Exposed: RAAF chaplain in affair

marriage broken down ... Curtis Oliver and his former wife Hailey. Source: Supplied

Australia's special forces will lose its most decorated soldier, with Victoria Cross hero Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith set to call it quits.

AN Air Force Chaplain who began an affair with the wife of a mentally ill Corporal he was counselling is under investigation by the RAAF.

In addition to losing his wife to his marriage guidance counsellor, former Corporal Curtis Oliver lost his job for 'poor performance', and without any allowance for his illness.

The ordeal began when Mr Oliver, an armaments technician with 11 years of service, transferred to RAAF Base Wagga Wagga in southern NSW in early 2013 with his new bride Hailey (nee Knight).

Chaplain had affair with wife of Corporal being counselled ... Curtis Oliver and former wife Hailey. Source: Supplied

The pair had grown up together in Geelong in Victoria and reunited after both had suffered marriage breakdowns.

Mr Oliver was diagnosed with adjustment disorder, depression and anxiety in November 2013 and his civilian psychiatrist said he had been suffering from the conditions for at least 18 months.

Throughout this period he had been under growing pressure at work.

He conceded that his performance was substandard, but at no stage did the RAAF acknowledge or treat his mental health conditions.

Mr Oliver knew the two chaplains attached to 31 Squadron and asked them for help.

"I was struggling with life and I wanted some help," he said.

"I got counselling for relationship issues and personal issues associated with my work problems."

After the counselling sessions began, Chaplain Skilbeck met with Hailey Oliver to discuss her husband's treatment.

"I approached Chaplain Flight Lieutenant Michael Skilbeck for some support. Was he helping me or was he just helping himself?' Mr Oliver said.

"He reported back to my commanding officer and I wonder if he was getting me out of the picture for his own advantage."

Chaplain Skilbeck, a Baptist Pastor from Victoria whose own marriage broke down after he began seeing his client's wife, put Mrs Oliver up in emergency accommodation at the RAAF base and paid her bond for a flat after she left Mr Oliver in October 2013.

Mr Oliver was finally sacked from the RAAF in May this year for 'administrative reasons' due to poor work performance, but no mention was made of his mental or physical wellbeing.

"There was no acknowledgment of the adjustment disorder at all," he said.

Just weeks later, in June, Mrs Oliver formally announced that she and Chaplain Skilbeck were living together as a couple.

Under investigation ... RAAF Chaplain Michael Skilbeck, whose own marriage ended, after he began an affair with Helen Oliver. Source: Supplied

News Corp Australia has obtained correspondence between the RAAF and Mr Oliver's parents Leslie and Velma that for the first time states that his mental health was a factor in his dismissal.

It also questions Chaplain Skilbeck's conduct.

A defence source confirmed that the matter was under investigation.

'We are concerned by the allegations that have been made and we are investigating,' the source said.

Ms Knight, whose work voicemail message still identifies her as Hailey Oliver, said she had no comment when contacted this week by News Corp and Chaplain Skilbeck did not return our calls.

Mr Oliver yesterday said no one from the RAAF had contacted him about any investigation.

His parents had related their own private stories about their son to Flight Lieutenant Skilbeck, who they trusted with their deepest family secrets.

"While in Wagga in February of this year, I (Velma) had a 'pastoral' visit from Michael at Curtis's house, while Curtis was at work. We discussed, among other things, Curtis and his mental problems," Mr and Mrs Oliver wrote.

"Our son has many issues that he needs to resolve, some of which he brought upon himself, some of which were brought on him by others, including …. a chaplain who is the epitome of betrayal.

"We all feel betrayed by Michael, more so Curtis, and we regard this whole situation as absolutely appalling.'

Acting Chief of the air force Air-Vice Marshal Leo Davies wrote to the parents this week saying that due to privacy concerns he was unable to discuss the status or future of Chaplain Skilbeck 'except to say that the air force will cooperate with any official investigation concerning the allegations about him'.

In the letter, obtained by News Corp, AVM Davies said it was in both the RAAF's and the individual's interests to ensure that people did not remain in service if an expert assessment revealed that 'for medical or psychological reasons they are no longer suitable for continued service.'

Unfortunately no such assessment was provided to Mr Oliver when he was sacked.

When Chaplain Skilbeck was the senior pastor at Port Campbell Baptist Church in Victoria in 2010 he wrote a newsletter about heaven and hell.

"Love cannot be forced; it has to be freely given," he wrote.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Exposed: RAAF chaplain in affair

Dengan url

https://duniadiggi.blogspot.com/2014/08/exposed-raaf-chaplain-in-affair.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Exposed: RAAF chaplain in affair

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Exposed: RAAF chaplain in affair

sebagai sumbernya