Whispers in the East: Australian Teacher’s Sexual Abuse Allegations Resurface

Michael Anthony Lunn is accused of sexual acts against eight students when they were aged between five and eight.

It was the talk of the playground, and tensions were high, one parent recalled. A teacher at Vaucluse Public School in Sydney’s eastern suburbs had been charged with sexually abusing students.

The case of Michael Anthony Lunn, also known as Tony, was splashed on the front page of the Wentworth Courier in March 1985. Three trials in successive years ultimately resulted in not guilty and directed verdicts, one hung jury, and no further proceedings, according to prosecutors.

Last week, the newspaper article was tendered to Downing Centre District Court as Lunn faces a judge-alone trial, accused of abusing eight other boys and girls in the 1980s when they were aged five to eight.

The 71-year-old has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault of a child and 11 counts of indecent assault of a child, including two considered alternative charges.