‘Scots boys are on fire’: Complaints of unsupervised drinking site as police investigate alleged assault

The mother of a Scots College student has described how her son was left bruised after being forced to walk through a human tunnel while being called “disgusting” names as part of what she said was a biannual school tradition held off-campus over the weekend.

Police are investigating the alleged incident, which the mother described as a school tradition called “Bob 2025” for boys in years 10 to 12, which was held off school grounds near Woollahra Golf Course in Rose Bay on Saturday afternoon. The school is in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Scots College principal Dr Ian Lambert on Monday afternoon said that, while it was not a school-sanctioned event, there would be consequences, which could include expulsion for students involved in the alleged incident.

“He was lured there and pressured into going. He was told that it was an expectation that he’d be there, and all of the boys needed to be there to show support,” the mother, Trish, told Ben Fordham’s 2GB breakfast program.

“When he got there, he was set upon by this group. They handed him a flag and they ridiculed him. Poured beer over his hair, pulled his shirt, the beer was burning his eyes, all his shoulders, and bruises all over him, and just absolutely humiliated him, laughing and taunting him, calling him disgusting names that I don’t think he will ever forget.”

She said her son was chased from the park by a number of boys before a woman in Rose Bay helped him call his parents and notify the police.

“The lady, who is a guardian angel, got him and took him to her house and waited there ’til police arrived. She encouraged him to call the police and to stay on the phone to me, to talk to me until, until I got there, and the police were there.”

The mother said she contacted staff at the school who were providing assistance but was yet to speak to the headmaster.

“I had the head of the senior school contact me yesterday,” she said. “I sent the videos to three members of the teaching staff. One of them was Dr Lambert, who hasn’t replied or reached out to me. The head of the senior school has, and he said that he is willing to work with the detective to name some of the boys in this clip.”

Police said they had begun an investigation after a 17-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted at a sports ground in Manion Avenue in Rose Bay.

They said the incident occurred about 5.40pm on Saturday. Police were told a group of youths had allegedly assaulted a 17-year-old boy, but he sustained no injuries.

Lambert issued a long statement on Monday afternoon saying, “The college has been in direct contact with them over the weekend and is providing appropriate support. We commend the student and his family for the courage they have shown in coming forward.”

He said the school was co-operating fully and would assist NSW Police in every way required.

“The conduct that has been reported, and which appears in video evidence, is completely unacceptable and stands in direct opposition to the values of The Scots College. I am disappointed and disgusted. The fact that the incident occurred off campus and outside school hours does not lessen its seriousness. Behaviour of this nature is never tolerated at Scots.

“The college has commenced its own internal investigation and is reviewing all available footage and information. Consequences will follow for the students involved, consistent with college expectations and policies, and possible outcomes include expulsion. Representative opportunities in sport, leadership, and co-curricular programs for those involved will also be reviewed.

“This behaviour is far below the standards expected of any Scots student. It does not reflect the character of our student body and will not define who we are or the values we uphold.”

A local resident, who lives adjacent to where the incident occurred and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said crowds of adolescents wearing “identifiable Scots items such as sports shorts and backpacks” had been drinking in the park for years.

“The hill behind the community garden is repeatedly used as an unsupervised drinking site,” she said.

She said boys arrived on e-bikes with alcohol or were dropped by adults in vehicles in a nearby car park.

“Students often place ‘spotters’ on Manion Avenue and Kent Road, seemingly to warn the group when police are approaching,” she said.

She said students sang “loud drinking chants” including “Scots boys are on fire … chug, chug, chug”.

She remarked that the songs were sung regularly “enough that even our children now recognise them”, and complaints to the school had not garnered a response.

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