Jeremiah Thomas Hay charged with multiple offences

A rising Qld chef who worked for reality television cooking stars and was the winner of a “community spirit” award has asked for a change to his 24-hour police curfew.

Jeremiah Thomas Hay appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on Thursday charged with exposing a child under the age of 16 to an indecent photograph, using an electronic communication with intent to procure a person under 16 years, that he believed was under 16 years, to engage in a sexual act, and going to a public place, a skate park, to meet that child.

He once rubbed shoulders with the mayor, was previously employed by Hervey Bay’s My Kitchen Rules winners and recognised at the Fraser Coast Ability Awards.

But Jeremiah Thomas Hay is now facing charges of indecent treatment of a child and using the internet to procure a child under 16 and is currently on bail with a 24-hour curfew.

More details about Mr Hay can be revealed after his recent attempt to try and vary his bail so he could play futsal was rejected by Magistrate Trinity McGarvie.

A post from June 14, 2019, on the Fraser Coast Regional Council page, shows a photo of Mr Hay with Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour and My Kitchen Rules winner Dan Mulheron.

The post said Mr Hay, then a student at Hervey Bay Special School, was on his way to realising his goal of becoming a chef after Dan and Steph Mulheron, who at the time owned the restaurant Eat, had recognised his enthusiasm and asked him to join their team (there is no suggestion the Mulherons or any council staff are aware of Mr Hay’s charges which were laid years after the post).

The post asked the community to nominate someone deserving for the Fraser Coast All Ability Awards where Mr Hay was given the Young Community Spirit Award.

Jeremiah Thomas Hay (left) with Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour and My Kitchen Rules winner Dan Mulheron.

Mr Hay appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on Thursday charged with indecent treatment of a child under 16 (indecent film) and using the internet to procure a child under 16 and intentionally meeting or going to meet child.

Ms McGarvie said when Mr Hay was initially given bail, conditions were put in place, including that he did not have contact with the child, did not have access to any social media or internet unless supervised by his mother, complied with a 24 hour curfew with the exception of him being the company of his mother or to attend work, or when attending Churches of Christ.

The application was to vary the bail so Mr Hay could participate in activities that provided him with some social benefit, Ms McGarvie said.

The court heard Mr Hay wanted to play futsal in company with other adults, not children, and that support workers would be with him to provide supervision.

Ms McGarvie said Mr Hay had the burden of proving his circumstances had changed and his bail should be varied.

She said she was not persuaded there was a reason this should occur.

She also said in reaching that conclusion, she had taken into account that none of the support workers had provided an affidavit about their capacity to enforce the bail conditions and ensure he was completely monitored at all times.

The application to vary bail was declined.

The case was adjourned until July 24, 2025.

Originally published as Jeremiah Thomas Hay charged with multiple offences