Former Marist College teacher charged

Mick1965 – re my timeline, Kostka definitely taught in Hunters Hill NSW in 1965 and 1966. I heard he went to Canberra from there, but see from this page that he appears to have been in Penshurst NSW in the late 60s and early 70s. I haven’t seen him since late 1966.
If you have trouble with what I’m “trying to say”, you should read my post again – it is quite clear. I didn’t speak for anyone.
Everyone who has written a post here knows what Kostka has pleaded guilty to, so your “handful” comment was unnecessary and childish, especially for a “trained teacher”.

Ant – you are right!

I think that restlessheart’s post reflects the complicated nature of what this man and others do to their victims. Others have written here that this man preyed on their affections, as well as their bodies. Probably for many, he just stopped at affections, or even “friendship”. A shame he didn’t stop there with all the boys.

restlessheart1,
It’s comforting to me that you did not suffer at the hands of Kostka. But (as a trained teacher I ask) – isn’t that just normal? I am concerned that you are speaking for the other boys you knew because it’s more than likely he WAS having a go at them. I am also a little confused by your timeline because I am almost positive he taught in QLD before Canberra.
Anyway – what ARE you trying to say? Are you saying he’s not all bad and not everyone got a handful of his cock because we know that already?

Thank’s for your post. Although I don’t suspect you will gain much support within this forum, it is important that alternate views are posted and shared. The communication is growing amongst victims, and non victims alike. Thanks again.

Br Kostka taught me at a little school in Hunters Hill in Sydney in 1965. I have a brother one year younger, and he taught him there as well, then was transferred to ACT.
I’ve read most of the above posts and agree with a lot of them. This whole business has bought a lot of memories back.
He was a “touchy” teacher – always putting his arm around your shoulder to explain thing. He did have his class favourites, and there were 2 or 3 that he would sometimes sit on his lap while he talked the rest of the class. He wasn’t violent in the punishment sense (believe me, some of those bastards were in those days….).
It is ironic that his criminal exploits finally came to light when he was discovered running some sort of drop-in centre for boys at the Marist Retirement Home, because he was always organizing groups of kids for special purposes like painting outside school hours, and I was usually involved because I liked him and he taught me a lot. In fact he turned me from a kid who couldn’t draw at all to one who later won prizes for art. And I’m certain he never tried anything sexual on any of us!
I’m in my fifties, a lawyer, married and a father of three. I’ve never been molested by Kostka or by anyone else. I’m following what’s happening now with sadness, but I’m glad to say that I have a lot of good things to remember him for.

I have just figured out that the orginal post disappears when I log in. Everything is fine just beforehand. But when I log out again, the story still displays incorrectly.

If the problem becomes intractible it might be best to repost your orginal in a new thread and call it part 2 perhaps? As a last resort?

Yesterday at 2pm it worked for me, but I was on another pc. Then last night it wasn’t working again. The mystery continues.

That is really curious. when I looked at it before. Just before posting my last message it looked fine. Now the problem is back just like before.

I get this on the very long threads.

The comments run out halfway down, and there is a big gray box at the bottom of the screen.

Might be worth upgrading to Firefox. By crikey that’s a long thread, but it loads perfectly in Firefox 3 on both Windows (XP) and MacOS (10.5.2) machines.

The RiotACT team are looking into it. Hopefully we can get it working.

Ugh, it’s still not working! When I followed Skid’s link to the topic, I could see the original story while all the comments loaded, but as soon as they’d loaded, it disappeared, as did everything else, except the comments. No ads, no “recent topics” on the right, no reply options, just the bare comments.

I’m using the tabbed MSE (7, I think). Assume anyone else using this has the same problem.

Point taken Skidbladnir abut cross posting. Thanks to whoever (Jazz?) for fixing the problem. I must admit that I have found that thread very cathartic. Perhaps others have too, so may it continue.

You have two quick and easy options, one of which Admins might not like or agree with, but it is is effective…

If you want to get an Admin to invetigate a problem, either:
A) send an email to root@the-riotact.com explaining the issue, and the thread it affects or

B) just start swearing recklessly on every second word in a comment to that thread.

It gets put into the admin’s moderation queue, and they then need to see if its in context or not. Upside of B is that even if its not appropriate, it still got the attention of an Admin. Downside is you risk sounding like an idiot\swearing like a sailor if it gets through.

By the way, when you’re cross-threading it helps give context to your comment\s if you add a link to what you’re referring to. Very few people actually read RiotACT religiously, and know the entire contents of every comment and thread.

I assume you mean THIS ONE?

Maybe they could make a “part 2”, with an update as the “story”, a link to the old buggered thread, and then a fresh new place for more comments. I’ve noticed that as a thread gets longer, the typing delay gets worse too, so going by the jerky typing delay on this (I can’t even watch the screen while typing it’s that bad), it’ll soon cark it too.

That seemed to happen a couple of days ago after my last post I think. Sounds like the sort of bug the site admin could fix. I hope they can do it because it is an important thread. Also some of the sense of it (and evolution of it) is lost without Canberra Gardeners orginal post.

[Ed. (Jazz) I’m looking at it and am not seeing the same problem. Certainly comes up ok if i browse the archives or do a search for marist or daramalan]

Yep, Canberra Gardener, me too. It seems to happen to any topic when it gets too long. The picture disappears (if there is one), the article goes, you can see the replies, but there’s no stuff down the right margin, and the comments box is gone.

Has anyone had problems seeing the original post or the comments box on the “Daramalan and Marist College Child Sexual Abuse” thread? I cannot see either.

Where is Br Jerome now?

Br Jerome Hickman.

Can anyone recall Brother Jerome’s surname? I don’t remember if he ever told us. He “taught” me in 1977, which was his first year at Marist Pearce.

I did meet him once after I’d left school and he made the comment “I’m still beating up kids”. I just wonder if he’s still alive and if so, where he is now?

SAdly, I agree wioth Mick1965.

I now doubt the reputations of any and all Marist teachers. How an they not have known?! One teacher who has already been named in the Canb. Times as someone a boy reported abuse to, and then told the boy 24hrs later that nothing would be done, (initials JD for those in teh know) has been a very very good friend for over 30 years, with never even a hint of anything of concern. In fact, he’s the reason my brother and I were sent there in the first place. Now I have to ask myself ‘why didn’t he go to the police with his concerns once the boy raised the abuse with him?’. However, he also used to go camping with the Lyons’ bro’s and John Healy. So do I trust him or not?!?!. I’d love to say I still do but I’d need to sit with him and ask a shedload of questions first.

Marist has to change the names of it’s houses now also. McMahon, May and the rest of the Brothers are tainted forevermore.

karl295

I have very good reasons for wondering about Rod Devlin. My wondering can be interpreted any way you wish but it is just that – wondering. You can assure me of NOTHING – who the fuck do you think you are? Rod Devlin’s shadow? It’s amazing – around 10 years ago a good mate of mine looked me straight in the eye and said the very same thing about Kostka…no WAY did he ever do anything like that! Particularly after all this has come out, how could anything surprise you any more?

Frankly, I sincerely doubt Devlin was a kiddy fiddler, but as I said I have my reasons for wondering. And all this has made me wonder if you had to go through initiations to teach at Marist! 🙂

I would advise the opposite to karl295. Do point fingers, DO ask. Screw the reputation of anyone who might have been a fiddler. It’s this stupididty – not wanting to question the reputation of Marist and the teachers there – that has caused the cover ups.

And I can assure you he DID cover it up, so he WAS involved.

You go and deal with free speech, karl295!

To Mick1965 and your question in regards to
Rod Devlin ; I can assure you that he would never be involved or condone any of these actions. You should think carefully before pointing fingers at people without any evidence because it is easy to ruin the reputation of good honest people this way. So wonder no longer and deal with the truth!!

I hope Br Kevin Herlihy wasn’t the one fondling girls, because he teaches now in the co-ed Lismore school; google it.

