Correspondence between TBTA and Graeme 'Gar' Dalton et al.
Aug 29, 2023 16:13:39 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on Aug 29, 2023 16:13:39 GMT -5
This was marked Confidential, Not to be Distributed, when it had the alleged perpetrator’s name included. It has since been redacted by The Brave Truth Australia and distributed publicly by them.
Confidential letter for Graeme Dalton, David Saunders & Brendan Pring only.
Not to be distributed.
Dear Graeme, David & Brendan,
XXXXX XXXXX of XXXXXX is being investigated for criminal activity relating to the unlawful and indecent dealings of persons under 16 years of age.
His investigating officer is XXXXXXXXX at XXXXX Police Station. Email XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Your contact details as well as this letter have been given to the investigating officer, to assist them in the investigation.
Statement in recent Overseers letter dated 01 July 2023;
“There is no place for people who have harmed children, in our meetings and conventions; we ask any individual with a history of causing harm, or with allegations, or convictions, not to attend. This includes public gospel meetings.”
Therefore, in line with your written public commitment as Overseers of your church in Australia/NZ and consistent with your legal obligations, we strongly recommend that you ensure that XXXXX XXXXX does not attend meetings and gatherings of your church fellowship.
You may be legally obligated under NSW Law Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and you are also mandatory reporters under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
We acknowledge that it is possible XXXXX’s standing in the meetings could have changed already given the recent email from Overseers, however we would be grateful to have communication direct from you via return email confirming this recommendation until such time that the trial has reached its conclusion.
We would appreciate your confirmation within the next 72 hours that you have taken this action and appropriate Eiders have been notified to pre-empt any attempt to attend.
We want to work with you as much as possible to have alleged and convicted abusers removed from the fellowship in order to keep children and other victims of sexual violence safe. We hope by sharing this information with you it will help expedite this process.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon & Vianne Hills
(For and on behalf of many concerned Friends)
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES QLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
From: Graeme Dalton
Sent: Saturday, 29 July 2023 6:35 PM
To: Support TBTA
Subject: Re: Alleged Perpetrator
Hi,
Thanks for your email regarding XXXXX, and we can confirm he will not be in meetings where there are children.
Regards,
Graeme
AT THIS TIME TBTA RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM SENIOR CONSTABLE XXXXXXXXX THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN INVESTIGATION ON XXXXX XXXXX (WE HAD OBVIOUSLY ACTED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAD BEEN GIVEN)
From: Support TBTA support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
Sent: Thursday, August 3, 2023 4:36 PM
To: Graeme Dalton <XXXXXXXXX@gmail.com>; David SAUNDERS <XXXXXX@gmail.com>; XXXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear Graeme, David & Brendan,
Thank you for your email, Graeme.
We have since spoken with Senior Constable XXXXXXXXXXX and we understand that he has also spoken with you. We understand from our conversation that there was an investigation which has been closed for now. In the last few days we have become aware of more victims in relation to this person and we are in the process of following these up.
Senior Constable XXXXXXXXXX has opened an Intelligence Record on the fellowship for any information we are able to share with them, given the serious nature of what we are dealing with. He was very interested to know that XXXXX XXXXX had spent many years overseas in XXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX (XXXXXX/XXXXXXX) and potentially other countries. Based on past lists and information from some friends, we are compiling some details for him so we would be grateful for any information you may be able to provide on this front. We understand that he was a companion of another senior NSW male worker who XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX and had serious complaints of sexual abuse against him. This senior worker is now deceased.
We, along with the complainants, are disappointed, with XXXXX still being able to attend meetings even where children are not present. It will be viewed by the congregation as a “watering down” of the recent statement by the Overseers which strongly states that “There is no place for people who have harmed children, in our meetings and conventions; we ask any individual with a history of causing harm, or with allegations, or convictions, not to attend. This includes public gospel meetings.”
XXXXX XXXXX has serious allegations of sexual abuse, predation & grooming offences against children of which we have documentation. We understand David has been made aware of this on numerous occasions including text messages and emails. We also understand that David facilitated a meeting between XXXXX XXXXX and one of his victims of child sexual abuse, and friends in that area have also raised concerns of which senior workers are aware.
There are three problems with XXXXX attending fellowship meetings –
(a) it sends the wrong message to victims,
(b) if a family with children happen to attend the meeting, will the elder ask XXXXX not to attend or how will it be managed?
(c) it would be very difficult for a victim of sexual abuse (of which you may not be aware of) to have to sit across a meeting room from XXXXX every week, knowing that he is an alleged abuser and his attendance at the meeting has been sanctioned by senior workers.
