Tim Richardson: former Dandenong High staff knew rapist teacher was abusing boys

A former student at a Melbourne high school where convicted paedophile Tim Richardson taught has revealed the horrific warning classmates would chant when the rapist was nearby. It comes amid claims some staff knew he was abusing students.

Dandenong High is celebrating its 100th birthday this year amid accusations former staff were aware of convicted rapist Tim Richardson’s offences against boys.

The victims of convicted paedophile teacher Tim Richardson are calling for an investigation into Dandenong High School claiming some staff knew about the offending but did nothing to stop it.

Richardson, 82, was sentenced on April 12 to a minimum of four years and nine months in prison for raping and indecently assaulting multiple boys at his Harkaway farm between 1963 and 1973.

However his victims have demanded answers from the school and the Education Department as to how the rapist teacher was able to get away with his abuse for so long.

RELATED

PAEDOPHILE TEACHER'S 'DEATH SENTENCE' FOR RAPING BOYS

JUDGE COMPARES RAPE FARM TO MICHAEL JACKSON'S NEVERLAND

PAEDOPHILE TEACHER COULD HAVE DOZENS MORE VICTIMS

Several victims, and other Dandenong High students, have said they attempted to report Richardson to the school but were told to “go away”.

County Court Judge Paul Higham accepted the school was made aware of Richardson’s abuse by at least one victim.

“Had something happened the offending will have stopped then and there,” he said.

The victim — who was raped by Richardson 80 to 100 times — said he approached the school office to make a complaint to the principal.

He told a staff member that Richardson had been “doing dirty things” but was ordered to go away and “never speak of this again”.

The victim said he felt guilty after his brother became a victim of Richardson a few years later.

Richardson taught at the school from 1962 to 1979.

A family spokesperson said they wanted the Education Department to launch an investigation into the school.

Another ex-student said Richardson attempted to sexually assault him at a school sanctioned weekend farm trip

He said he attempted to raise the matter with the school but was ignored.

“I was told to just forget it, so I did,” he said.

“I was told to ‘show a bit more compassion to this man’. I was just a young kid (and) I was too embarrassed to tell my parents.

“I’m gutted, had I pushed it a bit more, then you never know (what could have happened).

“It wasn’t only me (who attempted to report Richardson) but a few others who went up to the farm. It was well known among students at the school what Richardson was doing.

“We had a saying ‘Mr Richardson is in the hall, backs to the wall’ so it’s rubbish none of the staff knew. The school needs to be held accountable.”

At this stage the Education Department has not indicated whether it will investigate the school.

The department said it was unaware if any reports of Richardson’s abuse were passed on by the school.

Education spokesman Michael Courts said the “shocking and tragic case of historic sexual abuse” had a “heartbreaking impact on the lives of its victims”.

“We apologise unreservedly to former students for failing to prevent them being harmed by this teacher,” he said.

“In the decades since, there has been a complete overhaul of the way schools identify and respond to suspected child abuse to prevent this from happening again.

“The Victorian Government introduced significant reforms as a result of the Betrayal of Trust report.

“These include new child safe standards, which require all schools to implement policies and procedures to better manage the risk of child abuse and respond to allegations.”

Richardson worked at Dandenong High from 1962 to 1979. He briefly left in 1966 to work at Gippsland Grammar but returned a few months later.

He began working at Ferntree Gully Tech in 1985.

Richardson, who worked at 18 schools, ended his teaching career at Korumburra Secondary College in 2006.

Richardson also held numerous positions during the years that brought him into contact with children and teens, including junior football coach and Scout Leader.

From 1978 to 2012 he fostered about 60 children.

[e-mail]