GLADSTONE CROSSING LADY RUNS PICKUP LANE LIKE A CORRECTIONS OFFICER, PARENTS QUIETLY THRILLED

The crossing patroller outside a Gladstone primary school has developed a following, after six weeks of running the 3:15 pickup with the calm menace of a woman who has buried two Corollas.

Lorraine Beattie, 61, took over the lollipop in August. She has since introduced what parents are calling "the system". Cars that idle get a look. Cars that double-park get a longer look. One father attempted a three-point turn in the bus bay on Tuesday and has reportedly not been seen since.

"She just points," said Fiona Braithwaite, mother of two. "Doesn't yell. Doesn't need to. I saw a bloke in a Hilux reverse fifty metres because she raised an eyebrow. Bloody marvellous."

Another parent, Neville Cotter, said it reminded him of the patrols back in 1974. The lollipop lady at his Gore primary once made a truckie apologise to a Year 3. "You don't see that discipline now," Neville said. "Or you didn't, until Lorraine."

The school's principal said Mrs Beattie was "performing her duties as trained" and declined to elaborate. She did note the average pickup now takes eleven minutes instead of nineteen. A PTA member has floated the idea of a plaque. Lorraine has indicated, through intermediaries, that she does not want a plaque.

On Wednesday in three degrees and a southerly, Lorraine was back on the crossing at 3:10 sharp. A silver Territory slowed to let a child through without being asked. Witnesses said she nodded once.