Teachers’ names listed in northern beaches’ school sex assault inquiry
A WHISTLEBLOWER, who came forward after listening to a podcast on the disappearance of Lynette Dawson, has worked with police and ex-students to name teachers involved in alleged sex assaults or relationships with under-age students at northern beaches schools in the 1970s and 80s.
Manly
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A LIST of names of teachers involved in alleged sex assaults or relationships with under-age students at northern beaches high schools in the 1970s and 80s will be handed to police.
The names were written into two notebooks by those who attended a weekend meeting of former Cromer High School students affected by the allegations.
More than 30 people, including men, who attended the two-hour private meeting on Sunday at the Collaroy Surf Live Saving Club were also given information about how to contact police or lawyers.
Meeting organiser Robyn Wheeler, a former Cromer High vice-captain, invited the former students, who graduated from 1976 to 1985, to provide names of teachers who were allegedly involved in sex assaults or inappropriate relationships.
Ms Wheeler said yesterday the former students were also asked to make notes anonymously that could assist investigators.
Strike Force Southwood has been set up with detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad and the Northern Beaches Local Area Command to examine the allegations.
It was set up after allegations made in The Australian’s podcast series The Teacher’s Pet, that several teachers pursued Cromer High students for sex.
It is expected the investigations will include allegations of historic crimes made against teachers at Forest High and the now closed Beacon Hill High.
The podcast series is investigating the unsolved 1982 disappearance of Bayview mother Lyn Dawson, wife of Chris Dawson, a teacher at Cromer High.
When Mrs Dawson went missing, Mr Dawson was having an affair with teenager Joanne Curtis that started when she was 16 and a Year 11 student at the school.
There is no suggestion Mr Dawson was involved in any matters currently being investigated by or about to be referred to police.
Ms Wheeler told the Manly Daily she placed two red notebooks at the front of the meeting for people to provide information.
“We anticipated that it’s very difficult for some people to speak about these things and some people are not willing to be named,” she said.
“We gave assurances that we would protect their identity and if there was anything they wanted us to look into further, or ask the strike force or lawyers to look into further, to include it in the notebook.
“It gave people an opportunity to say what was on their mind, but not have to suffer the repercussions on their employment or children at school.”
Ms Wheeler, who was to meet Strike Force Southwood officers yesterday, said a number of people at the meeting said they would soon contact police.