Child sex abuse royal commission: spotlight on Anglican Church and private school in Hobart

By Tyson Shine
7 News
November 17, 2014

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/25531198/child-sex-abuse-royal-commission-spotlight-on-anglican-church-and-private-school-in-hobart/

Private Anglican school Hutchins is expected to come under the spotlight at this week's royal commission hearings in Hobart.

The Anglican Church and its Hobart private school Hutchins will be in the spotlight this week when an investigation into child sexual abuse holds public hearings in Tasmania.

The Royal Commission investigating Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will begin its first public hearings in the state on Wednesday.

The milestone is seen as important because Tasmania is the only remaining state or territory the commission has not heard from on the public record.

Elizabeth Little from the Sexual Assault Support Service said the hearings were overdue.

"It'll bring home to Tasmanians that it's happened in this state and that we've got a job ahead of us in terms of supporting people that have experienced abuse," she said.

The school's former headmaster, David Lawrence, and teacher Lyndon Hickman allegedly abused boys in the 1960s.

Both men have since died.

Lawrence resigned under a cloud of scandal, leaving the school in 1970 after seven years as its head.

A school history, commissioned by the Hutchins Old Boys, and released last year reveals more details.

"The Headmaster had become... withdrawn," in 1969, it said.

"Rumours abounded... [and] a troubled boarder had committed suicide earlier in the year."

The book details Lawrence's sudden resignation and departure to England.

"His abrupt departure coincided with the discovery of a letter detailing the nature of his relationship with a former student," it said.

"Lawrence had no other option in the face of looming scandal... [leaving questions] unanswered for over 30 years."

The commission has sent "a number" of referrals on to Tasmania police for investigation.

It was not known how many are connected with Hutchins or other institutions.

Cathy Kezelman from the support group Adults Surviving Child Abuse said it was an issue of national concern.

"This is a very pervasive social problem," she said.

"We've seen now 1,000 institutions implicated. Every state, territory, remote rural communities."

Mark Fabbro from the Survivor's Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called for the commission's reach to be expanded.

"[There have only been] magnifying glasses onto the states and particular issues," he said.

"We would like to see the broader issues addressed."

While the school and Anglican Diocese said they would co-operate with the investigation, Hutchins was criticised for a letter it sent to old boys telling them not to talk to the media.

"I interpret it quite clearly as the diocese, the school, the Anglican Church in damage control," Mr Fabbro said.

Tasmania is the only remaining state or territory where the Royal Commission had not had open hearings.

Ms Little said she would expect more people to seek support following the public hearings in Hobart.

"Tasmania's been the slowest state for people coming forward to the royal commission," she said.

"That's been the subject of discussion among us for a while."

But Ms Kezelman said the state's small population was thought to be a factor.

"Obviously in a small community, it's even more difficult because there's a lot of shame that survivors take on when they are abused and it's very, very hard to come forward," she said.

There have been 54 private hearings in Tasmania and last month a former St Virgil's student broke his silence in a bid to attract more witnesses forward.

The attention now turns to Hobart's Federal Court building, where about 10 people will give evidence over eight days starting with victims and finishing with senior school and church officials.