Date: 10 September 2013 The Courier Mail
The Anglican Church has settled a high-profile sexual and physical abuse claim by a former student at one of Queensland’s top private schools.
Bill Edgar, an old boy of the prestigious The Southport School on the Gold Coast, waged a decades-long battle against the church over his alleged abuse there in the 1980s.
Mr Edgar started a Facebook page called “Lost Boy of TSS” reaching out to other alleged abuse victims at the boys school and last year launched a $2.6 million lawsuit against the church in the Supreme Court.
The claim alleged he had been molested and physically attacked by teachers including one who allegedly dragged him by his hair across the carpet at TSS and lifted him by his ears.
A confidential settlement was thrashed out during a six-hour mediation hearing in Brisbane on Thursday.
Bill Edgar, who now runs a unique B&B, says he is hoping for closure. Picture: Nigel Hallett
Mr Edgar - who now runs a unique B & B in the Gold Coast hinterland where guests sleep in coffins - said the settlement had been “a long time coming”.
“I’m satisfied in the way that I was able to not give up and kick the door in and let other boys come forward, the other victims,” he said.
“I’m so happy to give closure not just to myself but also to my wife and children. They’ve been through this the whole way. And not just them, the Gold Coast community - thousands of them have been on the journey with me.
“Whether it was a six or seven-figure payout, it’s not about the money - it’s about getting justice and unfortunately, that’s something that eludes me.”
Mr Edgar said he did not seek an apology because it would “not be worth the paper it’s written on”.
“They could have ended this a long time ago,” he said.
“The school should have just stood up and said ‘that’s enough’, but they didn’t.”
Mr Edgar said eight other former TSS students had received payouts while others were still fighting their cases before the courts.
“In total I’ve spoken to 113 old boys (who were allegedly abused),” he said.
“Seventeen have taken their own lives.”
An Anglican Church spokeswoman confirmed the settlement but declined to comment.
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