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WA School Leavers 2021: Schoolies lash ‘disorganisation’ as teens miss out on The Zone celebrations in SW

Taylar AmoniniThe West Australian
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VideoLeavers wait for hours for wristbands

Year 12 graduates queued from 4.30am on Monday to secure their spot at Leavers celebrations - however many have been left frustrated and without a wristband.

Caps on attendees left late-comers disappointed on Monday, with the allocation of 10,000 tickets exhausted by 10am.

Those who didn’t secure registration won’t be allowed into the official Leavers entertainment zones.

Lines continue to snake around Busselton and Dunsborough into day two of Leavers 2021. Taylar Amonini/Busselton-DunsboroughTimes
Camera IconLines continue to snake around Busselton and Dunsborough into day two of Leavers 2021. Taylar Amonini/Busselton-DunsboroughTimes Credit: Taylar Amonini/Busselton-DunsboroughTimes/Busselton-DunsboroughTimes

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Acting Superintendent Mark Fleskens said he was confident all registered attendees would secure their all-access wristbands before the end of the day.

“Yesterday we processed 5396 young people,” he said.

“At this stage we’ve now reached the cap of 10,000. Unfortunately for those (unregistered) young people they won’t be able to get into the zones.

“I’m fairly confident today is a lot better than yesterday. Unfortunately there was some IT issues yesterday, compounded by the high volume of people coming through.”

Perth teen Tahlia Goodchild said she had woken up at 4.30am to secure her spot.

Elise Durup, 17, Singrid Harban Guttinger, 18, Tahlia Goodchild, 17, Twiggy Bloomfield, 17, and Keira Butt, 17, waited more than four hours to secure their Leavers 2021 wristbands.
Camera IconElise Durup, 17, Singrid Harban Guttinger, 18, Tahlia Goodchild, 17, Twiggy Bloomfield, 17, and Keira Butt, 17, waited more than four hours to secure their Leavers 2021 wristbands. Credit: Taylar Amonini/Busselton-Dunsbor/RegionalHUB

“Yesterday everyone was waiting seven hours and we figured tonight is the night of The Zone, we want time to get ready, time to chill before going rather than standing in the sun all day,” she said.

“I wish there had been an alternate way to show our proof of vaccines and get the wristbands, like if they’d opened it up in the City or South West last week so people could get them early.

“The system just seemed a bit rushed and disorganised which makes us stress while lining up.”

With wristbands secured, school Leavers will head to the first night of The Zone from 7pm tonight.

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