Father Ray Garchow

Father Raymond John Garchow was a former member of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, (officially known as the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God). The St John of God order is a nursing order and many if not all brothers and priests therefore have nursing or para-medical qualifications. NSW Court records indicate that he was born in New Zealand in 1947 and died in 2011. Father Garchow joined the Order as a brother and later become ordained as a priest in August 1987, at the age of 40. Father Ray Garchow is known to have taught/served at the following institutions:

  • Marylands School - Christchurch, New Zealand - (it was a residential school for children with learning difficulties - approximately 1964 to late 1970s);

  • Kendall Grange School - Morriset, NSW (another residential school for intellectually disabled boys - (1980s);

  • St John of God Hospital - Richmond, NSW (hospital chaplain - 1999 to early 2000s); and

  • St John the Evangelist Catholic Parish - Campbelltown, NSW (2003 to approximately late 2005).

In 2003, allegations of sexual abuse were made by two complainants to New Zealand Police against Father Ray Garchow. It is reported that the allegations were said to have been committed between 1969 and 1974 when Father Garchow acted as the school nurse at Marylands and assisted the school’s doctor - Dr Kevin O’Connor - in examining and treating patients at Marylands. Father Ray Garchow faced four counts of indecent assault upon a child under 12 years. In 2005, the NSW Local Court in the Downing allowed under s. 38 of the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) to be surrendered to New Zealand Police to face the allegations made against him. However, Father Garchow’s legal representatives won an appeal against extradition in 2006 due to a technical issue that makes extradition between Australia and New Zealand sometimes difficult. However, the judgement was further counter-appealed in the High Court of Australia which allowed Father Ray Garchow to be extradited to New Zealand.

On 23 July 2008, New Zealand prosecutors decided not to proceed with the trial of Father Ray Garchow due to the defendant being too ill with depression and had battled cancer of the vocal chords in recent years. Father Ray Garchow was aged 61 at the time. Furthermore, there were other difficulties with the case proceeding as one of the two complainants was also unwell and the second complainant had trouble with a disability. In the end, Crown prosecutors entered a permanent stay of proceedings.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against members of the St John of God order at various schools and institutions around Australia.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.