Parents join forces with lollipop man who was banned from high fives

The popular carer, named John, was banned by the Yarra Ranges Council after a parent at Mount Dandenong Primary School saw the high-five while driving past on Farndons Road.

“He seemed noticeably depressed for a while, but his spirits are definitely lifting,” said election organizer Rohan Bradley, Today.

Bradley said parents at school had been asking about John.

“I think that thanks to this incredible support that the community is showing and the media attention, the petitions are starting to get a lot of signatures,” he said.

“Hopefully this will help him feel better and realize that we all really appreciate and love him.”

Bradley said students and parents in the community couldn't believe the council would ban high fives.

“This is something that John and the students have been doing for years,” he said.

“So, yes, it was a little disturbing and surprising.”

Bradley said most parents find John's methods “very, very welcoming and a very warm part of their day.”

John himself has been reluctant to speak to the media, so Bradley believes it's all the more important that the community stands up for him.

“It is important that parents – like me and many others and everyone else in the community – address this issue and raise their voices, not only on his behalf, but on behalf of the student’s wishes and our own.

“I hope that this can lead to a sensible change of heart in the Council.

“I am optimistic that this revelation and the petition will at least make them aware that there are many of us who disagree with this ruling,

“If they can take such decisive action from a single complaint, we will counter it with thousands of complaints.”

“I think it's a pretty tragic snapshot of the current situation.”

At the time of writing, the petition for John had collected just over 1,000 signatures.