1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,560 Speaker 1: And look by the sounds of things, there's obviously been 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: some incidents that have occurred, as we heard from the 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,399 Speaker 1: Fieries one hundred and thirty two fires that they responded to. 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: We also know that, as we've just heard from Craig, 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: there's a number of different incidents that they've responded to 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,320 Speaker 1: of injuries. Now joining me on the line right now 7 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: is a friend of the show, David Gerivolo. Good morning 8 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: to you. How are you, David? 9 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, good morning, Katie. Yeah, not too bad. Not more 10 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 2: than the most fun territory night for us last night. 11 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 3: I have to say no. 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: Look, i'd obviously heard that at the Dripstone Cliffs there'd 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: been some incidents of teenagers from what I can gather, 14 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: throwing fireworks, and I am just now looking at a 15 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: fojo of your partner who's received what appears to be 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: a terrible injury. 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, really nasty burn on my partner's shoulder there. And look, 18 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: when we arrived at Tripstones, usually your favorite sort of 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: spot for us, and you'd find a little space away 20 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 2: from everywhere else. We bring a few bricks and make 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 2: sure our fireworks are nice and secure. And we did 22 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 2: notice that a few people were leaving and didn't quite 23 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: cotton on as to why, and sort of after having 24 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 2: a bit of fun for a little while, we realized 25 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: what was happening. There was some groups of people going 26 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 2: around actually targeting people. So they weren't just sort of, 27 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: you know, kicking the fireworks over, but they're actually pointing 28 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: fireworks at people and actively like hunting them with fireworks, 29 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: firing them at people. And that's exactly what happened to us, 30 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: and it was very scary, and you know, we're fortunate 31 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: in a way that my partner turned just at the 32 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: right moment and hit her in the shoulder rather than 33 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: in the face. But you know, he is a ringing 34 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 2: today and she's got quite a nasty burn on her 35 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: on her back as you can see, and she's we 36 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: treated it yesterday, not wanting to spend the entire night 37 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: in the emergency, but she's off to the doctor today 38 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: and obviously needs to get that dressing change. 39 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 3: Oh, Mike, I'm really sorry to hear that. That is 40 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 3: absolutely terrible. 41 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: You know, we love Territory Day, Katie, and we're absolutely 42 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 2: pro fireworks people, and we think that fireworks can absolutely 43 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 2: be used by the public responsibly. And I think most 44 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 2: people handle that responsibility, you know, really well, and yes 45 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 2: that things can go wrong, and you can sort of 46 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 2: accept that there is some danger associated, you know, with 47 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 2: being out there and things that can go wrong. But 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: this is completely different. This is a situation where there 49 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: was sort of packs of sort of fourteen to sixteen 50 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 2: year olds running around, like not even just running around, 51 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: but creeping around, coming out from behind bushes, hiding in 52 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 2: the bushes, and then firing at relatively close range fireworks 53 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 2: towards people. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm 54 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 2: an avid Territory Day participant, and so I think, you know, 55 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 2: probably going forward, there needs to be a presence down there. 56 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 2: And I just don't really know if te ages unaccompanied 57 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 2: by adults can really be trusted out there at the moment, 58 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 2: given that this minority seems to be ruining it for them, 59 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: because obviously most people are doing the right thing and 60 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: most kids are just having a great time. 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is horrible and it's incredibly frightening. I can't 62 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: begin to imagine how imagine how you and your family 63 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: must have felt as that was unfolding. 64 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: I was really actually very scary, and I had my 65 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: in laws in town Katie and I didn't know whether 66 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: they were going to enjoy territory night. And as soon 67 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: as they kicked off, my partners mother and father absolutely 68 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 2: loved it and they were getting involved and lighting them 69 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 2: up and you know, taking videos and just having a 70 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: wonderful night. We had a beautiful barbecue at home and 71 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: you know, then went out and we got a lot 72 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: of treat in our backyards. It wasn't a suitable place 73 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: to do it at home, and just completely shattered, completely ruined, 74 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 2: and you know, we had to pick up our chairs 75 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: and the girls carried them in front of them. My 76 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: friend was also there and her she was sort of 77 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: shell shop. Both their ears are ringing, and you know, 78 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: today they've got to go get their ears checked because 79 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: they can't hear properly. And you know, we're just really 80 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: lucky it didn't hit them in the face. But it 81 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 2: was very scary, and even getting back to the car, 82 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 2: the car was being pelted with rockets and had to 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: get everybody in there, and I was actually scared to 84 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 2: open the door in case one went in, so I 85 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,479 Speaker 2: kind of just sort of squatted and sheltered by the 86 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: car as they were peppering around the car. And it's 87 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 2: just it's not on. 88 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: It really is dis graceful. Yeah, that is absolutely disgraceful. 