PMSA schools scandal: How the story unfolded

AS angry parents take their protest to the street today, The Courier-Mail retraces the coverage that has brought the scandal to a head.

After previously announcing her resignation, Somerville House principal Flo Kearney was marched off the grounds on Wednesday.

• Parents take protest to streets
• What about the children?
• Principal ordered off campus

THE ongoing scandal gripping Brisbane elite schools run by the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association comes to a head at 7am today with a street protest in South Brisbane by parents, former students and other members of the schools community.

The Courier-Mail broke the story and has been covering every twist and turn. Following is a timeline of the coverage ...

October 12: Top end of town scandal

The Courier-Mail exclusively reveals the PMSA is embroiled in scandal over an IT security breach and the download of thousands of confidential files about some of the state’s most prominent figures including Governor Paul de Jersey.

The Courier-Mail’s special investigation also uncovers lewd text messages in a secret plot to exchange sensitive material between PMSA executive manager Rick Hiley and ex-PMSA chairman Robert McCall, who is a decorated Queensland police inspector.

They discuss “covert” meetings for “secret men’s business” to do “Eddie the Eagle” in a nude spa at a Korean bathhouse during school hours.

“Would you like to be radical and finally go over to the spa which is not far from your office?” texted Inspector McCall.

“I’m happy to go to the spa — I’m a prude when it comes to public nudity though,’’ replied Mr Hiley.

The scandal has taken its toll on prestigious Somerville House. Picture: Mark Calleja/AAP

October 13: Plotters in hot water

Outraged parents demand an independent inquiry into the alleged cover-up of the privacy breach scandal by the PMSA.

With the scandal dubbed “Game of Thrones in cardigans” by a whistleblower, the PMSA announces the shock resignation of highly regarded Somerville House principal Flo Kearney, who had been tasked with investigating the IT scandal.

The PMSA claims an independent inquiry cleared Rick Hiley and Rob McCall of any wrongdoing, and calls them “exemplary”.

The Courier-Mail reveals new texts about visits to the Korean bathhouse and secret plans to create the PMSA executive manager role for Mr Hiley, who describes himself as “deviously excited” and feeling “very naughty indeed”.

October 16: Parents demand clarity

Parents are up in arms over an apparent backflip by the Uniting Church not to properly investigate the scandal, including the high-profile privacy breach, lewd texts, nude Korean bathhouse meets and high staff turnover.

Moderator Reverend David baker and Reverend Heather den Houting said: “There is no plan for an inquiry.”

They decline to identify “external agencies” called in to work with the PMSA to ensure the governance structure “is operating to the highest standards”.

October 17: Moral crisis in house of cards

Somerville House Foundation writes an open letter to church moderators demanding answers to a six-point list of concerns about the PMSA. These includes alleged collusion, breach of privacy, three code-of-conduct violations, and lewd behaviour against “Christian ethos and values”.

Somerville head of boarding Pamela Hodgetts and husband David resign in protest over the treatment of Flo Kearney and botched handling of the deepening scandal by the PMSA. The PMSA still refuses to comment.

Brisbane Boys’ College is another PMSA school embroiled in the scandal. Picture: Steve Pohlner/AAP

October 20: Call for schools head

PMSA executive manager Rick Hiley faces calls for him to be axed from his $350,000-a-year job for his part in the IT privacy breach and mass download of thousands of files, lewd texts and visits to a nude spa in a Korean bathhouse during school hours.

It emerges Brisbane Boys’ College is grappling with an alleged cover-up of a sexual assault at a school sports camp.

October 25: Watchdog sniffs scandal

Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission opens up preliminary inquiry into a formal complaint to the anti-graft watchdog about the alleged data breach, official misconduct and police misconduct.

Details of a leaked Deloitte report, commissioned by the PMSA in 2015, show a highly controversial proposal to merge Somerville House, Brisbane Boys’ College, Clayfield College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

October 26: Bell tolls as head rolled

Somerville House principal Flo Kearney and Director of Communications Sarah Dreaver are stood down and ordered off the school campus by the PMSA. Mr Hiley was personally on hand to execute the shock dismissals.

Former Principal Dr Ness Goodwin, who was on the panel that appointed Mr Hiley to the EM position, is reinstated to act as caretaker head as some of the 1200 students at the $22,000-a-year school are engulfed in the crisis.

Parents with almost 1500 supporters from all four private schools set up an independent body, with the Facebook page: “Beyond PMSA”.

They call for the “PMSA to be disbanded and each school to establish a council/board that is solely focused on maintaining that school’s history, legacy and future prospects”.