Childcare centres have banned the playing of Rolf Harris‘ classic Aussie Christmas song Six White Boomers.
The song, which was co-written by Harris back in the 1960s, has managed to reach an international audience with its iconic Australian lyrics about Santa using kangaroos, instead of reindeers, to pull the sleigh.
However, many child care centres in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have banned the singing of the song this year for fear of celebrating Harris’ work.
Harris was jailed in July last year for five years and nine months after being found guilty of molesting young girls between 1968 and 1986.
Bright Kids Early Learning Centre on the Gold Coast is one of the many child care centres taking a stand against Harris.
Watch: news reports of Rolf Harris’ conviction. (Post continues after video.)
Licensee Honey Nicodah Robbinson told the Courier Mail the centre made the carefully considered decision to omit the song from this year’s christmas celebrations.
“We recently had our Christmas concert with 200 parents attending and made the decision not to include the song.
“While it is a popular song with the kids and they don’t understand the connection with Rolf Harris, it just does not sit well.”
The decision has ignited debate amongst scores of parents who have taken to the Queensland-based School Mum page on Facebook to discuss the ban.
For some, they believed the banning was over the top and that we should be able to separate Harris’ convictions and the enjoyment of an iconic Christmas song.
“It’s a song and a great Aussie song at that. They’re too young to understand who he is or what he’s done so I don’t see a problem. My kids just sung it for their xmas concert,” one parent posted.
Another parent agreed.
“Earlier in the year my son (prep) sang ‘tie me kangaroo down sport” with his class in a concert, it had never even occurred to me that there would be an issue with any of his songs! They are great Aussie tunes! No need to discuss ‘him’ with the children!!”
However, many gave support to the centres for taking a decisive stance.
“I work with children also and decided against using this song, or any other Rolf Harris music. There are plenty of other songs that kids can enjoy, ones that are not written by a convicted peadophile”, one parent argued.
Harris was convicted in 2014 and is serving his sentence at HMP Stafford in England.
Do you think the ban is justified?
Top Comments
rolf is sick let the kids Liston to the wiggles Christmas CD's
This is where things get stupid. Where do we draw the line? You can read Mein Kampf if you want to, it's available at the local library. You can go and look at a gallery of work by Picasso, you can buy Roman Polanski and Woody Allen movies from Amazon. You can buy the entire back collection of Michael Jackson and Gary Glitter pretty much anywhere. Mike Tyson has a fun cartoon these days! Eminem still puts out songs glorifying the abuse of women. Doctor Dre beat a reporter senseless, but didn't put that in the popular Straight Outta Compton movie, which everyone just seemed to love. Jimmy Page is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and fans will not have a bad word said against him, same with Elvis, great singer, liked under aged girls. Ringo Starr beat his wife, as did John Lennon. And Phil Spector created some of the most amazing sounds in pop, working with many artists over many years. I could go on and on and on and on.
If you want to go down this path of not supporting people who do revolting things, it's a long one. Better start your research on who is receiving royalties with every entertainment purchase you make.