Toowoomba restaurant owner steps back from business, community roles as trial continues

The southeast Queensland woman fighting allegations she sexually abused a 13-year-old boy at an elite 25 years ago has stepped back from her community and business roles.

Meredith Rawlings leaves the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The woman fighting allegations she sexually abused a 13-year-old boy at Toowoomba Grammar School 25 years ago has stepped back from her community and business roles.

Former TGS student Nicholas Brockhurst is suing Encores Restaurant co-owner and former TGS teacher Meredith Rawlings in the Brisbane Supreme Court for $1 million, claiming their alleged emotional and sexual relationship from 1996 to 1997 left him with significant psychological trauma and impacted his education and subsequent job prospects.

A criminal complaint has never been made to police and Mrs Rawlings has never been charged with an offence relating to the allegations.

Mrs Rawlings has strenuously denied the claim against her.

The trial is ongoing.

On Thursday, mental health support service Toowoomba Clubhouse said it was aware of the civil suit concerning Mrs Rawlings, one of its directors.

“Out of respect for the organisation and our members, this director has stepped down from their role and the board,” the statement said.

Encores Restaurant, co-owned by Mrs Rawlings and her husband Mark, said in a post on social media that Mrs Rawlings had been fighting the allegations for five years.

“This long and draining fight has now ended up not only as a civil trial, but also a trial by media, the viciousness of which we grossly underestimated.

“As a consequence of the business being identified, Meredith will be stepping back from her role temporarily.”