More than a decade after serial predator Dennis John McKenna was convicted of horrific historical crimes in Western Australia, survivors and advocates say their fight for proper recognition is far from over.

McKenna abused dozens of boys during the 1970s and 1980s while running St Andrew's Hostel, a student boarding facility in Katanning, located 290 kilometres southeast of Perth. While the state's education department agreed in August to demolish the former hostel site and allocate $750,000 toward a memorial, a bitter dispute has emerged over where that monument should stand.

A Dispute Over Location and Visibility

A community working group representing the survivors requested that the memorial be placed in Katanning’s central, all-ages playground to ensure maximum visibility and raise awareness about child safety. However, the local shire council rejected the proposal.

Advocate Kaye Anderson, whose two eldest sons were abused at the hostel and have since passed away, expressed deep frustration with the council's alternative suggestions.

"We want that awareness of child sexual abuse out there to prevent it ever happening again," Ms. Anderson said. "The locations that they've given us around Katanning are in the back streets where there is no foot traffic."

Ms. Anderson revealed that the working group is now considering placing the memorial outside the town of Katanning altogether to bypass local bureaucracy and secure a highly visible location.

Demands for a Long-Overdue Apology

The tension extends beyond the physical monument. Despite both sides of Western Australian state politics issuing formal apologies following a landmark 2012 inquiry, the Shire of Katanning has never formally apologized to the victims.

Led by former Supreme Court Justice Peter Blaxell, the 2012 inquiry uncovered a dark chapter of local history, revealing that 11 people in Katanning were complicit in McKenna's actions. The inquiry detailed how McKenna skillfully groomed the local community, even receiving a Citizen of the Year award in 1984. His name was not removed from the town's honour roll until 2012.

Whistleblowers who tried to raise alarms at the time, such as Maggie Dawkins, were dismissed and berated by local officials.

Survivor Todd Jefferis described the shire’s ongoing silence as inexcusable.

"I think it's disgusting. I think it's inexcusable that they have not offered a formal and a public apology to all the victims and their families," Mr. Jefferis said. "Katanning has an opportunity to turn the page and move toward healing. I think a formal apology is a vital part of that process."

Shire Urges Patience but Holds Back on Apology

Katanning Shire President Kristy D'Aprile defended the council's cautious approach, stating that the local government does not want to rush a decision of this magnitude.

"We want to ensure the best outcome for both the victims, their families, and the wider Katanning community," Ms. D'Aprile said, adding that consultation with local survivors and state approvals are still ongoing.

While acknowledging that past leadership and community members failed the victims, Ms. D'Aprile stopped short of committing the council to a formal apology. "It's a very difficult position to sit in to try and apologize for actions this council had no part in a long, long time ago," she said.

Urgent Calls as Predator's Release Looms

The urgency of the survivors' campaign is heightened by the looming release of McKenna. A recent court decision declined to designate him a High Risk Serious Offender for indefinite detention, meaning he could be released under strict conditions as early as mid-November, upon completing his 15-and-a-half-year sentence.

Mr. Jefferis urged any other victims who have not yet spoken out to come forward, believing further testimony could keep McKenna behind bars.

"It is a hard step to take, but it is the best one," Mr. Jefferis said. "Unlike in the past, today you will be believed, and your voice could prevent this man from walking free."