Fresh testimony from a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse at a state government school has alleged the Department of Education grossly failed in its duty to protect children from a notorious pedophile teacher.

Our client, a former student, who attended Tucker Road Primary School between 1964 to 1970 has come forward detailing shocking sexual abuse by the school’s sports teacher and librarian Darrell Ray.

Ray, who was convicted in 1979 of sexually abusing St Kilda Little League footballers and in 2001 of abusing students at Tucker Road Primary School in Moorabbin and Beaumaris Primary School, died in November last year.

The former Tucker Road Primary School student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the shocking alleged abuse by Ray, had caused ongoing trauma and “destroyed” many aspects of his life.

“I don’t want any other child to go through suffocating secrecy that I went through for decades,” the victim said.

“Nor the self-loathing, guilt, confusion of identity, depression and distrust of authority not to mention the lingering alcohol-fuelled anger.”

Lawyer Cameron Doig, who is representing the victim, said this case was just one out of many from Tucker Road Primary School that the law firm was representing in the Supreme Court to pursue damage claims against the State of Victoria.

“The Department of Education is aware of more than nine allegations about abuse at this school up to 1970, many of which were by Ray.

“With the Department’s truth-telling process about child abuse in state schools starting soon, we urge anyone with information about abuse at Tucker Road Primary School to come forward to us.”

Arnold Thomas & Becker is investigating abuse allegations in over 200 Victorian schools, including at least 30 in Melbourne’s southeast.

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