Ivor Leslie Harvey was aged in his 50s when he took the vulnerable children separately on fishing trips to Lake Burrumbeet, sometimes stopping at a pine plantation or dam to look for bait.

On these fishing trips he indecently assaulted the junior fire brigade members on more than 10 occasions, causing them to feel terrified, sick and guilty.

Harvey, now 89 and riddled with cancer, came face-to-face with his complainants at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday where they requested to hear him say “guilty”.

After denying the allegations and changing his guilty plea numerous times, Harvey eventually admitted four indecent assault charges. He initially faced 17 offences.

Harvey was sentenced to two years’ jail, suspended for two years – the maximum sentence allowed in the magistrates court for these crimes committed between 1977 and 1983.

Outside court, one of the victims said they were happy with Harvey’s sentence and guilty plea. “It’s eased the burden on the victims to some degree. It’s still a very heavy burden,” he said.

“I would encourage anyone else who has been affected to talk to the police, knowing that there is support. Police would peel up information and get it to court.”

Magistrate Gregory Robinson told Harvey he was a disgraced and condemned man, who the Ballarat community would not want to remember when he died. 

“You used the fishing trip to isolate your victims and abuse them,” Mr Robinson said.

“They are now grown men and are still haunted by you and your assaults on them.”

Mr Robinson said Havey’s guilty plea had not been made with any sense of remorse, but he said at least the complainants had secured justice.

He was unable to find anything good to say about Harvey, who sat silently in his wheelchair in the courtroom.

“I condemn and denounce you. You will not be missed,” Mr Robinson said.

The court was told one of the complainants did not tell anyone Harvey had indecently assaulted him because his parents would be disappointed in him and think he had ‘caused it all’.

While driving home from one of the fishing trips, Harvey told the boy he had bought a train set for him on behalf of his parents and if he ever told his parents what had happened he would never get any good presents again.

Defence barrister Philip Teo said Harvey was placed into palliative care two months ago and had chosen to die at home. He said Harvey would be confined to a bed.

Harvey, who has relevant prior convictions, was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Colourful ribbons have been tied to the Ballarat Fire Brigade fence to honour sexual abuse victims.