Toddler or teen?

Life skills Most teens are keen to experience adult life and be treated with respect. This is a natural part of growing up, but it’s a two-way deal. For it to work, teenagers must give a bit; they can’t just take, take and take. We’re not talking sheep stations here. I’m just saying that with…

Pool of thought

Swimming at my local outdoor pool, I heard two lifeguards discussing the previous day’s events (when the temperature topped 35 degrees Celsius). I thought a lifeguard’s role was to watch the water and keep people safe. Alas, it now seems the job description has changed. New breed As a teenager, few things beat hanging with…

The rise of the ‘hatecrasher’

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMe8OYi0c_4] Young. Strong. Spiteful. Vicious. Terrifying. When it comes to gatecrashers, I’ve seen it all. But now I’m witnessing a new level of violence – fuelled by a blind, searing hatred of everyone and everything. This disturbing shift is so pronounced, I’m calling these intruders ‘hatecrashers’. This word isn’t in any dictionary. But if…

Why each parent should have 20 kids

As teen parties get bigger, riskier and more elaborate, host parents are finding there’s extra help at hand: other parents and responsible (i.e. mature, sober) adults. This is good news, as parents planning teen events need all the help they can get. They also need to realise some really important points. Key among these is…

Pull the plug on energy drinks!

As I continue to lobby government stakeholders in relation to safe teen parties, yet more tragedy unfolds. Another young life wasted. A death that could have been avoided. Alcohol-related trauma is one of the biggest issues at teen events. My submission takes a holistic approach to its resolution. Sadly, it looks like it’s going to…

The west ain’t the best!

Perth has been having so many major problems with teen parties that I have to say my piece. Since the start of March, I’ve counted more than 30 teen events that have hit the media for all the wrong reasons. The most serious incident was last week when gatecrashers attacked, stabbed and hospitalised four young…

Underage underwear

Learning curve Each teen event brings new adventures. Last weekend we had many lively youth celebrations. The first was a formal event for 280 16-year-olds, followed by several ‘after parties’ not far from the venue. Chatting to young guests is one way my security team and I build rapport. We make kids understand that we’re…

Gatecrashers – a protected species!

Around 90% of teen parties go off the rails because BYO alcohol isn’t controlled as it’s brought onsite. The host/parent who manages this common problem is almost there. Yet the remaining 10% of teen events fail because of a different problem: gatecrashers. I’ve worked hundreds of teen parties. I’ve had gatecrashers threaten to cut my…

Death of the Party

Another Tragedy This week I read with utter dismay that yet another teenager had lost her life at a party which didn’t have adequate security measures. Two men also became violently ill on what’s thought to be gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB). This so-called ‘recreational’ drug has an appropriate nickname of Grievous Bodily Harm. Escalating Problem Recreational drugs…

Hard Day’s Night

The party we covered last night was hard work. First we had to remove four invited guests who’d assaulted someone inside. These guys had been drinking before entering the house. As we took them out, they threatened us. One said he had a knife; another mentioned a syringe. All four had their hands in their…