Former student allegedly abused by five staff members at Geelong Grammar

A former Geelong Grammar student has launched legal action, claiming he suffered sexual and physical abuse at the elite school.

Jarred* attended Geelong Grammar. Picture by Wayne Taylor

A former Geelong Grammar student says his life has been “blighted” after allegedly being abused by five different staff members.

Jarred, not his real name, attended Geelong Grammar for five years in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

He was allegedly sexually abused by now-convicted pedophile Jonathan Harvey, who was a teacher at the time, and school doctor David Brian Mackey, who has since died after pleading guilty to charges of indecent assault.

Jarred also allegedly experienced physical abuse at the hands of two other teachers and another staff member.

Jarred alleges he was targeted across a period of three years at the Corio campus and Timbertop in the High Country, with lifelong consequences.

He said he had spent his adult life struggling to hold down a job, battling mental illness and fighting addiction.

“I was a good student until the abuse happened,” he said.

“I’m not sure what I could have achieved, but I know I stopped functioning after the abuse.

“It’s blighted my whole life.”

Jarred said he had developed obsessive-compulsive disorder in his mid-teens and was always washing his hands because he felt dirty after the alleged abuse.

He said he was asked to leave the school, which is the most expensive in Australia, in year 11 after his behaviour deteriorated due to trauma.

‘Jarred’ has battled mental health issues.

He said at the time the school was not aware, and he only told his family about the alleged abuse recently.

“Times were very different,” he said.

“I would not have been believed.

“I’ve received medical support, many psychiatrists and psychologists, but I didn’t even share the truth with them.”

Jarred said he had two younger brothers who attended Geelong Grammar and were not abused — one was a house captain and had gone on to become a chief executive of small company.

He said it wasn’t until recent years that he told his family.

“It’s not exactly a conversation starter,” he said.

“There is more reporting of sexual abuse now, so I was sick to death of holding things in.”

More than 50 years after his time at the school, he is now making a claim against it with law firm Arnold Thomas and Becker.

“My whole life’s earning capacity has been blighted,” he said.

“I hated my time at Geelong Grammar.

Geelong Grammar in Corio.

“I want an apology and an acknowledgment of what happened.”

Charges have not been laid over the alleged abuse.

Geelong Grammar principal Rebecca Cody said the school was deeply saddened that some members of the community faced significant challenges due to the ongoing impact of the crimes of the past.

“In recent years, our school has been working to provide an authentic and trauma-informed response to survivors of sexual abuse,” she said.

“While we cannot undo the failures of the past, together we can acknowledge the harm and recognise the pain caused.

“We remain committed to supporting and enabling a culture which fortifies against such devastating harms, and places student safeguarding, and the strengthening and enablement of student voice, at its core.”

Abuse lawyer at Arnold Thomas and Becker, Kristen Wright, said Geelong Grammar had admitted there were no formal policies in place specifically aimed at preventing the occurrence of child sexual abuse at the time.

She said two other teachers had allegedly witnessed Jarred being physically abused.

“No action was taken by Geelong Grammar and the perpetrators remained at the school,” she said.

Originally published as Former student allegedly abused by five staff members at Geelong Grammar