I recall that Br Jerome in the late 70’s; what a grim, nasty piece of work he was. Head of primary, as I recall.

From this 550-word article http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23270351-421,00.html headlined “Lawsuit alleges decades of pedophilia” in relation to the civil case being levelled at Marist College Canberra:

1)
There are five different teachers currently being mentioned in the lawsuit. It does not mention if they were lay staff or Brothers.

2)
There were ’several dozen’ complainants (not ’several dozen complaints’), over a period from 1970 to 1993.
Considering the school opened in 1968, this is pretty early on for problems to have gone unaddressed until now.

3)
Jason Parkinson (who has posted here previously) claims it may be the largest paedophile case in Australian history.

4)
Porters Lawyers allege that Brother Kostka was only the last of five brothers and lay teachers to abuse boys at the college.

5)
Porters allege there was what seems to be a major breach of duty of care whle on an overseas trip in the 70s.

6)
Porters have claimed that the school ignored a complaint from parents against another lay teacher (the article indicates this was not Paul Lyons) involving sexual contact with students, and later this staff member went on to abuse further students in their care at a camp.

It continues on to make several other claims, quite awful and terrible.

For those who were thinking this was merely a few small incidents centered on one or two staff, ensure your seatbelt is secure, and any emotional baggage is safely stowed, turbulence approaches.

Anyone want to do their Facebooky thing again and draw attention to RiotACT?

Again, if anyone wants to contact Jason Parkinson, http://www.porterslawyers.com.au or lawyers@porterslawyers.com.au (for the civil case) or http://www.afp.gov.au/contact.html (for criminal charges)

Interesting times are ahead.

(Apologies for the multi-thread posting, but I know some people will only check back on a given url, rather than check for new stories.)

Brother Kostka taught at Marist Brothers Penshurst in Sydney in the late 60,s early 70,s.Coincidentaly the pedophile Robert “Dolly Dunn was also a long term lay teacher at this school. Brother Kostka had “form” back then. Most of the students knew he was suss. I personaly witnessed an incident where a student had gone into his office behind closed doors and was observed dressed only in his shirt and underpants in an embrace with Brother Kostka.The sad part is if we as 11 or 12 year olds knew this bloke was up to no good then obviously his fellow Marist Brothers would have known, yet he was allowed to continue for another 30 years.

Hmm, it seems only charges prior to 1985 have been dropped…

A quick scan of the ABC site revealed the following:

Marist Brother pleads guilty to assaulting boys
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/21/2168728.htm
“Eighteen charges were originally laid against Brother Kostka Chute – also known as John William Chute – but today in the ACT Magistrates Court seven of those were dropped because of legal limitations.”

Did anyone just hear JJJ news??? I thought I heard them say the charges for this case have been dropped!

Whilst no my cup of tea, you might also seek assistance from Bill Heffernan. He went to St Joseph’s College and is a well known homophobe.

Sir William Dean (former GG and high court judge) also went to St Joseph’s hunters hill.

I am not sure if Jack Waterford is still the editor of the Canberra Times, but he was at St. Joseph’s College Hunter’s Hill as well.

Marist College Canberra is different to and located in a seperate state to Marist College Ashgrove.
Uniforms are very similar though, I believe their tie is a different colour.

All very interesting stuff. I am sure you know that Kevin Rudd was a boarder at Marist College Ashgrove (he left in year 11). There are a number of cases against former marist staff who taught at Ashgrove. Did you also know that Gerrard Brennan (former QLD Chief Justice) and David jackson QC (James Hardie Commissioner) also went to Ashgrove. I wonder if they could be of assistance to you in this matter.

E-mail was sent to Old Boys assoc on Weekend asking for their response to the current scandal. To date Ive heard nothing BACK. Although interestingly, two oF thE three e-mail addressees I tried for various C’ttee members were invalid!

aa 1990 – I was very reliably advised that Br. Hurley was dismissed from teaching duties back in the very early 90’s (or very late 80’s) due to several girl coming forward from one D of E camp sayin he’d fondled them. I believe a CT story covered this at the time.

Zilog – all good but pls stay away from Sheila Egan. Her son was in my year and now has a severe psych. disorder. One of the Hill boys was also in my year but I doubt Kostka et al would dared have tried anything with such confident people.

I’d love to organise a large group of Old Boys to be that the court for Kostka’s trial date which is next Thurs 21 Feb. Any body up for a show of support for those effected?

Zilog: Good idea on the year books and the patrons. I tossed all my year books but do know a good source. The Maher family (I think they had 15 kids) had several boys at the school from the early 80’s until at least the early 90’s. If anyone knows them they could be a good try for books in bulk.

Contact the kids that were in D of E, the film club, the photograpy club. The Hill family were into Judo in late 80’s/early 90’s.

BerraBoy: Thanks for the JP update. keep them coming. I wonder if that Brother Kevin Hurley that ran the D of E program for sooo many years knows anything about all of this….or could he be deceased?

what date is the court hearing?

Stop Press – (Can you say that on the net??)

I spoke to JPArkinson today -there is more to come and he’s just about to lodge claims against another ex-Marist lay teacher. JP is reluctant to name him yet but I’m sure this will make the press. Apparently JP has also been apprached by other students who have strong claims against another Canberra Marist Brother now deceased (take your pick -could be one of several). Either way the plot thickens.

I’m thinking of heading into the ACT courts next week to see teh start of proceeding against Kostka. Anybody else feel like coming in? It’s be a great way to support those brave souls that have come forward and are now taking action.

Just to hand, 79 year book indicates Lyons actively involved in Judo Club (I know judo was gig at dara too – went to tourno’s there) and possibly Scuba Diving, as well as D-of-E things. He attended year 10 camp marulan/shoalhaven, may have attended year 12 camps at mittagong.

Br Maurice Shaw (music room [is this the “red padded” room referred to elsewhere?] – south-west corner,upstairs, late 70’s, long hair, dark shades. Always seemed serenely calm. Flat-mate (and mate of 30 years) assures me he witnessed Shaw throw kid into wall with considerable force.

Though I haven’t seen many for many years, I’m on good terms with, and could track down 50 to 60 bod’s from late 70’s/early 80’s. Maybe more. Maybe less.

I’m also inclined to found a pressure body/support network. Victims of Marist might be a bit exclusivist. Victims of Independent Catholic Education (VICE) perhaps? Now where did I put Ray and Jana’s numbers…

There must be heaps of lawyers in our ranks (I was headed that way, but dickhead career coun sellor Petroni pushed engineering). Sorry Craig. I know he’s your dad. Anyone out there. We lost a potentially fine advocate in Bill Allen.

Most of the lay teahcers at the time I got on famously with – finnichiaro, rod & barney devlin, roger brown, john bulters, sheelagh egan, barbara tobin, jan leiber, barry cronin, shane hilton, etc, etc. Shane associated closely with John Healey, Bob Speare, and the two Lyons. Though Ray wasn’t yet teaching (?) he and Paul (and John) attended our fancy dress disco in 79 in WILDLY OVER THE TOP DRAG. There they are in the year book! I’m going to discreetly enquire if Marist have other year books (any offers?). And speak to as many former teachers as possible. I know where Hilton and Bulters are, and Egan, Devlin and Cronin remain around town.

We have some high-profile alumni for “patrons”. Chris Uhlmann-ABC presenter (78) and Paul McDermott-comedian and Phil Thomson (rugby coach) (80) come to mind. And that boy tucked under Kostka’s arm? One of their little brothers…

It won’t be hard to establish the truth in relation to violence witnessed by 40 boys, and staff, in the two cases I have in mind. Mine, and a peers.

Not to hard to guess why Paul might have fallen out with another staff member. I wonder whom…

This is an excellent site that has a lot of information on “Broken Rites”. These guys sure know how the marist brothers cover up their crimes:

http://brokenrites.alphalink.com.au/nletter/index.html

They have been involved with more than 104 cases. Look at the list and see how many MARIST Brothers are Pedophiles…. and how MARIST covers it up every time!

