A former captain of the Port Macquarie Golf Club and life member has been expelled from the club after a written complaint about historical child prostitution offences.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Port Macquarie Golf Club Board voted to expel Keith Heap from the club at a "disciplinary hearing" on Wednesday, August 28.
Keith Heap was captain of the Port Macquarie Golf Club between 2008-2013 and was made a life member in 2014.
Mr Heap was convicted of "historical child prostitution offences" in Port Macquarie Local Court on January 28, 1998.
He pleaded guilty to the charges.
The incidents occurred between May 1 and August 15, 1997 and involved two girls, one aged 15 and the other 16. In New South Wales, it is a criminal offence to participate as a client in an act of prostitution with a person under the age of 18.
The Board in deliberating the charge also considered the attitudes of the community to institutions that stand by silently in regards to such offences and the decision to expel reflects our Clubs attitude towards such offences when known to be certain.
- Port Macquarie Golf Club Board
In the Club's notice of its annual general meeting sent to around 1000 eligible voting members of the Port Macquarie Golf Club on September 6, a motion was included from some members to revoke a recent Board decision to expel Mr Heap and that his membership be fully restored. The motion was put forward by member Bryan Stewart and seconded by Don McManus.
In a statement responding to the motion, the chief executive Daniel Constable wrote that the Board held a disciplinary hearing to consider charges, "which included a charge of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Club".
Mr Constable wrote the decision arose from a "written complaint related to a member who is on permanent record with four irrevocable convictions relating to historical child prostitution offences".
"The Board considered and respects the long-term contribution of the member to the Club and balanced this against the values of the Board and those of the community in which we operate and wish to continue to operate in," he wrote.
"The Board considered the risk to the Club in not acting upon the matter and determined the conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the Club and proceeded to expel the member.
"The Board in deliberating the charge also considered the attitudes of the community to institutions that stand by silently in regards to such offences and the decision to expel reflects our Club's attitude towards such offences when known to be certain."
Mr Constable said the Board has gone further than other clubs by tabling at the AGM a "special resolution" for additional clauses to be added to its Constitution on October 14, that any member nominated for Life Membership and Honorary Membership must provide a National Police Check.
The Board has also tabled for the AGM a "special resolution" that any member nominated for election to the Board, or appointed to the Board, must provide a National Police Check and Working with Children clearance. Additionally, any member appointed to a position on a committee related to minors must provide a Working with Children clearance.
It will be voted on by members at the Port Macquarie Golf Club annual general meeting on Monday, October 14.
The Board is against the tabled resolution and has urged members who hold similar values to attend and support its original decision.
I have never ever done anything that is detrimental to the interests of the golf club.
- Keith Heap
The Port News contacted Keith Heap for comment.
"Twenty-two-years-ago I made made a mistake when I engaged the services of a local prostitute," Mr Heap said.
It was reported in the Port News that Mr Heap told the court at the time that he believed he was engaging in sexual acts with two girls over the age of consent.
"The following year I was sentenced with the judge making reference to my good character," he said.
"From that point on I worked hard to re-establish my good character.
"The members of my golf club obviously felt I succeeded in this when they awarded me life membership.
"I have never ever done anything that is detrimental to the interests of the golf club."
Mr Heap was sentenced to 500 hours of community service in 1998 with Judge Viney describing the former teacher at Port Macquarie High School of being of "exemplary character as indicated through the character references, both written and oral tendered to the court".
Judge Viney said he accepted that Heap did not know of the provision that it was an offence to participate with a client in an act of sex with someone under the age of 18.
"On the evidence of the testimonies given Mr Heap is an exemplary mathematics teacher," said Judge Viney.
"He also was involved in the coaching of athletics and had taken students on trips many times outside of school hours.
"No-one could classify Mr Heap as a paedophile as it is obvious that it would have emerged well before this.
"He is a man who simply has sexual needs and that is part of his personal and private life."