A popular school crossing guard on Hobart’s Eastern Shore has been given the green light to resume his beloved costume tradition after a community outcry forced the government to reverse its decision.
Stephen Bourke, who works at Bayview Secondary College at Rokeby, was told he could no longer dress up or wave to passing motorists while on duty.
The decision sparked an immediate backlash from locals who credited him with slowing traffic and brightening their daily commute.
“When I am here, I’ve got my little things up. People are slowing down up the road,” Bourke said.
“If I can give them a little bit of a smile, I’ve done my job.”
“People reckon that they’re rebels, but these blokes here on the motorcycles have got so much respect for me, they’ll actually wait and let me get [the kids] across the road.”
Labor leader Josh Willie intervened, writing to relevant ministers and organising a social media campaign to support Bourke.
“Steve is very popular here in the Eastern Shore. He keeps kids safe as they go to school and come from school,” Willie said.
The decision to ban his antics came after complaints from what he called “grouchos” who objected to his monthly “Ollie Friday” costume days.
These special days honour Ollie, a young cancer patient who passed away just before Christmas last year.
Bourke said he’d been following occupational health and safety rules, wearing approved hats and high-visibility gear while performing his duties.
“They’re not supposed to be looking at my face. They’re supposed to be looking at my stop sign,” he said.
Parents rallied behind Bourke, with one mother saying her children – who lost their father on Christmas Eve – always smiled when seeing him.
“My kids and I drive past every morning and no matter that the mood is we always put the window down to say ‘hi’,” she wrote.
“Thank you for taking what seems like an everyday job and making an extraordinary impact on the people around you.”
Following the community campaign, the state government reversed its decision, allowing Bourke to return to his crossing in full costume.
