Walking students through the Cross

Spurred by the tragic Kings Cross death of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly last year, a long-time Sydney resident has set his sights on establishing a program designed to educate senior students on the perils of the Golden Mile.

A resident in and around Kings Cross for 25 years, Bob Clayton hopes to use his extensive knowledge of the area to take senior school students on a walking tour. Mr Clayton said he hopes to “demystify” the Cross.

“I was just struck when I heard those parents make those comments [after Thomas Kelly’s death] that you can’t convince 18-year-olds not to go to the Cross. I think that’s very true,” he said.

Mr Clayton has written to the Kings Cross Liquor Accord in an effort to gain financial backing and is in the process of contacting schools about the initiative.

“The walk I’d do in Kings Cross is just along the main drag. There’s a huge amount of stories to be told here … I’d like to be pointing out to them where the bars are, what they do, how they behave safely,” Mr Clayton said.

“I’d be talking to them in a very laid back sort of way, not in a lecturing sort of way. Don’t walk off alone, don’t walk off in the back streets … all of those common sense things.”

Thomas Kelly died from injuries sustained after he was king hit in an unprovoked attack in July last year.

The fallout saw the O’Farrell Government introduce a raft of changes to licensed venues in Kings Cross, including limits on alcohol sales. No shots, doubles or ready-to-drink beverages can now be sold after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) CEO Michael Thorn does not support Mr Clayton’s initiative and believes it could be counter-productive.

“Public education campaigns on their own have very poor results in terms of changing behaviours. From what I understand Bob is suggesting, I commend him for his social concern around this issue, but in the end the problem in Kings Cross is too much booze is available for too long,” he said.

“I worry that exposing young people to what actually happens can have the opposite effect to what he is hoping for.”