General News
8 June, 2024
Paedophile taught Wimmera students
Convicted paedophile and primary school teacher Arthur Henry Eaton may have abused students at schools in the Wimmera, according to lawyers.
Georgia Sneddon, acting on behalf of five men currently suing the Victorian Department of Education for abuse by Eaton, said others may have been victims prior to his known offending in 1992.
“In circumstances where those schools were often located in regional Victorian towns, including Lascelles and Nhill, it is alarming that Eaton may have been abusing children in those communities early on in his career," she said.
Eaton was head teacher at Lascelles Primary School from 1967-70 while his wife Nanette was teaching at nearby Hopetoun High School. Eaton later taught at Nhill from 1975-79 and was prominent in Nhill Uniting Church.
He was convicted in 1996 of 25 counts of indecently assaulting nine boys, aged 8 to 12 - one at Warrnambool West Primary School and eight at Derinya Primary School in Frankston South - between 1992 and 1996.
He was sentenced to two years jail after an appeal against an initial sentence of 300 hours unpaid community work.
He now lives under an assumed name.
Personal injury law firm Arnold Thomas and Becker has filed civil law claims against the Education Department on behalf of the Warrnambool West survivor and four former students at Derinya.
Ms Sneddon said “immeasurable harm” had occurred when the department moved Eaton to Derinya Primary in 1993, exposing more children to abuse.
“Given our understanding of the prolific nature of Eaton’s offending... we suspect complaints may have been made regarding Eaton, even prior to the complaint in 1992," Ms Sneddon said.
The case, in Melbourne’s Supreme Court, if successful, could result in millions of dollars compensation to the survivors.
It was while at Nhill that one of Eaton's children drowned in a raised tank at the farm house near Nhill the family rented. They left Nhill soon after the death, with the couple separating in 1983 when Eaton moved to Red Hill Consolidated school.
A psychologist’s report stated that Eaton’s victims reminded him of his deceased son.
Ms Sneddon said the Education Department's practice of moving teachers showed it was "more concerned about the reputation and wellbeing of teachers, the schools and the department rather than the students".
"Prior to the abuse of our client in 1991 and 1992, we understand Eaton had already moved between various schools," she said.
"Given we know how prolific his abuse of children was, such movements are very concerning."
At the time of Eaton's arrest, and despite the existence of the abuse allegations, he was due to be honoured with the Victorian teacher of the year award.
The Victorian Department of Education, in response to questions from ABC Investigations, said it was not aware of allegations made against Eaton prior to May 1992: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment further so as not to prejudice the proceedings.”
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