The King’s School headmaster hits out at media for ‘public shaming’ after goanna camp death

The headmaster of an elite Sydney private school has spoken out after accusations students killed a goanna during a cadet camp.

The King's School students were on a cadet camp when the goanna was killed. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

The headmaster of a prestigious private school in Sydney’s west has hit out at the media for “public shaming” the college after students allegedly killed a goanna during a cadet camp.

Last week it was revealed senior students from The King’s School in North Parramatta were accused of torturing and killing a goanna at a school camp in March.

After numerous media reports on the incident, headmaster Tony George issued a public letter stating while the media outrage was “understandable and warranted”, his students did not deserve to be victims of any “pillorying, shaming and vilification.”

“Unfortunately, this year’s camp has been marred by an incident resulting in the death of a goanna. The incident has received wide coverage and responses from various media outlets and the public. The outrage is both understandable and warranted,” the letter said.

“Not only are native animals protected by law, but animal cruelty is a heinous, inhumane act in all its forms.”

The headmaster’s letter. Read it in full below.

The King’s School Headmaster Tony George.

The native animal was killed during the school’s long-running cadet camp on the afternoon of March 29.

NSW Police are investigating the incident.

The headmaster defended his students in the letter and accused the media of having a reputation of building quick cacophonys against private schools because of their elite status.

“As the school seeks to fairly, reasonably, and carefully understand what occurred and how to support the students and their families through the process, including any disciplinary or remedial actions required, the tabloids and virtuous trolls are quick to build a cacophony of public shaming under the clear assumption it is bad people who do bad things,” he wrote.

Students at The Kings School allegedly killed a goanna during a cadet camp.

“If only the human condition were that simple. The real tragedy is that it is often good people who do bad things.”

“This is not to say that these things aren’t wrong – on the contrary, they are not only wrong, but they can also be criminal. What I am saying is that the wrongful act does not justify the pillorying, shaming and vilification of students and their schools by the media or anyone else.”

He concluded the statement with “RIP Varanus varius”, the scientific name for lace monitor or tree goanna.

The native animal was killed during the school’s long-running cadet camp on the afternoon of March 29 and the incident is being investigated by NSW Police.

It is not yet known if the students faced any disciplinary action from the school.

The private school in Parramatta charges about $24,000 for kindergarten students and up to $40,000 for year 12 students.