Editorial: Gala scum ripped off schoolkids

Westbrook School. Photo/File

For the past few weeks I've been walking my girl to school among some pretty excited children.

There have been little kiddies bringing in bags of canned and packet food from their cupboards and others lugging unopened toys.

The morning of Thursday, March 17 saw the most kerfuffle. Pupils were trotting along the road carefully holding plastic plates filled with home baking - ensuring to follow instructions not to drop or squash them.

Comments were flying like "mum burnt the first batch", or "I was up till 10pm still icing these cupcakes" and "I hope the biscuit in the melting moments have set properly".

It wasn't just the children who were excited about Westbrook School Gala.

Most parents had lovingly sorted through their unwanted items to donate to the school.

Others who couldn't find anything parted with their gold coin donations happy in the knowledge their money was going to a good cause - the children.

So, to the lowlife scum or scums who had the nerve to make counterfeit tickets to rip off the school gala, and therefore the children, there are no words to describe your actions.

Westbrook School principal Colin Watkins said the "wind was knocked completely out of us" when the fake tickets were discovered last week.

When the tickets were counted up, it was recognised some were slightly smaller and a different shade to the originals. It appeared someone who had pre-bought the tickets had thought it a good idea to go off and make their own.

About 300 fake tickets, which have a value of $1 each, were found. Mr Watkins said the loss was much greater than the value of the tickets as the fake ones were used on stalls to win prizes and buy items. He estimated it cost the school about $6000.

Comments on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page have been suitably disgusted. Here is what a few had to say: "Rotten parasites", "How low can they be?", "Shame on you", "Unbelievable", "What? I can't believe what I am reading. Who would even think to do this?".

We were among hundreds of people who headed out on the drizzly afternoon to enjoy the gala. The work that had gone into it was immense.

I find it hard to believe there aren't people who know who did this. Please, tell the police.