St Stanislaus in Bathurst Formally Apologises to Sex Abuse Victims
By Gavin Coote
Victims of sexual abuse at Australia's oldest Catholic boys' boarding school have welcomed a formal apology, but say there is a long way to go in the healing process. A formal service was held last night at St Stanislaus College at Bathurst in central west New South Wales to apologise for historic acts of abuse. At least 160 students were abused by former staff and priests at the school between the 1970s and 1990s. Dozens of people gathered at the school's performing arts centre to hear an apology on behalf of the school and the Catholic Church. Father Gregory Brett, provincial of the Vincentians, said the church was sorry for the "deeply disturbing criminal actions" at the school.
"We failed you. I am so, so sorry that this has happened to you," Fr Brett told the service. "At the time, you were vulnerable boys who had the right of being educated in a safe and happy environment. We failed you in not providing this care, a care your parents and families asked of us and trusted to us." Head of College Dr Anne Wenham delivered an emotional speech declaring the school's history was, and always would be, "blemished". As the school celebrates its 150th year, she said it was time to say sorry. "This is part of our history which cannot be erased and will not be forgotten," Dr Wenham told the service. "I understand that an apology cannot undo the suffering that you experienced, and that you carry these memories with you today and always. "With a deep feeling of regret for what took place at this college, I apologise to all victims for the abuse you experienced through the actions of some members of staff. "These men deprived you of the joys of a "These men deprived you of the joys of adolescence that should've been yours to experience in a safe and supportive environment." Apology a 'good start', say victims Jason Thorpe, who was abused at the school, said he has been waiting about three decades for an apology. "For them to acknowledge that what had happened to us was wrong and disgraceful, I think was great of them to do that," Mr Thorpe said. "I think it's a step in the right direction to move forward in the healing process. You start off small steps and you build up." Mr Thorpe said the abuse had affected his ability to form relationships and open up to people. "It's kind of like an invisible scar that just wouldn't go away," he said. "It doesn't happen overnight, healing, but it gradually will happen. Not fully, but acknowledgement was a great thing to happen." Plans for permanent memorial at school The school has agreed to create a permanent memorial for the victims after Mr Thorpe's mother Deirdre Kinghorn proposed the idea of a dedicated garden. "I thought, while we're sitting here and we've got everybody sitting here I just said to them, well why can't we have a memorial here, a rose garden or something here that could help," Ms Kinghorn said. Sex abuse victims, family and community members gather at Centennial Park in Bathurst for a vigil.
A silent vigil was held earlier in the day at a nearby park for victims. There had been concerns that hosting the formal apology at the school would serve as a trigger for further trauma among victims. Carole Nielsen, whose son was abused at the school, said she had mixed feelings following the service. "It was very hard coming here, and some elements of the ceremony were a little bit hard to sit through, but I accept and believe Dr Wenham's apology was sincere and came from her heart. "I'm very happy for that, but there's still a long way to go and we need to know why so many child abusers finished up in this school at the same time."
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