PS: Above was pasted from thier site: nothing to do with me

Interesting: I wonder if they have a list that could help us??
http://www.tfyqa.biz/index.php?id=4

TFYQA (Think for Yourself – Question Authority)

We are currently a small group of survivors of clergy abuse.

We hope to make a difference for the many victims by taking up the tasks that have been missed or avoided by the mainstream religions.

We would like to hear from victims of clergy abuse. Tell us your opinions on the process you have been through – tell us of your life in this regard.

Through this site we hope to build a coalition of victims to work for a just system and for accountability in religious orders in regards sexual or religious abuse. If you would like to have some say, input or provide assistance we would greatly appreciate the help.

We are seeking input from those who have experience in this area to send us their ideas on what they feel would be of real help. Not the years of drawn out processes, but those things that are of benefit and help to those who have been victimised and had a great deal of their life ruined through both the initial abuse and then the ongoing process.

We are also unashamedly seeking funding and sponsorship from any area of commerce, religion or private. email us at clergyabuse@tfyqa.biz for information.

Each person involved is or has been a victim of abuse.

the add in the Canberra times should do the trick and find those that are interested. As a start they can post ano on this site and see how many others are “with them”/ then take the next direct step. I think it will just take a bit more unity in numbers. Out of 20,000+ boys over the 40 years there are sure to be a few hundred/thousand…. can we start a dedicated page on this site and direct others to it??

BerraBoy you can count me in (although I now live in Sydney) but as for others, I spoke to 2 people today and they are not inclined to take it further. One said he doesn’t really care and ‘it was a long time ago…’ and another said he doesn’t want to drag it up and think about it again. This is a little disheartening but we must respect peoples decisions.

I have 2 more guys who haven’t returned my messages yet, but give it time.

I won’t be able to post for a couple of days

Mick1965, I am sorry you took my comment the wrong way. I never called you (or anyone else on or off this forum) a liar I simply stated that I took exception to that particular part of your post (him providing LSD) because it is completely out of character with the Paul Lyons I knew. I used LSD in the early 90s. I talked to him about it and he appeared to be very naive about. I should also add, that I am in no way defending the man posthumously either. OK, so maybe between ’78 and the mid 1990’s he changed his tune, perhaps changed the way he operated.

In some ways I would really like to see the whole catholic education system taken down by a very large civil case comprising of people who were and were not affected by abuse. I hold the catholic education system in complete contempt. However, I think it needs to be acknowledged that any persons claim of abuse that comes up now is extremely difficult to verify. I am arguing that this can open the door to opportunists and ultimately, someone wrongly obtaining compensation for abuse that did not happen to them, I believe, is an insult to all those who were abused independent of whether they sought reparations for it or not.

By the way, I notice some news reports say that Paul was a ‘sports teacher’ who started teaching at Daramalan in ‘1989’. This is completely incorrect. Paul was a science teacher at Daramalan College. He started teaching there in 1988. I understand that he left Marist before the end of the year in 1987 after having a serious falling out with one of the staff there and taught the last term at Padua Colledge in Erindale.

Another thought and an open question. Fr. Bob Irwin was the pricipal in 1988. Did he know anything about his conduct at Marist before employing him?

MCCdislike, Zilog etc.. can you tell me (rough number) how many people you can get to come to a meeting please?

I think we can get something going here. I’m pretty sure I can also get an advert in the paper at nil cost – however we may get the journo along that I originally spoke to about Kostka, and Lyons being ex-marist as well as Dara last year. This would guarantee the issue gets back on the front page – its a new angle and they’re looking for that at the moment. I’ve also written to the Old Boys asking what they are doing if anything. A meeting can do the following:

get a feel for the size and scope of the abuse (physical, emotional, sexual etc..);
Request the Old boys to put out a statement urging boys affected to come forwarded; or we call ourselves the Old Boys an make this statement ourselves; make a formal request of the Headmaster to make his process transparent and also publish his finding – as well as ask him questions to which we want answers.

Can I get responses ASAP please on this forum until we get a meeting organised. I also think that if we do have a meeting we publicly thanks RiotAct for providing this forum!

I spent several hours in Rod Devlin’s office in 674 with no ill effect. Lovely man in my experience. As were Bulters, Brown, Finnicharo, etc. Tehn again, so was Lyons. Which is, of course, not to preclude nor prejudice anyone else’s view. All those who would like to join me in seizing control of the oldboys assoc (a list which, incidentally, I maintained 80-85 in the absence of any volunteers) with a view to exercising its proper role of publicising these matters, please contact me at zilog@optusnet.com.au Can’t help wondering about Brother Geoffrey; mysteriously “ill” at end of term 1, year 6, 1973. Ah, those were the days! The overwhelming euphoria after 23 years! Did we get an “O’Shea” later that year, and might he have been “Frank”?

Wake up and smell the roses! It was reported at the time. It was always assiduously covered up by Joe McMahon (now Marshal McMahon) – google him! Just as he covered up John Maguire – again google. We copped a “jungle” because Joe wanted it so.
In fact Lyons was so ‘successful’ precisely because he was a warm, likeable chap, and a very fine teacher. Devices, perhaps.
Sex is the tip; the iceberg of abuse is mental and physical – as in society generally.
All the while condoned by Br Joe.
Whilst unaware of any sexual impropriety, when I left in 79 we knew there was something odd in the way year 7’s flocked around Kostka in an adulatory fashion, but put it down to the novelty of the tan labrador constantly at his side – doubtless a ‘device’. By 84/5 friends’ younger brothers were saying he was the type to be avoided.
As I write this I’m looking in the 79 yearbook at a year 7 photo showing a now very screwed up ex-mate seated solemnly at the right hand of the “father”. You know who.
I repeat, don’t fall for the bull-shit myth that things were never reported. They were just always covered up by Joe.
A pattern of behaviour repeated wherever he went (Hunters Hill, St Greg’s). He operates in “hollingsworth” mode; blame the victim. And still he teaches! I urge everyone to join me in burying this institution in civil law suits. I and several others are approaching Porters this week re: non-sexual abuse. I’ll let you know how we get on, but in my experience all pigs are maggots, even if they’re ex. BE WARNED: Police habitually adopt the “hollingsworth” stance. That is, “so what?” As do the courts, the law, and society. And what I’ve heard of “Jason” fits this bill. Other lawyers probably preferable.
PS: You’re relatively lucky if your family gave/give a damn. From personal experience, many don’t.
PPS: The media (ABC, anyway) seemed to me to make no mention of Marist when Dara allegations were aired in 2007. I contacted the ABC and Canberra Times asking why Lyons’ service at Marist was not mentioned, or considered relevant. I got no replies, but within days they were mentioning it. ?????
PPPS: Am I the ONLY one to wonder where Kostka was BEFORE Marist? Guess how many “authorities” care…

BerraBoy and Mick I agree about the group,I myself know of a number of guys who would come forward.

As for the coporal punishment issue, it was legally outlawed in schools in 1985 or 1986. This didn’t stop it happening though, and as stated above didn’t stop all the other forms of abuse that went on.

On the Paul Lyons subject, I knew him and had respect for him because he treated me like young adult, which is not at all what a lot of the other teachers did. Also his twin brother Ray taught me and he treated me the same way. I have heard rumours about them both – and will not sit here and say yes or no to whether they were true (as I have no proof – but Kostka on the other hand….) But from what I have heard sort of behaviour should never be condoned and I again state my condolences for the victims

Mick65 – or we could invite Jason Parkinson to a meeting and tell him what we know or have experienced in relstion to both sexual and physical abuse. Power in number fella’s. I’ll arrange it if there is enough interest… adn BTW: Corporal punishment is the cane, it sure as shit isn’t being beaten to tears, choked, humiliated, ridiculed, punched, slapped, racially abused AND no, my folks signed nothing.

We could start a YAHOO! chat group where we could meet and share horror stories….call it JMJM!

