Knox Grammar Headmaster Apologises over Sexual Abuse Cover-up
By Kathryn Magann
The headmaster of Sydney's Knox Grammar School has delivered an emotional apology over the cover-up of years of sexual abuse at the prestigious boys school. The royal commission into child sexual abuse has been examining reports of abuse of students at the school from the 1970s through to 2003. Five teachers from the school have been convicted over sexual and indecent assaults on students. Headmaster Dr John Weeks began his testimony to the commission with an apology. He said the victims of abuse were the men of integrity, and the abusers were the men of shame. "To the men who were sexually abused as young boys, I want you to know this. You did nothing wrong, those teachers and resident masters did. And they do stand condemned by their own admissions," he said. Mr Weeks said while he was teaching at another school in the Hunter Valley he had heard rumours about a teacher at Knox called Adrian Nisbett. He said he heard how Nisbett's abuses were hidden by the former Principal, Dr Ian Paterson. "Adrian Nisbett was considered to be a protected species at Knox Grammar School," Dr Weeks said. "[he was] Protected by the headmaster. That he had, in fact, been in particular positions, and moved, and there was a question mark over the reason for his removal," he said. Earlier, former chairman of the Knox Council Robert Wannan, issued an apology to the students who were affected. He said there had been horrific consequences for the victims, and he was very sorry. "I'm horrified, and I know that the community of Knox is horrified," he said. "Because the school, like any other school, has a paramount duty to ensure the safety and well-being of it's students, and the school failed abjectly in that duty." he said. The hearing continues.
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