More survivors speak up

Grammar confirms growing list of cases

GEELONG Grammar has confirmed more former staff from the elite school are expected to stand trial for abuse.

It comes as a campaign calling for survivors from three of Geelong’s top schools, including the Corio boarding school, continues to gain momentum.

Rebecca Cody, who took over as Geelong Grammar principal last year, wrote to families and friends of the school late last week.

Survivors were “shaken” to learn that former Geelong Grammar music chief Malcolm John was recently convicted of child sexual abuse, Ms Cody wrote.

John was no longer employed by the school when the incidents occurred, and the victim was not a GGS student.

His jailing came after he testified as a witness at the royal commission into abuse in 2015.

“There are more cases ahead where former Geelong Grammar School staff will face trial,” Ms Cody wrote.

“I have come to understand that the impact of trials on the victims of such crimes can represent further torment and traumatisation.

“Fundamental to this torment is the shocking betrayal of trust: surely our world cannot only depend upon yet demand that educators safeguard those who are most vulnerable.”

Geelong College principal Peter Miller also recently wrote to his school’s community, saying it was expecting to see “a small number of cases” of historic abuse escalate to court in the near future.

Just days later, Geelong College stumped up about $1 million to settle a case with a former student who was sexually abused by a teacher in 1969.

Meanwhile, an activist and abuse survivor known by his pseudonym of Michael Advocate said 24 victims of historic abuse from across St Joseph’s College, Geelong College and Geelong Grammar had come forward since he launched his program to support survivors locally, on July 26.

Most had previously not spoken out about their experiences, and the majority were keen to litigate, he said.

Survivors had said they had experienced physical and/or sexual abuse, Mr Advocate said.

Geelong Grammar was the school with the most survivors who had come forward as part of the campaign to date, and Mr Advocate said he expected many more survivors would come forward.

“The victims have been incredibly courageous in coming forward, and the damages done to their lives is clearly unable to be fully compensated, even if it’s in the millions,” Mr Advocate said.