Fellas I agree the physical abuse at Marist is something that needs to be exposed. I am under the impression that our parents did sign consent forms agreeing to coproral punishment – is this correct?

dazednconfused1, I’m not too sure how to respond to your post. I must say I agree with you that the potential does exist for people to take advantage of the public outing of these fellows. I also agree that there are many rumours flying around about Kostka and Paul, and we may never know which of these are true and which are false.

However, Paul certainly did supply narcotics to myself and friends/colleagues. I am talking about 1978 (I think – could be 1979). Around the same time my GP (Doctor John Vett) wanted me to give up cigarettes and suggested I smoke pot instead. It was believed, at the time, that pot would not cause cancer! Times were different. Paul was cool. I never put it together that he was gay at first – I really just thought “hey – we all tug on it and this guy is not ashamed…GROOVY!”. Yes – it sounds ridiculous but it is true. He never told us he was gay – he empowered us and encouraged us to be different and not care what others think of us. I really liked and respected him for this. I don’t really care if you believe me. Actually, I am glad you don’t just accept what I say because I say it. But I don’t think you should just dismiss what I say – frankly I cannot believe what YOU say about Paul, but I am not going to suggest you lie.

Nobody here knows for sure what Paul did – but the penny does seem to now drop when you have all the other information. Maybe communal wanking’s all he ever did and maybe he fell in love (or lust) with a consensual 17 year old male who told on him after he was scorned. Maybe he took his life for reasons completely separate to those we suspect.

But as sad as it is that a lot of fabricated stories will come from all this and the people who come forward may not be the worst sufferers, I think it’s very wrong to call anyone a liar when they share something. You could do a whole lot more damage. I think we need to encourage everyone to come forward with everything and then just form our own opinion on the degree of validity or truth. Not call people liars and accuse them of looking to pay their mortgage.

MCCdislike – sadly not isolated incidents. We should all get together and form some sort of group or committee to encourage others to come forward and make them feel it’s OK to do so. The more I read and hear about this case the more I’m inclined to try and form this type of group to make sure the those in the school that knew this was going on are made to acknowledge their mistakes publicaly and take whatever punishment they may deserve.

Good morning. May the force be with you, JMJ, Great man of God and sub tuim pre sidium.

I went to Marist in the 80’s and spent 9 years of my schooling there. In that time I was aware of several brothers being inappropriate (inlcuding Kostka). I have friends who are going through the legal process at present. I was not touched sexually by any of these but yes I was violently and psychologically humiliated on many occasions (and that includes Kostka -he kicked my shins under my desk in front of the class which had me in tears and bruises). It started in year 4 and continued until I was in year 11, maybe in year 12 I started to grow a bit and they backed off. It wasn’t only the brothers who did this either, both male AND female teachers too. I am more than willing to admit I was no angel at school but never “the bad kid” either. The usual clowning around, Either way, whether I was a smart arse or not this sort of behaviour is attrocious.

Slapping, punching, kicking, verbal abuse, humiliation, caning, poking (with canes, blackboard inmplements, broom handles and sticks) does anyone remember Br James’ tool “black magic”? That caused me lots of grief. I also had a chair smashed over my head and was made to stand in front of the class (sobbing) wearing the chair around my neck. These sorts of situations create such a great learning environment….

I would never send my children to a Marist school, in fact I don’t think I would ever send them to any catholic or any religious school based on my events.

Having said all that – I made many life long friends at that school (maybe it’s the comradarie that jelled us together) and it is these friends that I thank Marist for, that’s it though, I have nothing else to them thank for.

Of all the workplaces and environments I have encountered since leaving school I have not encountered such a racist, sexist and abusive environment than Marist.

My main point of this post was to highlight the physical/emotional/psycological distress that also went on. It wasn’t all sexual and someone posted earlier that these events can cause the same (if not more) damage than sexual abuse. I feel for those who were sexually abused. It is a horrible thing. I consider myself to be a victim too.

berraboy68: suggest you or someone else to tell Jason Parkinson to contact all ex-members of the Marist Film and Photography clubs. Jason should also look into files of those film club members that made complaints to Br. Chris Wade and Br. Michael Green in early 1990’s.

you should also work out how to get this treat back onto the front page. Lots more to come on this one!

Just like the bullies at the school, John Chute was able to get away with it because the school and the order (religious) knew about it and did nothing about it and let it carry on for decades. I want to see all of those that should have stopped it put under the same heat lamp as those that carried out the crimes.

In case y’all missed it, Jason Parkinson put his own post on RiotAct over in this thread yesterday:

I am the solicitor acting for a large number of victims of child sexual abuse perpetrated by brothers and teachers at Marist and Daramalan Colleges from the late 1970’s to the late 1990’s.

I’d like any information that can be given by any victims, or parents of victims, who advised any teachers or headmasters about child sexual abuse occurring at Marist and Daramalan.

Any information will be treated confidentially, and will greatly assist all the victims.

Thank you.
Jason Parkinson
Porters Lawyers

Comment by Jasonp — 5 February, 2008

Skidbladnir – right you are… I’ll do this before the weekend and post the answer here.

There is a Welfare Committee Coordinator (Mark Breen) listed on their website, maybe someone needs to reach out and give him a kick in the pants to get a ball rolling in the right direction?

Skidbladnir – agree with your comments. I was involved in the Old Boys previously but bvecame very disillusioned when all they seemed to want to do was fund raise for the school – Old boys in need be damned. As you say it was all for personal benefit of some intersted parties. Brendan Smythe is one of teh worst as he wanted/weants to use teh Old Boys to boost his own political profile. I understand that he was asking to be made patron at one point! Imaging asking for that.

Back on Topic – This current saga s exactly what th old boys should be helping with – making those abused feel comfortable with coming forward and giving support. From what I’ve read here, there could almost be a class action mounted for the physical abuse suffered by many old boy’s. Pity our culture would frown on this as stated by Clueless, above. Personally, I don’t think throwing money at victims is ever the answer. Free conselling and seeing justice served is the answer.

@BerraBoy: The main thing the Old Boys Association excels at from their communications and events is working as an insider’s guide to Canberra businesses and further employment.
Apparently all other concerns are secondary until they become financially viable.
Which means that the people who would be interested in or benefit in other means from it are mostly ignored in favour of those who contribute financially to college sports teams.

Lots of good points made by clueless70 — 28 January, 2008 @ 11:31 pm by the way. I am not sure how much of this would apply to Lyons though—but some astute observation anyway.

I got to know “Stumpy” Lyons very well in the 1990s and certainly would have counted him as a ‘friend’. While I was at dara in late 80s I had nothing to do with him. Did not really know him much at all back then. There were all sorts of rumours about him back then but I do not believe in paying too much attention to rumours and despite all this–still don’t. Once I found out why he ‘disappeared’ on that Queen’s Birthday long weekend in 2000 I felt gutted, betrayed and lied to and I have been ruminating over all this ever since

I take serious exception with claims made above that Paul plied student with hallucinogens. Paul was extremely naïve about drugs and did not use them himself so I am almost 100% sure this is complete fiction.

The problem now is that anyone can say they were interfered with by Paul Lyons without any substantiation; people have mortgages to pay off so you really cannot blame them. This legal firm fishing for victims is really encouraging this in my opinion. The problem is that there are probably victims out there would will not come forward because of the stresses of going through a legal process, while some opportunists will see an opportunity to make a quick dollar which is a total insult to all those who were actually abused.