89 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: Did you have you called the police, David or where? 90 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 4: You know? 91 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,799 Speaker 2: We called the police immediately because we were very worried 92 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 2: for other people's safety, and we did see other people 93 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 2: get fired upon, and we saw people splashing water on 94 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 2: their face. We saw a fight almost broke out because 95 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 2: there was a you know, a group of young people 96 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: down there just letting off fireworks responsibly, and it appeared 97 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: that they had been fired towards and they'd obviously aarked up, 98 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 2: and and they're in a sort of situation to challenge 99 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: the people who had done that to them. 100 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 4: And yeah, it was just look, look, Katie, I don't 101 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 4: really know what's going on there or why that is happening, 102 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 4: but it is something that is not okay. 103 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 2: And I don't think that Terrory Day is not okay. 104 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 2: And I don't think fireworks are not okay. They're great. 105 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: I think it's a wonderful privilege that we have on 106 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 2: one day of the year. And what I can't understand 107 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: is how it's not just fun enough to buy the 108 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: fireworks and let them off and have a great time 109 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: with your family and friends. But to think that somehow 110 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: hunting the public with fireworks, which literally are you know, 111 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 2: flaming missiles, is somehow part of territory day, it's not 112 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: needs to be stamped out. 113 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: And that's appalling. 114 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,799 Speaker 1: It's like, I can't imagine how you must have felt. 115 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 3: You know, I think to myself, if my family was 116 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 3: in that. 117 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: Situation, and if you were there with friends or other 118 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: family members that have quite young children as well, how 119 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: incredibly dangerous that whole situation is. 120 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 2: Oh look, I mean I can safely say for us, 121 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: it will never be the same. We won't be going 122 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: back there, and we consider that to be an unacceptable 123 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: risk and probably being around other people we don't know, 124 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 2: probably for the next couple of years, is not going 125 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: to be something that we want to do, because you know, 126 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 2: people sort of you know, crawling around and squatting and 127 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: hiding behind the bushes, only they're sort of like open 128 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: fire on you. It's just it's absolutely ridiculous, and you know, 129 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 2: I think, I really hope next year we see some 130 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: patrolling down there and basically if people are doing the 131 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: wrong thing, they're having their fireworks confiscated. Because I don't 132 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: want to see an end to Territory Day firework. It's 133 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 2: a great thing, but there's obviously a cohort in the 134 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: community who cannot be trusted with them because they really 135 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 2: haven't got themselves in a point where they're capable of 136 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 2: that responsibility. 137 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: It is just appalling, absolutely appalling behavior. David, I hope 138 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,600 Speaker 1: your partner is okay and your friends as well. 139 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 2: Like that. 140 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: It's so disappointing to hear, actually, and it's so terrible 141 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: to hear that that we've had a situation where young 142 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: people are down there behaving in that way, and as 143 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: you've very rightly pointed out, shouldn't letting off fireworks. 144 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 3: Shouldn't that be fun enough? 145 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: Like stalking people and throwing fireworks at them is disgraceful behavior. 146 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, we always refer to it as the best time 147 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: of year, and my dad actually was a bit jealousy said, oh, 148 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 2: in laws of the year to come up, I'm so jealous, 149 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: And today was well, actually, you know, you actually missed 150 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 2: a really you missed a really bad night. Yeah, and 151 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: to think about that we're talking about it in that 152 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: way when normally it's our favorite and one of our 153 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: favorite nights of the year. It really shouldn't be the case, 154 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 2: and I just hope that there's a way that we 155 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: can deal with it in a way that's measured, responsive 156 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 2: to the actual threat of people misbehaving, but also recognizing 157 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: that most people do the right thing, but we can't 158 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 2: just let that kind of behavior become a precedent, and 159 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: I really want to see that stamped out. 160 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: Things. 161 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, I totally agree with you. 162 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: Well, look, we will follow this up with the Northern 163 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: Territory Police as well. 164 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:10,640 Speaker 3: David. 165 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much 166 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: for having your chat with us, and please pass on 167 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: my well wishes to your partner. 168 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: Will do. Thanks, thank you. 169 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 3: Thanks Ma.