A woman who was repeatedly sexually assaulted in the 1980s by her high school physical education teacher has told a court that his actions changed her life “negatively for decades”.
The woman was speaking about William “Rob” Gilfillan, who is already in prison and has been described as a “disgusting paedophile”. He is serving what is reported to be Australia’s longest sentence for child sex abuse.
In December, Gilfillan was found guilty of indecent assault of a person under 16 and sexual penetration of a child under 16. The court heard the five counts related to two victims at Traralgon high school in Gippsland.
The victim said the abuse left her feeling as though she had “lost my teenage self”, capturing the long shadow the offences cast over her life. Her evidence focused on the lasting impact of the assaults, which she said affected her for decades.
Gilfillan’s case has already attracted serious attention because of both the nature of the offending and the length of the sentence he is serving. The latest court hearing brought the experiences of one of his victims back into focus, with the woman describing the damage caused by abuse committed while she was a school student.
The offences were said to have taken place in the 1980s at Traralgon high school, where Gilfillan was working as a PE teacher. The court found him guilty in December on five counts involving two victims, including indecent assault and sexual penetration of a child under 16.
The woman’s testimony underscored the long-term consequences for survivors of child sexual abuse, especially when the abuse occurs in a place where trust should have been expected. Her account described not only the immediate trauma, but also the way it shaped the years that followed.
Gilfillan remains in prison for offences against his daughter, adding to the gravity of the broader case. The court proceedings have continued to examine the harm caused by his conduct over many years.
The victim’s statement to the court was a reminder that the effects of sexual abuse can extend far beyond the period in which the offences occurred. In her case, she said the impact lasted for decades and altered the course of her life.
The matter has been reported as one of the most serious child sexual abuse cases in Australia, with Gilfillan already holding the country’s longest sentence for such crimes. The court’s findings in December and the victim’s later testimony form part of an ongoing legal process centred on accountability and the harm suffered by survivors.