While I do not want to add too much to the rumour mill I feel I must add this. My reflections about Paul as I knew him in the 1990s include that:
1) He ‘helped’ a lot of young guys but this help was contingent on putting out. If you didn’t put out he just let you go.
2) He used to ‘let a lot of people go’ after their mid-20s
3) He used to like to keep people dependant on him when it suited. Now I am talking about guys in their 20s. Translate this to 15-16 year olds and I am sure you can all fill in the gaps.
4) His behaviour is completely unrepresentative of every other homosexual I have ever met. Interestingly he hated gay culture and had some pretty redneck views about gun laws.
5) In the last couple of years I knew Paul he used to talk about death a lot. Maybe he knew his number was up? Maybe he knew exactly what he was going to do if his past caught up with him. Paul claimed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which was named at his funeral as a possible catalyst for him taking his own life. Paul used to also claim he was deaf. Maybe this was just an excuse so that he could not hear you tell him to stop when being violated and then (he would) forget about it later
6) Paul claimed that he was an expert on relationships and sex. Given the lack of empathy towards others exemplified in his predation, this is the pinnacle of delusion.
7) Paul messed with my head big time. Those people that he did not violate sexually he violated psychologically. Everyone loses because of this because people (ourselves and others) have to put the pieces back together.

I think I will stop here

Styles, for what its worth you have my sympathy and understanding.

Glad you got out of the place when you did and found some peace of mind.

I know one of the guys Kostka abused, and yes, they do need our understanding and support. Strangely the Marist Old Boys Association has chosen to remain very quite on all this. For mine, they should be the ones asking victims to come forward and offering to find support. But then again, they don’t actually seem to be there to help actual Old Boy’s despite the rhetoric….

Brother K was my religion teacher in year eight. We had the red room (the one with the insulated carpet walls.) Interestingly he rarely came to class and for some reason no other teacher ever became aware of this fact (where was he??)

One guy broke down and told my best friend at the time what Brother Kostka was doing to him and I did not believe him. I feel a little guilty about that given this has now come to light. I could have helped.

About Marist though, I hated that school with a passion. I was different and therefore virtually lived in hell for those four long years. My worst memory was being surrounded by a group of footy heads in the middle of a lesson and verbally abused – called a poof and a homo for what seemed like ages while the teacher just let it happen. When i finally fought back and told them to F off I was placed on detention. Boys are cruel at that pubescent age and fights were bloody and regualar. I fled at the end of year ten to Darra and then went on to Lake Tuggeranong. In that two years not one person even touched or harrassed me for who I was – not once. And I never saw a fight. Marist almost destroyed every bit of confidence I had and at the same time made me my character tougher too. I can’t express how sad I am for those guys involved in this mess and hope it has an ending that brings some comfort.

test

Mick1965 – The order had Kostka living at their retreat in Mittagong for some years now. They would not return calls asking for kostka and, I am reliably advised, even put out a story that he had died some 4 yrs ago.

The other question I have is in December 07 the news reported he was getting ready to give himself up. This did not occur until Jan 08. Nice that he felt the need to enjoy Xmas and the New Year before handing himself in. What a bastard.

Actually I thought Rod Devlin was a really good bloke.

Back to Kostka…I have it on very good authority from another teacher who was at Marist in the 80’s and most of the 90’s that Kostka’s previous absence as due to his obligation to serve a two year custodial sentence. If this is true, why was he allowed to remain a brother and why are they fronting his legal fees now?

As for kostka’s words of wisdom, he often made many telling comments. At Lyons Funeral (I was only there as his actions had, at that time, yet to be made public) I commented to Kostka about the cold weather and said I now understood why the Brothers wore their cassocks as it kept out the cold. His response was to laugh and say “(insert my name), it covers a whole host of sins”.

Another pearl was his telling the class that it would not possible, or proper, for us to be friends with our own parents. I wonder why I find it hard to get on with them now?

Skidbladnir,

Thanks for alerting me to the problem. I saw it when the post was published but didn’t know how to fix it.

It appears a thoughtful webmaster or other user has now removed those lines.

Mick1965, I recall that during my time at the school, Chute was sent to the United States for ‘study’. I can’t recall the year and don’t know the duration of his time overseas. I would guess his departure occurred between 1986 and 1989. Described in those uncontroversial terms, the trip was not secret at the time, and may well have been documented somehere publicly accessible, such as in a school magazine or a newsletter. However the suddenness and urgency of Chute’s need to improve his knowledge of scripture might have had a basis in the Marists’ damage-control policies.

The press reported that Sutton was sent to the USA and in fact became a principal at a primary school over there, before he was extradited to Australia to face criminal charges. Difficult to escape the conclusion that he was moved in order to avoid prosecution for activities of which his religious order was well aware.

BerraBoy, your description of the desk throwing incident was most gratifying to read. I imagine your self-assertion caused great dismay to that teacher. It is plain to me why you were crossed off Lyons’ list: desk-throwers, especially physically large ones, can make trouble for those with poisonous tongues and habitual exploiters alike.

My own memories of Chute are of a swagger in human form. He would tote his large belly in its white skirts around the school with the air of one accustomed to unquestioning obedience from others. The Chute office was not oval-shaped but he could often be seen reclining there with presidential authority, receiving earnest little visitors who would stare at the pictures and memorabilia coating the walls.

These sorts of images, alongside recollections of his brutality, are why I have less intuitive sympathy for Chute/Kostka than for Lyons. The image of Lyons distributing hallucinogens to young boys and wanking in front of them, as tendered by one writer here, is about as damning as one could imagine. Nothing could be further from the teacher’s role. Yet it has an obviousness about it, as to Lyons’ intentions. No-one looking at a wanking man could doubt where his thoughts lay: in his, and most likely your, pants. In contrast, stepping into the starchy whites of his religious robes instantly made Chute a fraudulent figure.

True to the appearance of fatherly rectitude that he presented, Chute was fond of repeating to boys certain stereotyped moral cautions, such as: ‘You’re not respecting my right to teach or the others’ rights to learn;’ or: ‘Manners make the man.’ That Chute also claimed rights to manhandle boys he didn’t like and to fondle the bottoms of those he did, was never included in his sententious advice.

Another Kostka comment, made to no-one in particular in the midst of a one-sided theological discussion with my 10th-grade ‘RE’ class, has just emerged from dormant memory. Chuckling to himself, he said, ‘I’m getting away with blue murder here.’ In its context, this merely meant no-one in the room was up to challenging his skill in manipulating the fact-free assertions of church doctrine. As to just how deeply and generally true of Chute the remark was at the time, I was you-know-what.

Another question – are there any other teachers anyone here know of who were practicing kiddy fiddlers at the time.

Rod Devlin is one chap in particular I wonder about.

Can anyone shed some light on the fact that Kostka has been “in hiding” for some time?

Anyone I mentioned him to for the past 10 years (roughly) has said that there was a particular incident after which Marist whisked Kostka off to the country for “early retirement”.

Is there any truth to this that someone here can expand on?

Clueless70, I urge you to check your posting of 28 January, 2008 @ 11:31 pm, notice the two opening lines, and then change the latter.

Looks like a username&password combination to me.

Clueless70 – the art comment was nothing more that to say I do not see myself as being morally or ethically qualified to counter generalisation made by others in any public forum. I make enough of the myself!

Legal action against the violent teachers? As you say, our culture both then and now makes us regard such things as ‘a badge’ to be worn proudly. Yes a certain PE teacher pinned me to the wall by placing his forearm against my neck and pushing so hard I couldn’t breath.. As this occurred in front of my entire class I felt quite humiliated and the fact I recall this so vividly obviously means it had some negative effect. However, I also turned this around once or twice on teacher and managed to get away with it. On one occassion a teacher called me a ‘whinging pom’ in front of my whole class just because I asked him to write a bit more slowly on teh blackboard so we could copy down notes. Now what I said was no different to what the Australian and croatian kids in my class were also saying to him saying so I was surprised by his targeting me.

To understand my anger at being called this you have to know the effect of being called a ‘pom’ has on a kid who came to Aust. in the 70’s and had to put up with being called this (not in an effectionate way)all though his childhood. It’s not OK to cll someone a wog, or any other racial name but Pom seems to be OK. Anyway back to the event…. I asked the teacher to step outside the class so we could take this further, he refused. Now he was a pretty small person and I’m pretty big, so I can understand him saying no. That said, I was very angry so I picked up my desk and threw it at him. I went outside sought out the form master (we didn’t have Houses back then) and told him what happened. The teacher was then forced to apologise to me for his behaviour.

