Telopea Park students were turfed out of Jamberoo soon after arriving. Photos: Supplied.
Jamberoo Action Park in Kiama is under fire after kicking 150 Canberra Telopea Park School students out of its water-themed venue after an apparent “risk assessment” mix-up on Thursday.
The Year 10 graduation excursion saw the teenagers make the seven-hour round trip to Jamberoo and enter the premises, only to be told to leave within their first hour.
“A group of students wasn’t allowed to go back and get their bags before being escorted out and the staff brought them down,” Year 10 captain Lachlan Li said.
“Some had shoes and pants left up there that they were never able to retrieve.”
Kathryn Andrewartha, whose 16-year-old daughter Belle was one of those evicted, said parents and students were confused and frustrated.
“We were told the students had to leave because [Jamberoo] had made an administrative error,” she said.
“Apparently, they turned the day into a primary students-only day, so their risk assessment didn’t allow for secondary students to mix with the younger children.
“I don’t understand how this could have happened, because the school booked this excursion three months ago.
“We understand mistakes can happen, but Jamberoo handled this very poorly.
“The excursion basically ended up as the kids just going to Maccas. It’s pathetic.”
The water park’s shutters were closed on students and teacher Mr Chen.
Region contacted Jamberoo and asked why the students were evicted and whether they’d receive refunds.
“We won’t be providing comment in response to the students’ concerns for the article,” general manager Matt George said.
The ACT Education Directorate said Telopea Park School had worked closely with Jamberoo Action Park over the past 24 hours to make arrangements for full reimbursement to all families and staff booked to attend on Thursday.
“Telopea Park School has sought to add some extra cheer to the Year 10 cohort’s celebrations on their last day today [Friday] by adding a sausage sizzle before the final concert, and providing frozen ice treats for the students,” a spokesperson said.
“The ACT Education Directorate is working with other schools who have bookings to visit Jamberoo this season to ensure arrangements are all in order.”
Lachlan called the experience a “nightmare”.
“The excursion cost us each $92,” he said. ”It was a long trip to get there. The staff weren’t apologetic at all. They even closed the shutters on us when we were waiting outside.”
Ms Andrewartha said she felt sorry for all the students and teachers, who had done a wonderful job organising the trip.
“The students had barely been on any excursions in their time in high school, as they’d been through COVID,” she said.
”This was their last chance to celebrate graduating Year 10 together. Next week, they’ll all be going their separate ways.
“As parents, we are extremely disappointed by Jamberoo’s treatment towards the kids. There was no empathy or acknowledgment of the fact this was their last excursion as a school group.
”The booking was made three months ago [or] our kids would not be on a seven-hour [return] bus trip to get there.”
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