As one of Western Australia's most monstrous serial paedophiles approaches the end of his prison term, the whistleblower who helped bring his crimes to light is publishing her account of the story.
WARNING - This story contains descriptions of sexual abuse and self-harm that some readers may find distressing.
Dennis John McKenna abused 28 boys over the course of two decades while serving as warden of the St Andrew's Hostel in Katanning, 287 kilometres south-east of Perth in WA's Great Southern.
Made aware of the abuse shortly after arriving in town in 1985, Maggie Dawkins reported McKenna's horrific crimes to local police, a local councillor and state government authorities.
No-one listened, and she was run out of town.
The abuse continued for years as a result.
While the demolition of the site in 2024 wiped the location of McKenna's crimes from the map, Mrs Dawkins's account, entitled To Be Believed — A West Australian Scandal, captures the harrowing story of those who survived his abuses, and the serious failings of WA authorities to stop him.
Mrs Dawkins became aware of the first of many of those stories shortly after arriving in Katanning in 1985, working for a government-backed youth employment and support program.
She said one boy approached her, trusting her with his and his friends' stories in the hope of halting the abuse.
"I'd never heard the word rapist. I didn't know what it was," she said.
"This young man, who was clearly...
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