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The Age
3 days ago
- General
- The Age
A school published an obituary for a beloved teacher. It turns out he's very much alive
And so to Victoria's Central Highlands, and the (not so) hallowed halls of Ballarat Grammar. Regular readers will recall The Age has published a series of disturbing stories about the prestigious private institution over recent months. The school, which traces its forebears back to 1877, has storied alumni who include one-time premier Henry Bolte, ABC presenter James Valentine, opera singer David Hobson and AFL star Tony Lockett. The private school's war cry and school song is Boomalacka, which is also the name of school magazine, which has lately been generating interest for all the wrong reasons. The autumn 2025 edition of the biannual community magazine Boomalacka features an obituary for former staff member Chris Gardner, who was geography teacher from 2002 until 2007. There's even a photo. Aw. What a heartfelt way to commemorate the passing of an ex-teacher. Except there's one teeny problem … Gardner isn't dead. And was rather taken aback by the news of his unfortunate demise. 'Unfortunately, without any communication or consultation with my family, Ballarat Grammar School has announced my death to the school community,' says a Facebook post written by a very much alive Gardner. 'As you can imagine, I am quite upset about this!' The erroneous obituary and photograph were quickly wiped from the online version of Boomalacka. At this point, we feel duty bound to point out that: (a) CBD has, ahem, form in this regard, and (b) in the best traditions of mainstream media – our own sins would never stop us pointing out the misdemeanours of others.
The Age
07-05-2025
- The Age
Alleged private schoolboy abusers return to boarding house
A group of senior students removed from a prestigious regional private school's boarding hall because of the alleged abuse of their younger schoolmates have been allowed to return to the residential facility. Families with children at Ballarat Grammar have been told this week to expect a 'staged re-integration' of the boys, believed to number up to 12, into the school's Dart House boarding block, with at least one family reacting immediately by removing their son from the school. The move to return the boys, who had been staying at an off-campus house the school owns in the town and attending classes as day students, comes after Ballarat Grammar principal Adam Heath apologised last week to the school community for the impact of the scandal, pledging 'zero tolerance' for misconduct. Loading The year 11 and 12 students had been removed from Dart House after allegations surfaced in February of systemic assaults against younger boarders in the house, committed as part of a culture of punishment and hazing. Police were called in to investigate. Two boys have been expelled after an investigation by the school, key staff members have stepped down and the state regulator, the Victorian Quality and Registration Authority, has placed Ballarat Grammar's boarding licence under review. Heath told parents on Monday that Melbourne-based workplace conflict specialists, the Zalt Group, had been hired 'to facilitate a thorough and structured restorative process involving both the students who remained in the boarding house and those who were temporarily accommodated elsewhere'. 'The Zalt Group have advised that the students are ready to return safely and respectfully to their boarding community, and we will begin a supported, staged reintegration of these students back into the boarding house,' Heath wrote. One parent, who asked not to be identified, told The Age that his son had been terrified at the prospect of the return of the seniors to Dart House. The family had decided to take the boy out of Ballarat Grammar altogether for a new school, the parent said.
Sydney Morning Herald
07-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Alleged private schoolboy abusers return to boarding house
A group of senior students removed from a prestigious regional private school's boarding hall because of the alleged abuse of their younger schoolmates have been allowed to return to the residential facility. Families with children at Ballarat Grammar have been told this week to expect a 'staged re-integration' of the boys, believed to number up to 12, into the school's Dart House boarding block, with at least one family reacting immediately by removing their son from the school. The move to return the boys, who had been staying at an off-campus house the school owns in the town and attending classes as day students, comes after Ballarat Grammar principal Adam Heath apologised last week to the school community for the impact of the scandal, pledging 'zero tolerance' for misconduct. Loading The year 11 and 12 students had been removed from Dart House after allegations surfaced in February of systemic assaults against younger boarders in the house, committed as part of a culture of punishment and hazing. Police were called in to investigate. Two boys have been expelled after an investigation by the school, key staff members have stepped down and the state regulator, the Victorian Quality and Registration Authority, has placed Ballarat Grammar's boarding licence under review. Heath told parents on Monday that Melbourne-based workplace conflict specialists, the Zalt Group, had been hired 'to facilitate a thorough and structured restorative process involving both the students who remained in the boarding house and those who were temporarily accommodated elsewhere'. 'The Zalt Group have advised that the students are ready to return safely and respectfully to their boarding community, and we will begin a supported, staged reintegration of these students back into the boarding house,' Heath wrote. One parent, who asked not to be identified, told The Age that his son had been terrified at the prospect of the return of the seniors to Dart House. The family had decided to take the boy out of Ballarat Grammar altogether for a new school, the parent said.
