Child protection advocate Maggie Dawkins claims ‘toxic culture’ at Equestrian SA has existed for years

A PROMINENT member of the state’s equestrian community — a child protection advocate and wife of a former federal treasurer — claims the culture of the sport’s governing body in SA has been “toxic for years”. Now it has launched an internal inquiry.

Maggie and John Dawkins on their farm at Eden Valley. Picture: Mark Brake

• Equestrian SA rocked by mass resignations, bullying claims

A PROMINENT member of the South Australian equestrian community, with a national profile as a child protection advocate, has spoken out against bullying and abuse in the sport.

Maggie Dawkins, the wife of former federal Labor treasurer, John Dawkins, says the culture at Equestrian South Australia (ESA), which administers the sport, has been “toxic for years”.

She says she has experienced threats, intimidation and harassment in response to her criticisms of the organisation.

As revealed by The Advertiser, a former police detective is conducting an investigation for Equestrian SA into allegations made by two sets of parents of juniors competing at the interschool equestrian state championships last year.

Mrs Dawkins, the inaugural chair of the interschool committee, which administers events for young riders, says it appears that verbal abuse and bullying by ESA continues to be accepted, even when “children are on the receiving end”.

“The culture at ESA has been toxic for years, I’ve been harassed, intimidated and threatened by ESA, because I have continued to raise questions and concerns about kids,” Mrs Dawkins, from Eden Valley, told The Advertiser.

“ESA continues to tolerate intimidation and bullying as a means of silencing critics.

“The interschool committee which I established provided effective oversight of kids — that oversight was later abolished.

“The interests of kids in this sport has always come a disappointing second to the vested interests of administrators and adult competitors.”

In the 1980s, Mrs Dawkins was the public servant who exposed the sexual abuse of children at a state-run hostel in WA — one of the triggers for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that began in 2013.

The mother of internationally ranked two-star equestrian rider Alice Dawkins said she hoped the independent investigation into the alleged verbal abuse of children at ESA did not prove to be “a toothless tiger”.

Equestrian rider Alice Dawkins in 2016 with her horse Hillbro Aramac. Picture: Elizabeth Borowik

Equestrian SA chair Joe Hooper.

“Those responsible must be made accountable. How can they seriously hold a ‘working with children’ certification?” she added.

“The community does not accept this kind of behaviour, nor do other Olympic sports. Why should members of ESA have to pay through the nose for membership and then feel that they must remain silent for fear of retribution.”

After being contacted by several members of the equestrian community this week with concerns about the administration of their sport, The Advertiser has asked ESA for comment on Mrs Dawkins’ specific allegations.

ESA chair Joe Hooper, chief executive of the AMA (SA), issued a communication to members on Monday in response to The Advertiser’s article, denying the sport was in crisis.

Nine administrators quit the organisation earlier this month.

JOE HOOPER’S LETTER TO MEMBERS

Mr Hooper also confirmed ESA was conducting an internal investigation into incidents at the interschool event and named former police officer Trevor Jenkins as the investigating officer.

He also confirmed ESA executive officer Sharon Cimarosti will return to her role, after four weeks of annual leave, on July 2.

Interim executive officer Jacqui Lang told The Advertiser she was not prepared to discuss any matter because “the media is not the right forum to talk about in-house matters at ESA”.

“Members should be contacting the office as I’m more than happy to speak to individual members if they have concerns,” she said.

Mrs Dawkins, who will lodge a submission to the NSW coroner about the deaths of two equestrian riders in 2016, said she intended to call for an independent inquiry and review into the governance of the sport.

“I hope that Mr Hooper and his board addresses the toxic culture in the sport,” she said.

“It is a dangerous sport, made all the more so by being poorly managed.

“Young riders, especially children, deserve better.”