SO There are some swings and roundabouts here.

ON teh suicides. The numbers would stagger you. I had cause to be involved with the fringes of the school for a three year period in the late 1990’s. It seems that everytime I spoke the front office another old boy had killed himself. I was also told by a headmaster at the time that there a families who blame the school 100% for the suicide of thier sons due to a number of and I quote “unfortunate events” that happened while they were at the school.

An-ex student and myself plan on reveiwing the schools official history when it comes out in March. It’s been written by ex-teacher Frank O’Shea. If his version is all sweatness and light we may seek publication of a critique.

BerraBoy,

You continue my belated education in the legacy of Marist College. I hope all the information that you wish to come to light will be put in plain view of the public. The press, as I pointed out, has only shown interest in the sex.

I am aware of one suicide among former classmates, though the gossip suggested his particular form of despair arose from work-related stress. I would be saddened to hear of more who have taken their own lives in my cohort, or in the year groups around mine.

You wrote that ‘The worst bit looking back was all the touching, hugs and attention I was given by Paul…’ but a little earlier referred to a teacher choking you while pinning you to a wall. Part of my purpose in writing was to suggest how strange it is for people to find the touching horrendous and legally actionable, but not the choking. I am curious to know if you have started, or intend to start, legal action about the physical violence you and others have suffered at Marist.

Gregory Sutton’s sexual abuses apparently had stopped by the time he was transferred to Marist Primary in Canberra. However, Sutton was neither called to account, nor punished, for whipping dozens of young boys with a cane, reducing them to tears in front of an entire class, day after day, and with evident gusto and delectation. A queue of penitents often had to be formed, such was Sutton’s appetite.

Discussion of the past reawakens defunct memories. Another writer has said there was no reason to fear violence from Chute. This is incorrect, if you were black, overweight and an annoyance to him. I have seen Chute physically stand over a student of that description, grab him by the hair and/or ear, and hurl the student out of the classroom in a state of uncontrolled fury. I doubt this victim will ever press charges concerning his abuse.

‘I do have to question why the behavior now coming to light was never raised, or even noticed by them.’

Me too.

To have my comments assessed as art is puzzling to me, but I suppose art can transmit both matters of fact and my feelings of bitterness as effectively as analysis.

Good luck in the quest for exposure of the truth. I have heard it is uphill work.

Wow, this is a real eye-opener for me, and I really wouldn’t like to make light of this subject and I probably shouldn’t say anything, but:

I went to Canberra government schools, starting at Turner Infants, all my school life and the worst thing that ever happened to us boys was the constant, and I mean constant, exhortations to get our hair cut. The maths master at Woden Valley High used to rant that all boys with sideburns were ‘arsonists’, and he’d give us money and send us off to the barber at the Hughes shops. We used to get the cuts of course (if our fingernails were dirty or our shoes unpolished, I kid you not), but I thought corporal punishment was illegal by the 1980’s or even the 70’s, so how did these religious zealots get away with that?

I never witnessed anything sexual at any of my schools, nor was there any bullying to speak of. None of the teachers seemed to exhibit much interest in the kids at all, especially in their education. I can’t remember any extracurricular activites. Teachers were just people you thought were dickheads and had as little to do with as possible. They were like aliens from another planet, there was certainly no socialising or extra tuition after hours or anything like that. Certainly I never even heard of anything like a school ‘camping trip’. Teachers spent most of their time holed up in the staff room, venturing out sometimes to take a class, or playground duty. I can’t remember one single teacher for whom anybody had any respect. They all seemed to be at school under sufference.

I’m glad my parents couldn’t afford to send me to a private school, and that all of my family are atheists. I feel really sorry for the Marist boys who had to go through such a traumatic time at that stage of their life. No punishment is too severe for these ‘brothers’ or whatever they’re called. There, I’ve said it.

Clueless, you make some good points but also some sweeping generalisations, but as I’m not an art critic I won’t comment on these.

You are right in many areas as I say, I have been physically and emotionally abused by Marist staff, not in a sexual way but in a violent way. As I have said, I am told I was on Lyon’s ‘list of things to do’ when I was back in year 10 (1983) after my brother died while in yr 11 that year. Sure I can be identified by this fact by the Marist community now I have stated it, but I care not. The two Marist Old Boys that went to the Canberra Times in mid-07 (telling them about Kostka and apparently sparking the legal communities interest in bringing him to justice and seeking closure for his victims) were myself and an old classmate. SUre we were termed STephen and Simon, not our real names but we’ve seen and heard enough since leaving to want the activities of Kostka, and not just Lyons, to come to light. There is more to come out and if teh school is honest about their inquiry they will make any and all finding public. Key questions that must be answered include why they destroyed Lyons employment records as soon as he left the school, why concerns of sexual abuse by parents as far back as the late 90’s were ignored and why Marist and Dara have higher suicide rates than the average for ACT schools. This last point was made to me by somebody who is looking into this matter.

While I maintain that 95% of teachers (including brothers at Marist in the 80’s were excellent, I do have to question why the behavior now coming to light was never raised, or even noticed by them.

St Marcellin must be rolling over in his grave.

I attended Marist from the early to late 1980s and was taught briefly by both Lyons and Chute. I had intermittent contact outside class time, but within the school, with both over a number of years. Until the news reports in August 2008 I had no clue about what Lyons did with his spare time, though I had half a clue about Kostka, who was less than subtle. I have more to say about Lyons than Chute because he seems to me the more complex figure, who showed regret for actions that seem genuinely confused in their motivations. Chute seems a simpleton who was merely devious and exploitative in his behaviour, finding the perfect foil for his desires in the sanctimonious rhetoric of religion.

I will make two points. First, that the abuse described in the press so far is uncommon in itself, but it reflects cultural training, and is part of a pattern of behaviour that the institution of the church encourages. The second point is that the media is obsessed with sexual misbehaviour but it has been silent about physical abuse of students, which was much more common at my school in the 80s, and I believe, equally damaging.

What Lyons says he did with boys over a number of years might seem to mark him as a sexual eccentric, but all the causal factors of his behaviour are routine in Australian male social life, and were normality for him growing up ‘gay from the age of 13’ [per press report] as they were for his victims: lack of reliable sexual information, repression of individual difference, punishment and derogation of the slightest intimacy or caring between males. Mindless group-thinking and the promotion of the view that the institution and its traditions know best. Constipation of the emotional life. There is little wonder that Lyons was an attractive figure, as he contradicted these social mores.

I question those who claim that in Kostka and Lyons we are dealing with unaccountable exceptions to the rule. For one thing, the Marists seem to bring out such star talents repeatedly. Brother Gregory Sutton, a former teacher of mine at Marist Primary school next door, was in the news in 1996, and later in jail, for similar conduct. The children he digitally penetrated and monstered in other ways were generally younger, as he taught primary-age students. More importantly, Sutton’s back-story is substantially the same as Lyons’: sexual ignorance and ostracism in his upbringing as an Australian male created a capacity for abuse for which an institutional position of power gave him the opportunity. Sutton’s adventures in the courts appealing his convictions for sexual assaults of girls and boys are recorded in the Commonwealth Law Reports. They are neither light nor savoury reading. But they do remind us that the sexual abuser is really an Everyman: institutionalised, warped by religion or some other creed, and lonely.

Lyons/Sutton/Chute will continue to appear in institutional settings and he will continue to exert influence wherever the social life of boys is so barren and unsupportive as it was in the Marist of the 1980s. And I don’t think that desert known as mateship has especially greened in the twenty years since I left the school.

I would characterise Marist College in the 1980s as a violent environment. I witnessed students hurled into furniture by apoplectic, apparently psychotic ‘brothers’. At both Marist primary school and at Marist College I saw boys beaten so savagely and in such humiliating circumstances that they lost all self-control and fled sobbing and howling from the room. I saw, to my shame sometimes took part in, and was at other times the object of, villification and physical harassment of those who were seen as different from what was normal, ie, severely repressed. It was a social crime to touch another boy with affection. To wear a tank top and jeans was to mark oneself as a homosexual; those who really were homosexual endured unimaginable loneliness. To see physical fights between boys in any part of the school was an occasion for leering excitement.

