Former Grammar doctor avoids jail but on sex register for life
GEELONG Grammar School says the historic sex offences admitted last week by its former live-in doctor David Mackey did not occur on its grounds or against one of its students.
But the school has confirmed a number of the charges against Mackey that were dropped involved its alumni, and its principal has promised to continue supporting those abused at her school.
Principal Rebecca Cody wrote to past students yesterday following the Geelong Advertiser’s report on Saturday that Mackey, 85, had pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault from the period 1972-1975. He is one of at least six former Geelong Grammar staff members now convicted of sex offences.
Mackey avoided a jail term last week, but was put on a community corrections order by the County Court. It was his second conviction for sex offending, and he avoided jail in both instances.
Now on the sex offender’s register for life, Mackey was once an esteemed figure at Geelong Grammar. He studied at the school from 1945, was head boy in 1952, and was livein doctor on the Corio campus from 1964-1993.
Ms Cody said the charges Mackey pleaded to “did not occur at the school and did not relate to students of the school”.
“Dr Mackey also faced trial on separate indecent assault charges allegedly committed between 1968 and 1989. The alleged victims in those cases were past students of the school,” she said.
“Victorian County Court Judge Bill Stuart granted a permanent stay of these proceedings on the grounds of special prejudice and consequently Dr Mackey will not face prosecution for these charges.”
The long series of historic allegations that emerged against Mackey in recent years included alleged abuse of boys and girls.
Ms Cody said her meetings with abuse survivors taught her how traumatic such criminal trials could be, and how difficult it was for abuse victims to speak out.
“I feel a profound and deep sorrow for their suffering. I am also inspired by their strength and their courage to speak about their experiences at GGS,” she wrote.
“I remain steadfast that the school must acknowledge and learn from the hurt inflicted upon innocent children in the past. Much has been achieved in the past 18 months, and there remains so much more to do to help our community heal. We are endeavouring to instil a culture that will stand up for what is right.”
In her letter the principal emphasised the support services now on offer at the school.
“While we cannot undo the failures of the past, together we can acknowledge the harm, recognise the pain caused and together, we can support and enable a culture which fortifies against such devastating harms and places child safety at its core,” she said.