In the 1990s, Peter Farmer was a well-known teacher in the Latrobe Valley, infamous for his abuse of students at Newborough. Decades later, a police investigation has revealed the extent of his crimes, which victims believe is only the beginning. While Farmer serves a prison sentence, six of his victims are suing the Victorian Education Department, claiming it failed to protect them and allowed him to continue teaching and abusing children in the Northern Territory.

Lola*, one of the victims, described being sexually abused daily for two years. Farmer used various tactics to conceal his actions, including covering classroom windows with students' artwork. "We all believed, and I certainly believed that I was involved in a relationship with him and that it was actually quite normal," Lola said. She recalled being lured to his home under the pretense of a class barbecue, where she was alone with him. The day her family learned of the abuse was traumatic. Her father, a devout Christian, confronted Farmer and later saved him from a suicide attempt.

Lola has struggled with trust and substance abuse issues since the abuse. "To me, it feels like my life has been a failure. I've been on antidepressants for 30 years," she said.

Another victim, Jo*, recounted how Farmer manipulated the classroom environment to facilitate his abuse. She cannot listen to John Farnham's song "You're the Voice" because it reminds her of the times Farmer used music to entertain while targeting specific students. Jo described Farmer as an "absolute mastermind" who normalized his abusive behavior. "He was an absolute mastermind," she said. "In the classroom, this abuse was normalized, it was never forced … it was a treat. But it just never felt right."

Jo also faced physical abuse from Farmer when she tried to defend her friends. "He strangled me, hit me with a chair, he punched me," she said. After the abuse was uncovered, Farmer attempted to intimidate both girls by following them home and threatening their families.

Dianne Smith played a crucial role in bringing Farmer's actions to light in 1988. After witnessing him with his hands down a student's pants, she reported him to the school principal. However, she later learned that Farmer had left the school without facing any consequences. "I drive past that school every day and think, 'Why did you get away with it?'" Smith said.

Former principal Brian Rodgers acknowledged that the Education Department took the "easy way out" regarding Farmer's actions. He stated that he was unaware of any prior allegations against Farmer until Smith's report. After Farmer's departure, he returned to the school grounds, leaving letters for his victims. Rodgers later recognized that Farmer's behavior was calculated, including covering windows to hide his actions.

Farmer was eventually charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and gross indecency. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, with a non-parole period of four and a half years. Judge Geoffrey Chettle condemned Farmer's actions as "extensive, repetitive and repulsive," but many victims feel the sentence was insufficient. "To get four and a half years … he should have got that for each victim," Smith said.

The six survivors, represented by lawyer Grace Wilson, are pursuing individual claims against the Victorian Education Department in the Supreme Court. The department has denied responsibility, stating that the victims must prove their claims. Wilson argues that the department should have acted to prevent Farmer's continued abuse. "This didn't happen in some prehistoric time where no-one was aware of the risk of child abuse," she said. "It did not look like anything had been done at the time to stop Farmer from continuing his abuse after he left the school."