Sydney Morning Herald
01-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Boarding licence under review at private school after abuse scandal
The upmarket regional private school at the centre of a 'strapping' abuse scandal could be forced to close its boarding houses after the state government's education regulator launched an official review of its registration as a residential facility. The Victorian Registration and Quality Authority (VRQA) confirmed on Thursday that it had opened a review of Ballarat Grammar's boarding houses, using its powers under the Education and Training Reform Act, and will determine if a commitment to student safety 'is embedded in their leadership, governance and culture'. Loading The school community has been in turmoil since February when 10 senior boarding students were sent home, accused of the systemic abuse of younger boys at Grammar's Dart House residential facility. Two seniors have been expelled, and another group of boys were removed from Dart House and are being housed in an off-campus property which the school owns in the town, as Ballarat police continue to investigate assaults alleged to have been committed at the boarding house in 2023 and 2024. Numerous men have come forward in the wake of the allegations, recounting stories of brutal hazing and assaults at the hands of their fellow boarders at Ballarat Grammar, going back to the 1950s. This masthead reported on Wednesday that the head of Dart House, Alex Sylvan, had stepped down from the role and would be leaving the school, while his assistant head, A.K.M. Azad, was also leaving his Dart House role but would stay on as a teacher at Grammar. Loading The VRQA began making inquiries in the days after The Age first revealed the allegations against the boys. The VRQA officials travelled from Melbourne to Ballarat in March and spoke to Grammar principal Adam Heath and the chairwoman of the school's board, Sarah Lia, and received additional information.
The Age
01-05-2025
- The Age
Boarding licence under review at private school after abuse scandal
The upmarket regional private school at the centre of a 'strapping' abuse scandal could be forced to close its boarding houses after the state government's education regulator launched an official review of its registration as a residential facility. The Victorian Registration and Quality Authority (VRQA) confirmed on Thursday that it had opened a review of Ballarat Grammar's boarding houses, using its powers under the Education and Training Reform Act, and will determine if a commitment to student safety 'is embedded in their leadership, governance and culture'. Loading The school community has been in turmoil since February when 10 senior boarding students were sent home, accused of the systemic abuse of younger boys at Grammar's Dart House residential facility. Two seniors have been expelled, and another group of boys were removed from Dart House and are being housed in an off-campus property which the school owns in the town, as Ballarat police continue to investigate assaults alleged to have been committed at the boarding house in 2023 and 2024. Numerous men have come forward in the wake of the allegations, recounting stories of brutal hazing and assaults at the hands of their fellow boarders at Ballarat Grammar, going back to the 1950s. This masthead reported on Wednesday that the head of Dart House, Alex Sylvan, had stepped down from the role and would be leaving the school, while his assistant head, A.K.M. Azad, was also leaving his Dart House role but would stay on as a teacher at Grammar. Loading The VRQA began making inquiries in the days after The Age first revealed the allegations against the boys. The VRQA officials travelled from Melbourne to Ballarat in March and spoke to Grammar principal Adam Heath and the chairwoman of the school's board, Sarah Lia, and received additional information.