We would appreciate confirmation that he will not be attending any fellowship meetings, gospel meetings or conventions. Obviously, workers or friends are free to meet with XXXXX privately on any basis they wish but to approve his attendance at a fellowship meeting sanctioned by workers where there may be victims or potentially children, in attendance, is not acceptable.
Your responsibility as mandated reporters as per the Child & Young Persons (Care & Protection) Act 1998, is extremely serious, and you must sanction a person’s attendance at one of your church meetings where there may be children attending.
We would be grateful for your confirmation that XXXXX XXXXX will no longer attend all church meetings (whether regular home-based church meetings, gospel meetings or conventions) as per your letter on 1st July 2023. Please confirm as soon as possible and by no later than next Wednesday 8th August 2023.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon and Vianne Hills
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES OLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
From: XXXXXdalton@gmail.com
Date: 8 August 2023 at 11:24:31 pm AEST
To: Support TBTA <support@thebravetruthaustralia.com>, David SAUNDERS <XXXXXX@gmail.com>, bXXXXXXp@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear support,
Thank you for bringing this additional information to my attention. The safety and care of children in our fellowship is paramount. If you have reasonable grounds to believe a child or young person is at risk we ask that you report the issue to the relevant authorities in the appropriate jurisdiction as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Graeme
From: Support TBTA
Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2023 2:10 PM
To:xxxxxx@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear Graeme,
Thank you for your email of 8th August.
Please note that this issue is not just about the safety and care of children – it is also about the safety and care of victims.
For many decades, the safety and care of victims and children has unfortunately not been placed above offenders or alleged offenders In your fellowship.
We would suggest that allowing alleged perpetrators to attend sanctioned church meetings (as opposed to private catch-ups between people) will imply to many that the safety and care of children and victims is not paramount, a zero-tolerance approach is not being followed and that leadership is not taking this major problem seriously.
We would be very surprised if members of your Advisory Group (we understand there are 16 members) would tolerate an alleged offender attending a meeting where victims may be present.
Obviously, this is your matter to deal with, but our advice is that the current crisis is not going to be addressed unless exceptionally strong action is taken.
Please also be assured that The Brave Truth Australia will absolutely report to Police if ever we are advised anyone is at risk.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES OLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
Confidential letter for Graeme Dalton, David Saunders & Brendan Pring only.
Not to be distributed.
Dear Graeme, David & Brendan,
XXXXX XXXXX of XXXXXX is being investigated for criminal activity relating to the unlawful and indecent dealings of persons under 16 years of age.
His investigating officer is XXXXXXXXX at XXXXX Police Station. Email XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Your contact details as well as this letter have been given to the investigating officer, to assist them in the investigation.
Statement in recent Overseers letter dated 01 July 2023;
“There is no place for people who have harmed children, in our meetings and conventions; we ask any individual with a history of causing harm, or with allegations, or convictions, not to attend. This includes public gospel meetings.”
Therefore, in line with your written public commitment as Overseers of your church in Australia/NZ and consistent with your legal obligations, we strongly recommend that you ensure that XXXXX XXXXX does not attend meetings and gatherings of your church fellowship.
You may be legally obligated under NSW Law Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and you are also mandatory reporters under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.
We acknowledge that it is possible XXXXX’s standing in the meetings could have changed already given the recent email from Overseers, however we would be grateful to have communication direct from you via return email confirming this recommendation until such time that the trial has reached its conclusion.
We would appreciate your confirmation within the next 72 hours that you have taken this action and appropriate Eiders have been notified to pre-empt any attempt to attend.
We want to work with you as much as possible to have alleged and convicted abusers removed from the fellowship in order to keep children and other victims of sexual violence safe. We hope by sharing this information with you it will help expedite this process.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon & Vianne Hills
(For and on behalf of many concerned Friends)
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES QLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
From: Graeme Dalton
Sent: Saturday, 29 July 2023 6:35 PM
To: Support TBTA
Subject: Re: Alleged Perpetrator
Hi,
Thanks for your email regarding XXXXX, and we can confirm he will not be in meetings where there are children.
Regards,
Graeme
AT THIS TIME TBTA RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM SENIOR CONSTABLE XXXXXXXXX THAT THERE WAS NO OPEN INVESTIGATION ON XXXXX XXXXX (WE HAD OBVIOUSLY ACTED ON THE INFORMATION WE HAD BEEN GIVEN)
From: Support TBTA support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
Sent: Thursday, August 3, 2023 4:36 PM
To: Graeme Dalton <XXXXXXXXX@gmail.com>; David SAUNDERS <XXXXXX@gmail.com>; XXXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear Graeme, David & Brendan,
Thank you for your email, Graeme.