None of this has provoked, to my limited knowledge, a single court case. Not one of these incidents, which indeed must have left their visible marks for a forensic photographer, has aroused the interest of a crusading former-cop lawyer.

In view of this incredible silence, I am particularly annoyed with the simplicity of the received wisdom that Lyons and his like promote secrecy with their victims, and thus ensues the extraordinary time-lag between offence and its reporting. Societies promote secrecy, not just individuals. This is called hypocrisy. When it is not acceptable for a male to touch another male with love, a touch that was uninvited and unwanted is doubly shameful, since other touches in other contexts may well have been desired, yet equally proscribed. The silence individual boys maintained years after unwanted encounters with Lyons or Chute was a burden laid on them by their school, their families, their friends, their workplace and their own ideal self-image as men.

I therefore feel gratitude to the Marist old boys who have written here about the abuses they suffered, and note how the accounts tend to highlight that abuse takes many forms, not just unwanted genital contact. I don’t see myself as a victim of any sort, being much better described in those impressionable years as a gobsmacked witness with my heart in my mouth. As a student I was hit and pushed around a couple of times, but was never pretty enough to rate Lyons’ or Chute’s special attention. My family life was of such a character that Marist College in the 1980s served as the focal point of my social life in my teenage years, and today I find this fact does not reflect particularly well on me. That Marist College was a very positive place for me seems now only to underline my own perverse lack of awareness and utter inexperience of life. These cases and their commentary throw into high relief the suffering that was going on around me at the time.

Mick1965 – I’ve also spoken to Jason Parkinson and he seems a very genuine bloke – as an ex-cop he must have seen his hare of these cases in the past. as I’ve said before about 95% of teachers at Marist when I was there 1980 to 1985 were great. The other 5%^are pure evil. Kostka used three methods of caing that I can recall – in front of a crowd, 6 on each hand, in front of a small crowd of my mates 3 or 4 on the back of the knuckles (and that really hurts), the other type was in his room alone where he woul make you bend over , pulldown your fgrey pants and then cane you – he always had his other hand inside his cassock when he did this. I also recall having a teach pinch me to the wall with his forearm – effectively chocking and humiliating me in front of the class because i dared knock on his door to loudly.

As for Lyons, he used to take me out of other teachers classes and drive around town with me, take me to lunch etc.. lots of touching (arms, legs etc.. but nothing sexual. Jason tells me I was definitely being ‘groomed’ but for some reason Paul missed his chance. I believe this was when I took 2 months off school when my brother died in 1983 (he was in the year behind you) – so you might have an idea who I am. The worst bit looking back was all the touching, hugs and attention I was given by Paul at the Funeral. Police friends tell me this is classic behavior as they can openly engage in their activities using an excuse of being ‘caring’.

Mick1965 – Good on you for making your statement. Be strong now, and know that if it did not destroy you then, it was because you were brave enough to cope. It is for you to decide whether there is anything you can do now that will help the victims more than it can hurt you.

I was not a victim at my school, mostly because my parents were seen to be smart enough to react so that the teacher in question would be inclined to lay off. Once I elbowed him. A couple of times, I messed with his mind. A fair number of times, I was excluded from activities by him – I thought it was because I had been bolshie and unpopular, but later wondered whether it was because I was well protected. A large chunk of my peers who were close to him ostracised me, but I was less than worried about that by that stage. I did not see that they were victims in one way or another.

I am not sure what I will be contributing. I have already made a few statements to the solicitor overseeing the action against Mr Lyons and Brother (let’s hope they strip him of this title for STARTERS!) Kostka. I am still unsure whether I could cope with public humiliation. At least I have the protection of anonymity here and I am now living in Brisbane.

I must say I would probably have to attribute a lot of blame to Miss Nunn, my psychotic year 4 teacher who drove me to smoke a packet a day by year 6, and Brother Jerome, who tortured me daily with the cane (until my hands bled sometimes). I did manage to attain an “EXCELLENCE IN STUDY” certificate for Year 6, but by year 7 it became about survival.

I think one important thing here is that people understand the CULTURE of Marist then. Our peers would CONDEMN us mercilessly if we reported things to authorities – even to our parents. It was often a struggle to decide should we tell mum and dad – and be ostracised and “uncool”. More often that not we just put up with things. That’s how these people got away with things.

My mother was a school teacher at the time and she was horrified by the condition of my hands, but I would beg her not to interfere because I would become friendless. She eventually asked Brother Jerome what he was trying to achieve, a d he responded “I am going to break him in front of the class and make him cry.”

I never did cry in class, in public.

Marist back then was a chamber of horrors.

Mick1965: You might be of interest as an information resource to Jason Parkinson of Porters Lawyers, lawyer for affected victims of either Kotka or Lyons, or talking to one of the AFP involved in the case.
http://afp.gov.au/contact.html

Mick – that must have taken a lot to say in print. Will you be offering any evidence to either the criminal or civil processes, because that may help to settle the pain of those who suffered? And doing something about it might help you. best wishes.

Hi all. I was in Year 7 at Marist in 1978. I had both Brother Kostka and Paul Lyons as teachers. I know for a fact that Paul took boys camping (excuse the irony!) and shooting and would openly masturbate, and get the boys to do the same. He would also fill us full of alcohol and share joints – sometimes LSD and mushrooms as well. We all thought he was just cool. He never hit us – he would have us go to the front of the room and bend over (more irony!), then he would boot our bums. Like I said – we mainly thought he was “different” and “cool”. Obviously, that was the plan.

Kostka was my sex-ed teacher. As part of sex-ed he would ask us to come forward with information about other students at the school who were practicing homosexuality. I did this – thinking it was my duty to do so. He went on to try to “recruit” them, and me. I would very much like to hear from anyone else who was damaged by him. I turned from god and have serious trust issues, a vey low self-esteem and a weight problem.

BerraBoy – long ago, in a place far away, I too went to a school. It had among its excellent and dedicated staff a kiddy-fiddler. He was charismatic and an inspiring teacher whose students achieved great results. He got sprung, left and wound up elsewhere and then (probably) topped himself. It was later I realised the scale of what he had done, and that his victims were the vulnerable kids with unsophisticated or alienated parents who would not believe them, especially given his efforts to insinuate himself into the families. So, I understand some of the conflict and betrayal arising from the death of someone who seemed admirable but whose actions were absolutely rotten.

Vicepope – Paul negated the need for him to mount a Defence by admitting the offence to the police and then topping yourself. Don’t think for a minute this is easy for those that knew him and/or Kostka. Personally, I denied any of the things he was accused of until late last year. Then I learned of the scale of the abuse. As for Kostka, a couple of people I was at school with opened up recently about the abuse.

BerraBoy – thanks for that. Given that he’s dead and will not go to trial, there’s no need to think about whether any defence might have been possible. The state of his conscience remains for him and God.

?Didn’t we recently have in the ACT an instance of a female government school teacher teacher being accused of having relations with a male student? It is simply an expression of optimism to say that abuse doesn’t occur in any school or system of schools. The perpetrators are often good at staying undetected; their victims are likely to be those most easily silenced or disbelieved.

Vicepope – Lyons admitted what he did to the Qbn police before going to the shops buying a hose and funnel and heading off to have a ‘face to face’ with with whoever is going to look after his soul. He admited hi ‘guilt’ so it is a given. Don’t take these comments lightly I knew Paul very well while I was at Marist.

AS for scumdorg ascerting nothing like that ever happens at gov’t schools I hope your right – but you won’t ever know unless someone speaks up. This took more than 20 yrs to come out. I went out with a public school teacher here in Canb. for 6 yrs in the 80’s and 90’s and trust me – the breaches of trust go on there as well. I’ve walked out of parties where yr 7 and 8 girls were given alcohol by their teacher. When I questioned this I as told – don’t worry they won’t tell their parents.

