A duck hunting event scheduled for February 26 at Oakleigh Grammar in Melbourne has been cancelled after it was revealed organisers planned to raffle off a firearm.
The Victorian Duck Hunters Association had arranged an information night at the school hall, but Oakleigh Grammar cancelled the event following concerns raised by duck rescuers.
The school, which rents out its hall through a booking system, was unaware of the specific details, including the firearm prize, until it was brought to their attention.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell expressed her shock, saying, “The fact that the duck shooting fraternity thought it was in any way appropriate to take firearms into a school grounds… says absolutely everything that we need to know about them.”
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Oakleigh Grammar Principal Mark Robertson confirmed that the event was not approved due to concerns about its alignment with the school’s values and its potential impact on the community.
“No hire contract has been signed nor have any monies been received by the Victorian Duck Hunters Association,” Mr Robertson said.
A spokesman for the Victorian Duck Hunters Association clarified that firearms would not be brought to the school. He added, “Any winners of such prizes have to be licensed, and the prizes collected from a licensed firearm dealer… a process that is quite onerous.”
The Association is now looking for a larger venue after the cancellation.
Source: Herald Sun.
