Former principal of prestigious Geelong Grammar school describes the sexual abuse suffered by students as 'modest'

By Liam Quinn
Daily Mail
September 9, 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3227669/Former-principal-prestigious-Geelong-Grammar-school-describes-sexual-abuse-suffered-students-modest.html

Ex-Geelong Grammar headmaster John Lewis described sexual abuse suffered by some students as 'comparatively modest'

Prince Harry meets Headmaster John Lewis (right) as Prince Charles looks on, upon his arrival at the prestigious Eton college on Wednesday September 2, 1998. Mr Lewis was headmaster of Eton College from 1994 to 2002

'It's worse than nil, but you are - if I may say so - creating the impression that sexual abuse was rife. It is not, in my opinion, a fair description of the overall situation,' Mr Lewis said of abuse at Geelong Grammar (pictured)

Former Geelong Grammar School teacher Jonathan Harvey leaves a hearing in the County Court in Melbourne, Monday, September 7

Former Geelong Grammar student Dr Robert Llewellyn-Jones leaves a hearing at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne, Tuesday, September 1

Geelong Grammar's former principal Nicholas Sampson leaves a hearing at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne, Wednesday. September 6

A former principal at a prestigious school in Geelong, Victoria, has described sexual abuse suffered by some students as 'comparatively modest'.

Ex-Geelong Grammar headmaster John Lewis made the comments during an appearance at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Melbourne.

'It's worse than nil, but you are - if I may say so - creating the impression that sexual abuse was rife. It is not, in my opinion, a fair description of the overall situation,' Mr Lewis said.

'Any such incident is very, very serious but the scale of the alleged incidents that had occurred was, in the scheme of things, comparatively modest.'

Mr Lewis - principal from 1980 to 1994 - also denied his school was an unsafe place for students by September 1991. Mr Lewis was also headmaster of Eton College from 1994 to 2002, and taught Princes William and Harry.

However, counsel assisting the Royal Commission David Lloyd suggested it was, and put to Mr Lewis that it was clear the school had a very significant problem in the relationships between some staff and some students.

Mr Lloyd also suggested to the commission that Mr Lewis failed to report instances of abuse that were passed to him during his time as principal.

It was claimed Mr Lewis knew three staff members had been accused of sex abuse, but they were still allowed to have access to vulnerable students at the college in an attempt to protect the school's reputation.

Mr Lewis denied the assertions, saying: 'If an allegation could be proved beyond reasonable doubt, it has the potential of course to move into the area of criminal procedure.

'Unfortunately, some doubts arose which meant that it was very rare for an instance to fall, in my judgment, in that area.'

However, the ex-headmaster agreed the school's reputation was a consideration.

Dyson Hore-Lacy SC, the barrister representing an abuse victim later suggested to Mr Lewis is was astounding he could not remember a sexual abuse allegation against an employee.

'Well, I'm afraid it's so,' Mr Lewis replied.

The commission has heard the victim, then a 14-year-old boarder, woke up to a man molesting him in 1989 and told the school but was expelled after talking to other students about it.

Mr Hore-Lacy said: 'It would be a pathetic reason to expel anyone, let alone a 14-year-old boy.'

Mr Lewis, who has said he cannot recall the victim was expelled, said: 'It's certainly surprising to me.

'A parent told Mr Lewis that his son was sexually abused by teacher Jonathan Harvey and one other person during an overseas vacation but Mr Lewis did not investigate, the commission heard.

Mr Lewis, who knew of an allegation Mr Harvey had tried to have sex with another student in 1982, said the father did not want the 1986 allegation investigated.

'I believe that the circumstances in 1986 were unusual and atypical; holidays, 12,000 miles away,' he said. 'The risk of sexual abuse at school was very, very, very much lower.'

Mr Lloyd asked Mr Lewis if he was seriously suggesting that a person prepared to sexually abuse children under his care would limit that to only when he was on holidays.

Mr Lewis replied: 'By that stage, I for one, and I think others, were clearly aware that Harvey was a homosexual; that in itself was no ground for proceeding against him in my opinion.'

Mr Lloyd asked Mr Lewis if he understood the difference between a teacher being homosexual and one sexually abusing children under his care.

Mr Lewis said he did but the occasions when alleged sexual abuse took place were rare: 'I simply did not believe (the student), who was not a shrinking violet, would let himself be put in a situation where any further abuse can occur.'

Another Geelong Grammar teacher Andrew MacCulloch allegedly masturbated a student in 1986 and watched another in the shower in 1990, the inquiry heard.