New child abuse claims emerge at Beaumaris Primary School by male teacher in ‘60s and ‘70s

A primary school where a pack of known paedophiles was allegedly left free to offend is facing a string of fresh child abuse allegations.

Beaumaris Primary School is facing a string of fresh new child abuse allegations.

A government primary school where a pack of known paedophiles was allegedly left free to offend is now facing a string of fresh new child abuse allegations.

The Herald Sun can reveal sex crime detectives are investigating after up to 10 complainants alleged new offending by a male teacher at a Beaumaris Primary School from 1960s and 1970s.

The teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has already been jailed for child sex crimes at the school.

He was already known to have offended at his first school in the 1960s, but went on to teach for another two decades at three other schools including a school for disabled students.

Beaumaris Primary School has emerged as a haven for paedophile teachers in the 1970s with at least four known offenders now identified as working together there in the 1970s.

Sources close to the police investigation say their offending was an open secret, and multiple complaints were made about the teachers at the time.

Beaumaris Primary School has emerged as a haven for paedophile teachers in the 1970s.

But they have accused the Department of Education of either doing nothing, or shuffling the teachers between schools or regional education offices.

It has been estimated more than 100 children may have been abused.

The Department’s handling of abuse claims at the time has been likened to the way the Catholic Church notoriously shuffled paedophile priests between parishes for decades.

The Victorian Department of Education is currently facing multiple legal actions over its handling of paedophile teachers.

In addition, latest data shows that of about 1000 claims against the government for abuse committed in Victoria under the National Redress Scheme, about one third of those related to government schools.

It has prompted a campaign by victims of abuse in government schools for recognition.

Multiple inquiries, including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Absuse, have largely ignored offending in government schools.

The Victoria Parliament’s 2013 report into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Non-Government Organisations did not include Government organisations.

Glen Fearnett was abused at Beaumaris Primary School in the 1970s.

“Successive Governments, including todays, inherited these issues but are the current guardians of the institution,” he said.

“As a current teacher I feel betrayed. As a survivor I feel that as kids we were disposable.

“Today with the lack of acknowledgment, I feel the sense of being disposable is being confirmed.”

Rod Owen was a victim of abuse at Beaumaris Primary School. Picture: Mark Stewart

Former St Kilda star Rod Owen, who was also abused at the school, said his life had been ruined because of inaction by the Department of Education.

“To now learn that teachers knew that my offender was molesting children … is beyond belief,” he said.

“The Education Department has a lot of explaining how all these paedophiles were placed at Beaumaris at the same time.

“Not only does the Department need to acknowledge what took place and offer a heartfelt apology, the moral and ethical fabric of the Department and teachers at that time has to be questioned,” he said.

Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley will this week demand a formal apology for children who were abused in government schools.

“Over my journey in parliament, I have had more and more former students of Beaumaris Primary School come forward with harrowing stories of abuse that they had suffered at the hands of teachers and supervisors who were supposed to be protecting them,” he said.

“This is probably just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more survivors out there who either choose not to speak up or are unable to speak up for fear of reliving the horror of their childhood.

The Victorian government, led by Premier Dan Andrews, is one of three state governments not to have formally apologised to victims of child abuse in schools. Picture: Ian Currie

“We need to be doing more to support victims of childhood abuse and stand with them as they move to put their lives back together after being cruelly exploited by these monsters.”

The Victorian government has formally apologised for the past practices in the provision of out-of-home care services and to victims of abuse in connection with the Puffing Billy Railway and other railway bodies.

It is one of just three state governments not to have formally apologised to victims from government schools.

Asked why, Premier Daniel Andrews said the government worked with victim survivor support groups.

“We provide them with any and all assistance and support that we can,” he said.

“I know that there are many that carry the trauma of terrible abuse with them every day … we’re always looking at ways in which we can support them.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the new investigation remained ongoing.

“Victoria Police encourages all victims of sexual assault and child abuse, and anyone who has knowledge of such a crime, to make a report,” she said.

“Victoria Police is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those people who prey on children no matter how many years have passed.”