CLAN leader weighs into St John's Orphanage debate

But Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN) chief executive, Leonie Sheedy said she personally believed St John’s Orphanage should be demolished, following successive suspicious fires.

“CLAN is usually an advocate for not destroying orphanages because we want to show the Australian community where people were housed – in large dormitories and orphanages which were no place for children,” she told The Post.

“But on the other hand, St John’s is a bit of an eyesore for Goulburn and I can understand why people are calling for demolition.” 

Ms Sheedy said many wanted to see orphanages destroyed due to the “cruelty and crime” committed against children. Not enough people cared about what happened and this was partly why developers wouldn’t put money into them.

But she argued that just as Australia retained Port Arthur to recall its convict heritage, the country should extend respect to children in institutions. 

“They’re important so that families can get a sense of how their loved ones were lost to their families,” Ms Sheedy said.  

While numerous former residents reported only kindness from the Sisters of Mercy who ran St John’s, Ms Sheedy said some physical and sexual abuse occurred. CLAN, a support network, had advocated for complainants.

Should St John’s be demolished, CLAN wanted its front gate and statue for its Bankstown orphanage museum.

Several years ago, owner St John’s owner, John Ferrara allowed Ms Sheedy to take old trophies, suitcases, badges and other items from the facility for the museum.

“I think there should also be some kind of tribute to the history at the site (should it be demolished),” she said.

“It’s important to have some sort of recognition of the boys who went there and that it was their home.”

Mayor Bob Kirk agrees. Asked what he believed would happen to 1912 property, he said:

“I think Mr Ferrara will need to address a demolition project in the very near future.

“I have no expertise or knowledge on this but I’d expect it would be demolished for all or the most part but the statue (of Mother Mary), the foundation stone and crosses would need to be preserved in some form of tribute to the former residents.

“That’s my view but a heritage mob may say something else.”

The Mayor said much of the community feedback centred around the ‘demolition by neglect’ theory, the course of council fines and the owner’s motivation.

“Unfortunately, all of this is unfounded and comes from a position of no knowledge,” Cr Kirk said. 

“...Most are saddened to see this situation but if the place has to be knocked down, so be it. I don’t think anyone holds a great affection for the place.”

On Monday, Goulburn Mulwaree Council issued a strengthened emergency order to Mr Ferrara, overriding another given to him on Saturday.

It required him to secure the site, implement security patrols to prevent further break-in and trespassers, engage a structural engineer and a hygienist to to assess asbestos content.

“Unfortunately it will take a bit of time and expense to deal with the asbestos and that’s why we need the reports,” Cr Kirk said.

By Wednesday the fencing had been erected around the front and part of the eastern side. 

“No demolition can take place until all those things are done,” Cr Kirk said.

Demolition is also dependent on a heritage assessment.

A council spokesman confirmed that Mr Ferrara would commission the heritage study.