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Geelong Grammar 'more worried about scandal than abuse in hypnosis' Geelong Grammar 'more worried about scandal than abuse in hypnosis'
(35 minutes later)
Geelong Grammar school was concerned only about avoiding a scandal when a student reported a chaplain had abused him during a hypnosis session, an inquiry has heard.Geelong Grammar school was concerned only about avoiding a scandal when a student reported a chaplain had abused him during a hypnosis session, an inquiry has heard.
The boys pretended to be hypnotised because they were scared during the “stupid” hypnosis sessions with the Rev John Davison, a former student, BKO, told the child abuse royal commission on Wednesday.The boys pretended to be hypnotised because they were scared during the “stupid” hypnosis sessions with the Rev John Davison, a former student, BKO, told the child abuse royal commission on Wednesday.
Related: Senior Geelong Grammar staff knew of sexual abuse, royal commission hearsRelated: Senior Geelong Grammar staff knew of sexual abuse, royal commission hears
BKO told his maths teacher, Jonathan Harvey – who was later convicted for abusing a student – and found the process very threatening, including being told he might be expelled.BKO told his maths teacher, Jonathan Harvey – who was later convicted for abusing a student – and found the process very threatening, including being told he might be expelled.
BKO said the inquiry felt like a trial between himself and the perpetrator.BKO said the inquiry felt like a trial between himself and the perpetrator.
“I know the school was only concerned about avoiding a scandal,” he said.“I know the school was only concerned about avoiding a scandal,” he said.
When he returned to school in 1972 after summer holidays he was told by a staff member: “We were going to expel you because we didn’t believe you, but he confessed.”When he returned to school in 1972 after summer holidays he was told by a staff member: “We were going to expel you because we didn’t believe you, but he confessed.”
BKO was upset with the way the school handled the incident. No one had acknowledged that what Davison did was wrong or that they were sorry, he said.BKO was upset with the way the school handled the incident. No one had acknowledged that what Davison did was wrong or that they were sorry, he said.
“I was made to feel that I was wrong. It was very clinical, it was very cold, and even though he went and I stayed, I always had a bit of a sense that it was partly my fault.“I was made to feel that I was wrong. It was very clinical, it was very cold, and even though he went and I stayed, I always had a bit of a sense that it was partly my fault.
“I got the impression that the school simply wanted the issue to vanish. They were not comfortable dealing with it at all.”“I got the impression that the school simply wanted the issue to vanish. They were not comfortable dealing with it at all.”
BKO described the school’s rural campus, Timbertop, as a quite brutal environment.BKO described the school’s rural campus, Timbertop, as a quite brutal environment.
“It’s a Lord of the Flies type situation at times,” he said.“It’s a Lord of the Flies type situation at times,” he said.
He finished his statement with a message for abusers.He finished his statement with a message for abusers.
“You may think that they’re powerless little boys who won’t be believed but we grow up, we become men and we remember.”“You may think that they’re powerless little boys who won’t be believed but we grow up, we become men and we remember.”
Another former student, BIZ, said he awoke to find live-in boarding house assistant Philippe Trutmann - dubbed “filthy Phil” by some students - fondling him and pretended to be asleep as he was scared.Another former student, BIZ, said he awoke to find live-in boarding house assistant Philippe Trutmann - dubbed “filthy Phil” by some students - fondling him and pretended to be asleep as he was scared.
BIZ said he reported the 1985 or 1986 abuse to the matron, Jenny Davis, but she dismissed it.BIZ said he reported the 1985 or 1986 abuse to the matron, Jenny Davis, but she dismissed it.
“I said: ‘Mr Trutmann has been coming into my room and playing with me in my bed’,” BIZ said in a statement read out by counsel assisting the commission, David Lloyd.“I said: ‘Mr Trutmann has been coming into my room and playing with me in my bed’,” BIZ said in a statement read out by counsel assisting the commission, David Lloyd.
“She said: ‘He must have been looking for the cat.’“She said: ‘He must have been looking for the cat.’
“I am sure it was pretty clear to her what I meant when I said ‘playing with me in my bed’.”“I am sure it was pretty clear to her what I meant when I said ‘playing with me in my bed’.”
BIZ said the abuse continued and he rigged up a warning system by tying knitting wool around his door handle, a towel rail on the wardrobe, a chair and to his toe, so he would wake up if his bedroom door opened.BIZ said the abuse continued and he rigged up a warning system by tying knitting wool around his door handle, a towel rail on the wardrobe, a chair and to his toe, so he would wake up if his bedroom door opened.
“The system worked just as I hoped it would and it woke me up,” he said.“The system worked just as I hoped it would and it woke me up,” he said.
Trutmann was later jailed for six and a half years for abusing 40 boys at Geelong Grammar between 1985 and 1995.Trutmann was later jailed for six and a half years for abusing 40 boys at Geelong Grammar between 1985 and 1995.
A woman who was part of the first group of girls to attend Geelong Grammar said her music teacher, Max Guzelian, abused her for three years, from when she was aged 10 until 13, in the 1970s.
BKL told the commission music department head Malcolm John told her the abuse was partly her fault.
“As a result, I was told that I was not permitted to play in the band of any orchestra. I was to be excluded from all concert activities.”
John denies knowing about the abuse, having the conversation or excluding the girl from activities due to the abuse disclosure.
BKL said she was also repeatedly sexually abused by another teacher in year 12 in 1980.
“The only reason the abuse stopped was because I finished school and left it,” she said.
Lloyd said Guzelian, now dead, was not charged.