We have since spoken with Senior Constable XXXXXXXXXXX and we understand that he has also spoken with you. We understand from our conversation that there was an investigation which has been closed for now. In the last few days we have become aware of more victims in relation to this person and we are in the process of following these up.
Senior Constable XXXXXXXXXX has opened an Intelligence Record on the fellowship for any information we are able to share with them, given the serious nature of what we are dealing with. He was very interested to know that XXXXX XXXXX had spent many years overseas in XXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXX (XXXXXX/XXXXXXX) and potentially other countries. Based on past lists and information from some friends, we are compiling some details for him so we would be grateful for any information you may be able to provide on this front. We understand that he was a companion of another senior NSW male worker who XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX and had serious complaints of sexual abuse against him. This senior worker is now deceased.
We, along with the complainants, are disappointed, with XXXXX still being able to attend meetings even where children are not present. It will be viewed by the congregation as a “watering down” of the recent statement by the Overseers which strongly states that “There is no place for people who have harmed children, in our meetings and conventions; we ask any individual with a history of causing harm, or with allegations, or convictions, not to attend. This includes public gospel meetings.”
XXXXX XXXXX has serious allegations of sexual abuse, predation & grooming offences against children of which we have documentation. We understand David has been made aware of this on numerous occasions including text messages and emails. We also understand that David facilitated a meeting between XXXXX XXXXX and one of his victims of child sexual abuse, and friends in that area have also raised concerns of which senior workers are aware.
There are three problems with XXXXX attending fellowship meetings –
(a) it sends the wrong message to victims,
(b) if a family with children happen to attend the meeting, will the elder ask XXXXX not to attend or how will it be managed?
(c) it would be very difficult for a victim of sexual abuse (of which you may not be aware of) to have to sit across a meeting room from XXXXX every week, knowing that he is an alleged abuser and his attendance at the meeting has been sanctioned by senior workers.
We would appreciate confirmation that he will not be attending any fellowship meetings, gospel meetings or conventions. Obviously, workers or friends are free to meet with XXXXX privately on any basis they wish but to approve his attendance at a fellowship meeting sanctioned by workers where there may be victims or potentially children, in attendance, is not acceptable.
Your responsibility as mandated reporters as per the Child & Young Persons (Care & Protection) Act 1998, is extremely serious, and you must sanction a person’s attendance at one of your church meetings where there may be children attending.
We would be grateful for your confirmation that XXXXX XXXXX will no longer attend all church meetings (whether regular home-based church meetings, gospel meetings or conventions) as per your letter on 1st July 2023. Please confirm as soon as possible and by no later than next Wednesday 8th August 2023.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon and Vianne Hills
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES OLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com
From: XXXXXdalton@gmail.com
Date: 8 August 2023 at 11:24:31 pm AEST
To: Support TBTA <support@thebravetruthaustralia.com>, David SAUNDERS <XXXXXX@gmail.com>, bXXXXXXp@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear support,
Thank you for bringing this additional information to my attention. The safety and care of children in our fellowship is paramount. If you have reasonable grounds to believe a child or young person is at risk we ask that you report the issue to the relevant authorities in the appropriate jurisdiction as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Graeme
From: Support TBTA
Sent: Wednesday, 16 August 2023 2:10 PM
To:xxxxxx@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Alleged Perpetrator
Dear Graeme,
Thank you for your email of 8th August.
Please note that this issue is not just about the safety and care of children – it is also about the safety and care of victims.
For many decades, the safety and care of victims and children has unfortunately not been placed above offenders or alleged offenders In your fellowship.
We would suggest that allowing alleged perpetrators to attend sanctioned church meetings (as opposed to private catch-ups between people) will imply to many that the safety and care of children and victims is not paramount, a zero-tolerance approach is not being followed and that leadership is not taking this major problem seriously.
We would be very surprised if members of your Advisory Group (we understand there are 16 members) would tolerate an alleged offender attending a meeting where victims may be present.
Obviously, this is your matter to deal with, but our advice is that the current crisis is not going to be addressed unless exceptionally strong action is taken.
Please also be assured that The Brave Truth Australia will absolutely report to Police if ever we are advised anyone is at risk.
Sincerely,
Jillian Hishon
The Brave Truth Australia
PO Box 829
NORTH LAKES OLD 4509
support@thebravetruthaustralia.com