11 Witnesses for Abuse Inquiry

By Isabel Bird
The Examiner
November 18, 2014

http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2706465/11-witnesses-for-abuse-inquiry/?cs=95

THE Royal Commission investigating the responses of the Hutchins School into sexual abuse allegations in the 1960s begins today, with 11 witnesses to be called over two weeks.

Tasmania is the last state or territory in Australia to have a public hearing held by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Five former students, one former teacher and two former headmasters of the school will be questioned by the commission regarding the alleged sexual abuse of boys by former headmaster David Lawrence and former French teacher Lyndon Hickman.

The response of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania will also be examined, with former Anglican assistant bishop Ronald Stone and current Bishop John Harrower called as witnesses.

Hutchins School board chairman David Morris in October named the now-dead men who are alleged to have abused boys.

Mr Lawrence worked at the school between 1960 until he suddenly resigned in 1970.

Mr Hickman also worked at the boarding school and was nicknamed "cupboard" by staff, according to a Hutchins history book, because they didn't know what he did in the cupboard.

The same book mentioned that "a troubled boarder had committed suicide" early in 1969.

Four unidentified witnesses will be heard first.

Former teacher Geoffrey Ayling, former student Ian Broinowski, former headmaster from 1987 until 1996 John Bednall, former headmaster from 1997 until 2007 William Toppin, and current headmaster Warwick Dean are likely to be called later.