"It was the death that could have pushed Wollongong over the edge.

In the late 1990s, the New South Wales city had become a cesspool of corruption and abuse involving civic leaders and Catholic priests, and was in the grip of a heroin epidemic, its streets littered with needles."

"Known as Mr Wollongong, Arkell, who was lord mayor from 1974-1991, had proudly coined the phrase 'Wonderful Wollongong' to describe the place he loved to work and play.

To many in high places he was the city's saviour, but to others who knew his dirty secrets, including his predilection for young boys, he was a 'rock spider' who deserved what was coming to him."

"Some of the other names associated with paedophilia in Wollongong at the time included former mayor and businessman Tony Bevan, alderman Brian Tobin, parish priest Father Peter Lewis Comensoli and former Edmund Rice College principal Brother Michael Evans."

"... the Catholic Church had had an immense influence on the city when he arrived in 1996."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-26/how-vicious-murder-unmasked-wollongong-paedophiles/9904280

The royal commission reports are chilling and frightening reading

https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/