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| Photo courtesy of the Newcastle Herald |
Oh, how the mightly have fallen.
No Gorokan High School blog would be complete without a mention of Doug Carley. Remember him? He transferred to Gorokan High from Cardiff in early 1979 and taught in the English Department.
He was Canadian, and thus one of his hobbies was Ice-Hockey. He also participated in Basketball, Drama, Philosophy and was a general agitator for the common good. He transferred away from Gorokan High the next year, citing the fact that all the rest of the staff had ostracised him. This seemed to be a pattern with him, as his history shows him transferring to quite a number of high schools in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area.
He was Canadian, and thus one of his hobbies was Ice-Hockey. He also participated in Basketball, Drama, Philosophy and was a general agitator for the common good. He transferred away from Gorokan High the next year, citing the fact that all the rest of the staff had ostracised him. This seemed to be a pattern with him, as his history shows him transferring to quite a number of high schools in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area.
He joined the ALP and went on to get preselection as a Lake Macquarie councillor, eventually progressing to become Mayor in 1991. I can remember a Lake Macquarie Post article of the time depicting his father coming out from Canada to proudly see his son receive the Mayoral chain and robes.
In Easter 1993 he went to Fiji with a 15-year old youth called Derryck who supposedly referred to Doug as a "Dutch Uncle" (whatever that is). After all the inuendo and speculation he resigned from the post of Mayor and went back to teaching. It was at this point that he separated from and became divorced from his wife Judith - they used to live just up the road from me at Caves Beach and attended the Swansea branch of the ALP when I was frequenting it.
In Easter 1993 he went to Fiji with a 15-year old youth called Derryck who supposedly referred to Doug as a "Dutch Uncle" (whatever that is). After all the inuendo and speculation he resigned from the post of Mayor and went back to teaching. It was at this point that he separated from and became divorced from his wife Judith - they used to live just up the road from me at Caves Beach and attended the Swansea branch of the ALP when I was frequenting it.
In 1996 he was placed on a three year good behaviour bond after being charged and convicted of indecently assaulting a fifteen year old boy who he coached at basketball. Hopefully the education department came to their senses at this point and stopped hiring him as a teacher.
In the intervening years he must have hit the skids, as he's popped up living in Fowler Street, Hamilton South, an inner-southern suburb of Newcastle. For those who know Hamilton South it needs no repeating that it's an area of Public Housing - reasonably high density flats and villas, all occupied by people from a lower socio-economic status.
Well, just recently he's hit the newspapers again. In 2009 he pleaded guilty to the aggravated indecent assault of a 12-year-old boy whilst living in the Fowler Street area. I need type no further, for those of you interested in reading the links to the Newcastle Herald articles, here you go:
- Former Mayor on Sex Charge (10 Jan 2009)
- ex-Mayor guilty of indecent assault (25 Aug 2009)
- Former Mayor Sorry for Abuse (3 Oct 2009)
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| From Lake Macquarie Council Collection |
He's also mentioned in Jeff Corbett's blog (Housing Children - 24 Sep 2009), and made The Australian in 2006 as the start of a string of ex-ALP Lake Macquarie councillors who seem to be into sex crimes (Doug Carley and Milton Orkopoulos (who actually gave me a lift home from a Swansea ALP branch meeting one night)).
He'll be out of gaol at the current point in time, and he was mentioning his intent to return to Canada. I wonder whether they'll let him back in?
Yeah, Rock-spider is the term. Probably lower on the chain than dogs in prison.
ReplyDeleteNot everybody who lives in public housing has hit.the skids.Some even have a good education,job and clean criminal record.Are you sure your a Labour man because your prejudices have some Liberal leanings
ReplyDeleteI was really referring to the contrast in his lifestyle. He was at one point, Mayor of Lake Macquarie. He used to live in a beautiful house in Scenic Drive, Caves Beach - had a fantastic view over the ocean. Then a few years later he's in a Dept of Housing flat in Hamilton South and on a pension. I'm referring to Doug himself with the "Hit the Skids" line.
DeleteAlso I resigned from the ALP in August last year. I'm now a card-carrying Green :-)
I am the boy he assaulted in 1995 and I am outraged that he only served 3 years in jail for being a repeat offender.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is may god have mercy on his soul if I ever see him in the flesh.
Innocent children grow up.... Some of us hold a grudge!
I am from Canada. Doug Carley boarded at our home. My brother who has recently passed away at age 62 from alcoholism was abused at age 14 by Doug Carley My brother became an alcoholic around age 14 and now I know why. Although he prefers boys, he tried it with me (a 15 year old female) the day before he left for Australia. I told my mother what Doug tried to do and he apologized to me stating that he had forgotten to take his medication. I note he has used this same excuse in Australia. I wish to hell he was locked up forever. As far as I'm concerned he caused my brother's premature death.. I sure hope he hasn't come back here to Canada. . I'm glad you came forward when it happened to you even though the courts were too lenient. My brother didn't tell anyone until he told me a couple of years ago. It ruined his life.
Delete@ Anonymous, he wil get what he deserves mate!
ReplyDeleteThis person is on the central coast at point Frederick in a housing commission unit which children also living. Laurie maher was mayor of Gosford who also has had invested heavily involved in sex offences and abuse he has created a haven also hidden amongst homeless shelter coast shelter. My own personal experiences which I've been kept homeless by people in power trying to harm me in vulnerability situation. Please help expose the truth about pedephile Ring
ReplyDeleteYou're right. And a R v Douglas Brian Carley was listed at Gosford Court House for both 22 July and 20 November 2020. Short of subscribing to the Telegraph I can't say more, and they only have the last 3-4 months of court listings searchable online
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ReplyDeletePeter is it possible Carley and Orkopoulos knew each other?
ReplyDeleteThey definitely would. ALP Branch circles for sure.
DeleteI know for sure, Milton office was open up 8pm of Thursday night when Swansea arcade was locked up and his office had glass door on to the carpark and young guys coming and going
ReplyDeletePeople would say his Mp office closes late. The woman who worked in his office who put him in has been wreak from that day. They tried to say she was lying and no one would stand up for her. They were worri ed about there coming spots in the ALP, and she was sacked for doing the right thing by the law. The rested had turned blind eye to it. So many things have happen in Swansea, like girls who want missing from Bus stop near old bowling club. I was sexly assured as as kid of 11years old and you never forget. When hear people they have to get over. They have no idea what live with. So if see something that not right, don't turn a blind eye to it.
Peter, Anon, et al ...
ReplyDeleteI'm the kid that went to Fiji ... only found this now as what I blocked out and have largely forgotten has finally resurfaced. While the age and year don't quite align, and the name is incorrect (which I'd still appreciate taken down, no other victims are named) I was groomed from young ALP member, given access to a life a kid from westerns suburbs of Newy could only dream of, and I actually can't recall how it evolved but was abused. I've been quite successful since but as my demons resurface due to other factors, in reading this and other news articles, my only regret is that I kept the assaults to myself, and others then had to suffer as I did. I am sorry for that.
BTW when/where did he kill himself and is there an obituary? I knew his wife and daughter quite well, such was the depth of relationship, so am curious.
ReplyDelete