With the closing of the Christian Brothers College (CBC) campus at the end of last year, I found myself reflecting on my time there as a student from 1970 to 1979.

I look back on those years with gratitude, delight and fondness. In the first place, with gratitude for the subsidised school fees which meant that my parents could afford to send me to CBC, but also with gratitude for the high standard of education that I received under the guidance and mentorship of such gifted teachers such as Brothers Gerard Brady and Kevin Woodruff. With delight I recall the fun had taking part in school theatrical productions; representing the school in swimming; enjoying the teamwork and collaboration of inter-school debating contests; and of taking part in musical folk group and more formal choral performances. And finally, I look back with fondness at the friendships I made and enjoyed then, some of which I retain to this day.

Unfortunately, there was also another side to my time at CBC. Over several years until the age of 15, I was sexually abused by Father Robert Claffey - the school chaplain and local parish priest - before the Diocese of Ballarat moved him to another parish. In 1975, I was also repeatedly sexually abused by Brother Edward Dowlan (now Bales) before he was also moved to another school.

Sadly, I was not the only boy sexually abused at CBC at this time, or in times past or in future times after I had left the school. The Victorian Government Betrayal of Trust: Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations, 2013 and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2017, both revealed that these actions frequently took place with perpetrators reoffending each time they were moved. Subsequent criminal trials of both Claffey and Dowlan revealed that they were no different – with both being found guilty of sexual offences against children before and after their time at CBC.

Unsurprisingly, this abuse impacted most areas of my life and, as is the case with so many survivors, I have been diagnosed with Chronic Post Traumatic Disorder. I have been treated by psychiatrists and psychologists throughout my life and remain on antidepressants to this day.

By way of healing and seeking resolution, I have since successfully taken part in two criminal trials with both resulting in Claffey and Dowlan being found guilty of multiple cases of child sexual abuse (including mine) and imprisoned for lengthy periods of time. At the time of writing, both remain imprisoned. I have also successfully sued the Christian Brothers and the Diocese of Ballarat. My matter settled out-of-court the day before it was due to be heard in court for $1.8 million (including costs). The journey of bringing both men to justice and of holding the institutions financially accountable for their actions has taken me the best part of thirty years. Though difficult at times, I cannot recommend this course of action too highly by way of contributing in some way toward personal resolution.

The process of healing and reconciliation cannot take place until the truth is first acknowledged by the perpetrators to the victims of an injury. Emmanuel College has led by example in its preparedness to do just that in this case. Peter Morgan, the Board, the staff and the community of Emmanuel College have all therefore played a role in my healing and hopefully in that of others. I am grateful for their bravery and compassion in doing so.

Most notably this was demonstrated when in 2018 and contrary to the actions of other like institutions, Emmanuel College publicly acknowledged ‘the failure of the Ballarat Diocese under the leadership of Bishop Mulkearns to protect children and young people from abuse’ by installing plaques containing a statement of acknowledgement and support alongside the foundation stones laid by Bishop Mulkearns on the CBC campus in the past. Further, the statement expressed that ‘Emmanuel College stands in solidarity with those people who were physically, emotionally and sexually harmed during this time in our history. We acknowledge the devastating impact of abuse upon their lives, including the decision by some to end their lives prematurely’.

I commend the college further on its recent decision to take one of these plaques from CBC to the newly consolidated campus in Botanic Road and installing it in an appropriate place there. In doing so past wrongs continue to be remembered while the college’s stance in the present day 'to educate children and young people that physical, emotional and sexual abuse will not be tolerated and that we support the victims of such crimes. We seek to educate the members of our community to be people of integrity, who care for one another and act when another’s safety is at risk’ continues to be publicly expressed.

Despite what happened, I have lived a full life; have had a successful career; have a long-standing relationship with a loving partner; and am happily embarking upon the next phase of my life post-retirement. I have been able to do this for many reasons including taking the steps to bring both offenders to justice and in seeking appropriate financial redress from the Christian Brothers and the Diocese of Ballarat. Ongoing psychiatric treatment and medication have also been imperative to my well-being. Others have been down this path too and speak of the same benefits gained from these actions. I recommend them to anyone who may be reading this and considering how to best move on with their lives. I am open to speaking with anyone who may wish to discuss this matter further and am happy for you to provide your contact details to the school who will pass them on to me.

I again thank Emmanuel College for leading where others have failed in acknowledging past wrongs, in supporting survivors and in providing an environment of zero-tolerance for such acts in the present day. I wish everyone involved all the very best as the school moves into this new phase while at the same time bringing the important past with it on the journey.

Ashley Eccles | Class of 1979

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