Former Carey Grammar teacher dubbed ‘Merv the perv’ caught up in abuse claims at elite school

A former sport teacher nicknamed “Merv the perv” by students is one of close to 30 educators at the centre of historic abuse claims to rock the up-market school in Melbourne’s east.

A former sports teacher is one of 28 educators at the centre of historic child abuse claims at Carey Grammar. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

A former Carey Grammar sport teacher who used to allegedly watch students undress and take showers known as “Merv the perv” is one of the 28 educators at the centre of historic child abuse claims at the up-market school.

As proceedings against the school gather pace, former students are destroying photos in the school archives of alleged perpetrators and sharing stories of “violent, psycho” and “creepy” teachers.

“Merv the perv” taught at the school for many years and one former student alleged that “almost every student at the school throughout the 80s knew him by that name”.

Another said: “I was at Carey when that sports master used to make us have multiple showers after PE”.

At least one photo of “Merv” has been damaged, with his image scratched out of an online school sports image from 1987.

A photo of the teacher dubbed ‘Merv the perv’ which has been defaced. Picture: Supplied

Lawyer Judy Courtin said there were at least 11 legal proceedings underway against Carey Grammar involving 28 alleged perpetrators and 35 potential witnesses, including past teachers and students.

Another firm, Arnold Thomas & Becker, is investigating three additional historic abuse claims relating to Carey Grammar.

Kim Price, the firm’s deputy managing principal, said there were allegations against “not only academic staff, but a sports coach and after school care worker”.

It’s understood the school is in the process of issuing payouts to survivors for alleged offending dating back as far as the 1950s and through to the 1990s.

A source inside the school said the magnitude of the claims “has caused a tremor in the Carey community”.

“It’s a difficult thing to grapple with, especially for teachers and alumni who were at the school at that time,” the source said.

There are at least 11 legal proceedings under way against Carey Grammar. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Ms Courtin said she had recently received three new inquiries in addition to the existing cases.

“I congratulate all the courageous people who have come forward and encourage others who may have a claim themselves or any other witnesses to make contact,” she told the Herald Sun.

“Accountability and justice are critical for healing. Having a voice and making accountable those responsible for the childhood crimes, is empowering.”

One survivor, known by the pseudonym Beatrice Ball, said she has been “overwhelmed by the number of former Carey students who have bravely come forward as victims and witnesses”.

“It is devastating that there are so many, but I find some solace in the fact that my case may have helped others who have been too afraid, embarrassed, or ashamed to speak out. We are not the ones who should carry the shame,” she said.

Ms Ball is Ms Courtin’s client who is going to trial in August.

The claims against Carey Grammar staff come amid an unprecedented level of historic child abuse allegations in both state and private schools.

The school has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Former Carey Grammar teacher dubbed ‘Merv the perv’ caught up in abuse claims at elite school