A female South Australian relief teacher accused of grooming a boy for sex has had the case against her dropped.
Ammy Singleton, 28, was charged with communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity in Port Augusta last year.
But at Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the court was told the complainant did not wish to proceed with the case, The Advertiser reports.
Ms Singleton did not comment to media as she left the courtroom.
The offending was alleged to have occurred against a 16-year-old male between November 1 and 30, 2021.
Her lawyer Alexander Hosking had previously told the court the alleged victim had come into contact with his client through a chat room.
The court was also told the allegations had nothing to do with Ms Singleton’s job as a teacher.
Ms Singleton, who worked as a relief teacher at multiple schools in the Port Augusta area, was arrested and charged in December.
Two schools sent letters to parents confirming she had briefly worked at the campuses but stressed the charges did not involve any students at the school and there was “no need” for any concern.
Ms Singleton’s teaching registration was canceled in March this year.
Under South Australian law, the offense of communicating with a child with intent to procure for a sexual activity carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ jail.
Earlier this year, Ms Singleton’s mother claimed her daughter was dragged into a “teen love triangle” after receiving a Snapchat message.
She said Ms Singleton did not even know the youth in question, voicing concern that her daughter would struggle to repay her student loans.
“She will never have a life again, and she’s never done a bad thing to anyone but she’s guilty until proven innocent,” she said at the time.
“She’ll have her day in court, but she will never get her life back and neither will we.”
Amy Daniel grew up with constant questions about her heritage and culture, something she still faces to this day.
“A lot of people question me and say, ‘You’re too white to be Aboriginal. You’re too pretty to be Aboriginal. You don’t speak like one’,” she said.
She said initially it made her angry and left her questioning herself, but now she used it to educate others.
“I take that opportunity to teach people that no matter how much milk you put in a cup of tea, you’re still a bit black on the inside.”
The 23-year-old Nukunu woman first found out she was Indigenous while in high school.
She was born and raised in Queanbeyan but her descendants are from Nukunu country, near Port Augusta in South Australia.
Ms Daniel recently began connecting more deeply to her culture after moving to Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales.
“I grew up painting a lot so I found a bit of a connection there and loved learning more about my culture,” she said.
“Then I moved here [Wagga Wagga]. I met a few of our friends and they taught me more about the importance of being on country.
“They’re helping me find my way and helping me find my story.”
Amy Daniel is a Nukunu woman who grew up in Queanbeyan.(ABC Riverina: Romy Stephens)
a long journey
Ms Daniel always felt a sense of connection to her Indigenous roots.
“When I do things on country, when I paint, when I make jewelery and weave, I am so calm and peaceful,” she said.
“My mum always said when I was growing up [that] I was the most impatient person ever.
“But she was amazed that I’d sit down for six hours straight and do 1,000 dots on a piece of paper without moving.”
Amy Daniel grew up painting Indigenous artwork.(Supplied: Amy Daniel)
But Ms Daniel said connecting to her culture has come with its challenges, such as being questioned because of the color of her skin.
She said it had also been difficult to connect to culture, because she did not grow up on Nukunu country and was not exposed to it from a young age.
“Now I wish I would’ve seen more stories or read more about young ladies or men who are on the fairer skin side, and read about their journey into finding their culture,” she said.
“Maybe even doing it with someone and knowing that you’re not really alone.”
Amy Daniel began exploring her culture more when she moved to Wagga Wagga.(ABC Riverina: Romy Stephens)
Reconnecting to ‘vital’ culture
Ms Daniel is not alone in her journey to connect to culture.
The Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation has been helping descendants of Stolen Generations survivors reconnect to their culture.
It has managed a project, called Nurture Our Youth, to address intergenerational trauma caused by the forced removal and institutionalization of family members.
Wailwan and Gamilaroi woman Meagan Gerrard’s grandmother was in the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home for Aboriginal Girls, in southern NSW, for almost 15 years.
Meagan Gerrard’s grandmother spent 15 years at a training home for Aboriginal girls.(Supplied: Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation)
Ms Gerrard said practicing culture was forbidden in the home, which impacted generations to come.
“So much was taken from us — we lost language, we lost that connection to culture,” she said.
Descendants of Stolen Generations survivors are being supported as they reconnect to culture.(Supplied: Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation)
“That journey back to reconnecting to those vital things as Aboriginal people, it’s a hard journey.”
Ms Gerrard said the project would allow descendants to take part in cultural gatherings, which involved activities like weaving, eating bush tucker and yarning.
“To support them to reconnect to culture, to learn language, and to come together as a community,” she said.
“To embrace that would be such a powerful thing for them to experience.”