Gregory and Pandy – neither (I believe) has been convicted and none of us have a clue as to the state of their minds or their consciences. The former may be a matter of interest in criminal proceedigs; the latter is between them and God.

What would they do with the cherubs I wonder?

When I die, if I go to heaven and either Kostka or Paul Lyons are there, whether they had asked forgiveness or not, I will be leaving.

Being a ‘good’ Catholic, I was always told at school that you had to be genuine when asking for God’s absolution.

Personally, I always thought I’d be able to use my ample charm to win Him/Her over!

Mr Evil – that assumes that there are sins (despite your use of the word “alleged”). One can hardly ask for forgiveness for nothing.

Forgiveness would be up to God, wouldn’t it? Some theologians talk of a “genuine purpose of amendment” and, where a sin has affected others, doing what is needed and possible to rectify the wrong done and to take responsibility.

I’m sure others know more than I do about the theology of absolution.

I wonder if God will forgive him his ‘alleged’ sins, when he asks for absolution?

Angry, red-headed Nyssa? I’ll pretend to be your student any day!

Nyssa – for the reasons given, if you are asserting that there was no sexual abuse of students at any school you attended or have worked or are working, I’d have to say you are more optimistic than am I. Part of the problem, at least in the past and perhaps still now, is that where there was smoke but no obvious fire, it was easier to move the teacher on with a good reference than to make the correct and tough decision.

I hope your breathing improves. Asthma can be awful in so many ways.

Or none, preferably.

Ok, yeah, I’m pretty sure this Mr Lyons was not inclined towards men. I too wouldn’t like to think/hope it wasn’t that commonplace, and there are only one or two floating around.

To howdy: As far as I’m aware Paul Lyons was gay and only interested in boys. He didn’t teach in government schools at all. As far as that last point is concerned I went to Pearce Primary, Melrose High and Phillip College and I can catergorically say that *no* teachers ever interfered with kids. At Melrose we heard constant stories about what was going on over the fence at Marist and what “the little Catholic poofters” were doing with the teachers and each other and it comes as no surprise to hear that all those stories have been confirmed.

PS. I’m not saying that teachers hanging out with students for company is correct behaviour either.

The student was actually also seeking the company, which is where part of the problem in knowing what went on arose, and then it all gets extremely complex – as children being abused may often pretend that someone they prefer is the abuser in order to cope with the situation.

Is Paul Lyons the same person who went to Wanniassa High and then Kambah I believe?

Even if he didn’t do anything, I was involved in an incident where he got inappropriately too close to a student. Whether he just wanted the company or was guilty of something worse was never worked out and we’ll never know, but it was enough to send him off to another school.

Most ex students I talk to remember Mr Lyons as getting a bit too close to female students in the classroom and dodging them out a bit.

VP, I was responding to your last post to me.

It could also be that I have a chest infection (asthmatic) and I should be in bed.

Nyssa – maybe I’m just being a bit dense, it being Friday and all, but I can’t follow your last post.

I suspect most schools have some history in the regard, because it’s impossible to avoid. Some are worse than others, and some are better at hiding the bodies than others. Even if teachers are carefully selected, if referees are questioned closely and if there are very clear rules, a few horrors will think they don’t apply to them. The present environment, where high quality teachers are simultaneously scarce and undervalued, is one where some might get through. The nature of this kind of activity is that a combination of fear, shame and misguided loyalty can keep victims silent. So any claim asserting a negative (that it isn’t happening or didn’t happen in a particular school) is no more than an expression of optimism.

The best that can be done is to create an ability for students and other teachers to disclose, confidentially, any concerns they may have and to lay down clear rules. And, of course, the lower the barrier to disclosure is, the more likely there will be some alllegations that are mistaken, frivolous, malicious or opportunistic. So a school/education authority needs a credible inquiry system, and should be prepared to go to the cops or suggest that the victim do so immediately there is any evidence. Oh, and if there is a credible suspicion, don’t facilitate the teacher moving on to another school.

Your dealings with Kostka were similar to mine and many other students, Gerry-Built. While in no way condoning the awful behaviour of Kostka towards some students, to many he was just a good bloke. In my years at Marist I saw brothers smack students upside the head, slam them into lockers, hit students with various implements, but violence was something you never feared from Kostka – which made him one of the few people young students could go to when they needed help.

Today, some of the sadistic behaviour employed by Marist teachers from the 80s/90s would bring lawsuits against the school.

It never happened at any school I was at as a student or as a teacher and it sure as hell isn’t happening in my current school.

VP, as was I, hence the “are you using that thing 3ft above your arse” comment.

*Any* school Gerry-Built? Not the ones I went to.

When I said it was “no big deal” I wasn’t referring to crimes against children by teachers I was referring to the fact I knew Paul Lyons. Just thought I’d clear that up.

I knew Brother Kostka in my time as a student at Marist (Lyons was gone b4 I started at MCC). I had occasion to join in extra curricular activities he supervised (ie photography club). I never saw anything that would suggest “inappropriate contact”. He was (is?) a genuine, generous, likable character – though he was probably a little more touchy-feely than most adolescent males would be used to in this day and age. On each occasion I have seen him since my school days he has recognised me, said hello, and even had a beer with me on occasion. He was certainly one of the more “grounded” religious staff at the school. In my experience, all of his dealings with students were wholly (holy 😉 appropriate!

There were always rumours about teachers (not just religious) at MCC – just as there are of teachers in *any* school. (Even Nyssa would probably be aware of that – yes???) You just need one vocal/”popular” (usually footballer) student to start spreading rumours…

Over the years I have been here, I have met a number of Marist teachers, and found them to be a decent, wonderful group. I did not meet this brother or the late Mr Lyons. I’m sure those I have met are deeply distressed by what may have happened and about the effect on the school’s reputation.

Nyssa – I reacted to the silliness of the post but was more concerned/outraged at any implication (“no big deal”)that it might somehow be ok for a teacher to exploit students.

I knew both Kostka and Lyons very well. The latter became a close family friend and he often put his arms around both my brother and me. We never knew about his xtra carricular activites though. We just thought he was a good friend. Kostka was similar but the rumors and warnings from older friends at the school made us more wary of him. Interesting how Kostka was at Lyons funeral! I hope that the history of the school being released in March (Ex-teacher Frank O’Shea is the author) is a true history and not just an overly positive áll sweatness and light”propaganda tool. Marcellin Champagnat must be crying.

VP, it was more my abject horror that someone would be that stupid to post such crap. I blame my red-headed temper.

I have not infrequently disagreed with the divine Nyssa. This is not such an occasion, though I would have used more nuanced language. Teachers who sexually abuse kids are bad by any rational standard. They use a position of influence inappropriately for personal gratification and, in doing so, generally mess up the life of the victim. The make attendance at school an occasion of pain, shame and confusion and they ruin the trust kids should be entitled to place in teachers. They should be sacked, locked up and kept away from messing with other young lives.

Even the most marginal case (say, a 22 yo first year teacher teaching kids who are 18 yo so there may not be a criminal offence, at least in some places) is unacceptable because of the confusion between the personal, professional and power-related aspects of the relationship.

This is a general comment – I know nothing of the particular case beyond the media reports and don’t wish to know more.

Are you for real? Are you using that thing 3ft above your arse?

It’s cockheads like him that make it that much harder for good teachers (like me) to do our jobs.

It’s no big deal. I was a sex partner of Paul Lyons in the late 1980s when he was supposedly having sex with the boys at Marist (and later Dara). I didn’t know he was a teacher he was just another gay guy who I met at the public toilet in Crawford St several times. He had a nice rifle collection as well.

Kostka Chute is correct. He was my homeroom tutor during my early days at Marist College.

– bit of a shock to read of his misdeeds!

Wasn’t he AKA Kostka Chute? I’m sure that’s what his name was from 86-91…