Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose defamation case begins

The Tamborine Mountain State High School principal who is seeking $1 million in a bitter defamation case says she binged on chocolates and considered committing suicide over online comments alleging she was “an evil bully”.

A QUEENSLAND school principal suing parents for more than $1 million ‘sobbed uncontrollably’, binged on chocolates and considered committing suicide after learning she was being attacked by ‘keyboard warriors’.

Mount Tamborine State High School principal Tracey Brose told the defamation trial she was a strong person but was broken by a series of social media posts after she was stood down from the job in 2016.

Principal of the school since 2001, Mrs Brose was later reinstated.

Recalling the impact of online comments, she told the court she sobbed uncontrollably and binged by eating packets of chocolate bullets.

She also said she considered taking her life and made enquires to ensure her life insurance policy would not be voided by suicide.

Mt Tamborine State High School Principal Tracey Brose arrives at court in Southport. Picture: Adam Head

“I was distressed, angry,” she said.

“I was humiliated and ashamed at that comment (which implied she did not support kids who ‘did not fit the norm’).

“I have a disabled daughter and my whole career has been about trying to help kids who don’t fit the norm.”

The hearing continues.

PRINCIPAL BEGINS $1M DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST PARENTS

A QUEENSLAND high school principal allegedly called an “evil bully” on social media will today take her accusers to court in a defamation trial in pursuit of more than $1 million in damages.

In a landmark civil case at Southport District Court, Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose is suing five parents, alleging they defamed her on Facebook and in a Change.org petition in 2016.

She has settled her claim against two other parents while another person originally named in the court action has since declared bankruptcy.

Only four parents – nurse Donna Baluskas, data technician Miguel Baluskas, grocery merchandiser Laura Lawson and aged-care nurse Charmaine Proudlock – are taking an active part in the case.

According to court documents, Mrs Brose was falsely called “evil” and a “a lying, manipulative bully, who gets off by belittling as many people as she can”, in a series of comments published online after the principal was stood down from her role in 2016.

Donna Baluskas and Laura Lawson who are involved in a legal dispute with Mt Tamborine State School Principal Tracey Brose. Picture: Jason O'Brien

Mrs Brose was subsequently cleared of any wrong-doing and reappointed.

All the parties were last month warned by District Court Judge Catherine Muir to behave during the trial, the climax of a bitter three-year legal row.

Originally published as Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose defamation case begins