having a 182 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 1: chat with me this morning. I really appreciate it. No 183 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: doubt I'll start hearing from some other parents from the 184 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: Nightcliff Primary School and I appreciate you speaking to us today. 185 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: All right, thank you, Katie, thank you.