1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Yesterday, I was contacted by a number of concerned parents 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: following an incident to at Saint Mary's. So the school 3 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: had gone across to attend midday Mass, as I understand it, 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: at the cathedral when a man burst in and had 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: an episode. He was swearing and making threatening gestures. Now 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: teachers swung into action to protect the students, also alerting 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory Police. Now joining us on the line 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: to talk a little bit more about the situation is 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: Catholic Education and Director Paul Grieves. Good morning to you, Paul, Good. 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 2: Morning, Katie can thanks to this opportunity. 11 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: Nate, thank you so much for your time talk us 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: through what happened yesterday. 13 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: From your perspective, intro covered that pretty comprehensively. It's a 14 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: normal thing that our students from Saint Mary's, as a 15 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 2: part of links to parish and the cathedral, do attend 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 2: on a regular basis the midday Mass at the cathedral. 17 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: It's been a real important part of Catholic School and 18 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 2: our identity and the kids learning about their faith, and 19 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 2: it's something we've had a really great experience of normally. 20 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 2: But on this occasion, someone that was unknown to the 21 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 2: school or the cathedral or anyone around. Literally, it did 22 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 2: burst in and started mouthing off and causing all sorts 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 2: of commotion there, and it was really unpleasant, and I 24 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: really for the kids certainly and for the other people 25 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 2: attending mass, it would have been a very hard to 26 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: understand and a very difficult thing to process. So I'm 27 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: really glad that our teachers did act as quickly as 28 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: they did and identified the got the kids out, They 29 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: locked the gate into the school, called police and looking 30 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: police where they're pretty quick and attending as well. So 31 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: it was an upsetting incident that was acknowledged with the 32 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 2: kids back at the school where the principal and others were. 33 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: They're supporting and talking to the kids, and we did 34 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: make sure the parents of those students were aware and proud. 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: I can understand you. We want to be on the 36 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: front foot there because you need to be in a 37 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: position where parents know what's happened, that if there's been 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: something upsetting during the day, to be able to support 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 2: the students and when they get home. So look, that 40 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: was all done well and that's that support continues, of course, 41 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 2: but you know, we're probably going to look at just 42 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 2: rescheduling things for a little bit until we know from 43 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: police that you know, what's happening in terms of this 44 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: this person that caused the disruption. Yeah, so that's that's 45 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 2: pretty much where we're at with it. 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: It is. It's so disappointing. You know, the school's obviously 47 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: doing something really good taking the kids across to that 48 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: midday mass. By the sounds of it, the teachers have responded, 49 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: you know, in exactly the right way, keeping the children safe. 50 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: But it's just really disappointing that something like this has 51 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: happened when the kids are trying to go about their 52 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: usual educational routine. 53 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 2: It is, and that's, you know, you as hash as 54 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 2: it can be for you know that the fact that 55 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: the kids did see that, and we wish they didn't, 56 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 2: but it is a part of life that people don't 57 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 2: always that predictably and do get upset with things, and 58 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: so you know, we swing intoction helping the kids process 59 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: that and understand it and you know, build that bit 60 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: of resilience to know that, you know, sometimes people do 61 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: these things that are unpredictable and that we're not happy 62 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: with that we need a part of education is learning 63 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: how to deal with those situations too, So I'm very 64 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: grateful for the way the school didn't respond to it, 65 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: and the principal and teachers there, and also to the parents. 66 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: You know, they're the first educated of the kids, and 67 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: they're the ones that help them process it. I'm sure 68 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: would have been talking to them saying, yes, you know, 69 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: it's not just in at cathedral, or it can be 70 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 2: the other plates equipment, a local shopping center or down 71 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: at the park. You know, things happen that are unpredictable 72 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: and we've got to learn how to understand it. And 73 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: that's part of I guess education is learning as you. 74 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: Go to Yeah, and Paul, by the sounds of it, 75 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: there was a brief afterwards, I mean, how are the 76 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: kids and how the teachers going today look? 77 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: Understandably, they would have been anxious after it. They certainly, 78 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: you know, would would have felt that this is something 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: they're not normally would be dealing with, and therefore it 80 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: is out of the ordinary. It would have been there 81 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 2: would have been stresses associated with that, and you know 82 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 2: it's not what you kind of I guess sign up 83 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: for when you come to work each day as a teacher, 84 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: is thinking going to be dealing with that in that setting, 85 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: and for the students coming along too, that's not what 86 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 2: would have been in front of their mind that they 87 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 2: wouldn't had to deal with on that day. So yes, 88 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 2: they were debriefed on that and as much as you can, 89 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: it's just trying to, as I said before, you build 90 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: that resilience in trying to understand that you know the 91 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: world can be an unpredictable place at times, and we 92 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 2: need to act safely in ways that look after ourselves 93 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: and others. And that's the example they saw from the 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 2: teachers in the school. So I'm very proud of the 95 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 2: school and the teachers in the way handled it, very 96 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 2: grateful too, and it just shows that the duty of 97 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: care they've had to the students is front of mind 98 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: and have great to see. 99 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: Well, Paul, we have been contacted by a parent who 100 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: said that some kids said it was quite scary, but 101 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: the teacher was great and handled it the best that 102 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: she could. And so you know, by the sounds of it, 103 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,839 Speaker 1: the teacher has has really done their best to make 104 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: sure that the children still felt safe despite what was 105 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: going on. So that is a good thing and I 106 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: think that that's sort of always front of mind isn't 107 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: it for parents making sure that their kids stay safe 108 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: and then if there is a situation that they've got 109 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: no control over that, you know, the person whose care 110 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: they are in is able to look after them. And 111 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: that is exactly what it sounds like has happened yesterday. 112 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: It is, yes, and look and we're helping when I say, well, 113 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: I'm in the diocese and the cathedral of doing what 114 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 2: they came to assist police in identifying this person and 115 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,239 Speaker 2: making sure that you know, there is you know, follow 116 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: up to that. You know, that's not my call to 117 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: say what that should be or what would happen there, 118 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: but clearly the person was not well, there was something 119 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: there that was affecting their I guess demeanor and the 120 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: way they're behaving. So you know, we'd hope that that 121 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: will get followed up. Yeah, and it's not just people 122 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: at the cathedral we're trying to think of here. We're 123 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 2: looking for everyone. We want to resolutely not be in 124 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: a position where someone who is affected by who knows what, 125 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 2: is behaving in that manner. 126 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, Well, we did speak to the police earlier 127 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: this morning about a number of different issues, and they 128 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 1: said that they've definitely, definitely have followed that up so 129 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: Catholic Education NT director Paul Greaves, I really appreciate your 130 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: time this morning. Thank you so much for having a 131 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: quick chat with us. 132 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: I thank you Katy, and as I said, could have 133 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 2: the opportunity. 134 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: Thank you much appreciated.