Royal commission: Knox Grammar teachers thought paedophile was just 'showing off'

By Rachel Browne
Brisbane Times
February 25, 2015

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nsw/royal-commission-knox-grammar-teachers-thought-paedophile-was-just-showing-off-20150225-13o3cb.html

At the centre of the controversy: Knox Grammar.

Craig Howard Treloar photographed at the school in the 1980s.

Two of the most senior staff at Knox Grammar School believed a teacher showed hardcore pornography to students to "show off" and failed to tell the children's parents what happened or notify police, a royal commission has heard.

Former preparatory school head Michael Jenkinson told the royal commission that he and headmaster Ian Paterson questioned teacher Craig Treloar's motives for exposing the boys to the explicit material.

"The only explanation we could give was he's just being a show off," he said.

Treloar admitted to Dr Paterson he watched pornography with the boys in 1987 but was allowed to keep his job after a short period of suspension.

Mr Jenkinson said he was not aware of the "level of depravity" in the material which included paedophilia and bestiality.

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has previously heard Treloar watched pornography with boys and sexually abused them.

The Knox College community is reeling from the allegations at the Commission, in particular that Dr Paterson - headmaster for 30 years - had knowledge of abuse and even allegedly signed a reference letter for one of the teachers he knew was involved.

Current headmaster John Weeks sent a letter to parents and old boys earlier this week saying the process of the Royal commission was  "of the utmost importance". 

"This is an important week for the former Knox students who are the survivors of abuse. Their stories must be heard and we must support them as much as we can," Mr Weeks said.

"As painful and uncomfortable as the next few weeks will be for the survivors, their families and friends and the current Knox community, this process is of the utmost importance."

Mr Weeks said he would be attending every day of the hearings and expects to be called to give evidence.

"I have worked closely with the Royal Commission over the past few months to provide background material and documents relevant to the investigation."

Mr Weeks also said in the letter that any lessons that could improve the school's  "current rigorous approach to child protection" would be adopted.

Under cross-examination on Wednesday, Treloar denied forcing children to perform sex acts with him, saying that he allowed the boys to touch him.

The former class teacher and sports coach said he was remorseful for his actions and often thought of the impact on his victims, a number of whom have told the commission about mental and physical health problems caused by the abuse they suffered at the elite boys school.

Treloar said he was shocked when he wasn't sacked after the pornography claims surfaced.

"I thought my career was over," he said. "I thought I would be sacked."

Treloar did not leave the school until 2009 when he was arrested over multiple sex offences involving young students. He was convicted in 2010 and served two years in jail.

Former staff member Michael Probert told the commission he advised a young student to report Treloar after the boy disclosed that he had propositioned him.

"He did make a comment that (Treloar) had actually said, 'You show me yours and I'll show you mine',"

A Knox old boy, Treloar was employed at the school in 1982 with no reference checks or a formal interview. 

The commission heard evidence about another staff member, Christopher Fotis, who was employed in 1986 despite having convictions for assaulting a female and offensive behaviour.

The religious education teacher continued to work at the school despite a number of concerns raised about his behaviour, including consuming alcohol with students.

Fotis was also suspected of being the so-called "balaclava man" who assaulted a year 8 boy in his bed at a school boarding house then under the supervision of Dr Timothy Hawkes, now head of the Kings School.

The commission has heard there is no evidence police were notified of the 1988 incident.

Fotis was asked to resign from the school following his arrest in 1989 for masturbating in his car while parked outside a school in North Ryde.

Dr Paterson provided Fotis with a reference letter in which he described him as an "enthusiast".

"He is meticulous in his preparation and definite in the standards he requires from his students," the letter, tendered in evidence, said. 

"He has been of enormous help to the Chaplain in teaching Religious Education."

Fotis and Dr Paterson have been called to give evidence before the hearing.

The hearing, before Justice Jennifer Coate, continues.