Melbourne, Jan 8 (ANI): A Queensland teacher has infuriated a high-profile children's counselling service and enraged the police union after creating a fake life for himself on Facebook.
Clint Acworth claimed he was a tireless charity worker, had been hired by Kids Helpline and that his young policewoman partner "Kellie" died just after Christmas, a few weeks after being shot on duty, The Sunday Mail reported.
The tale of his fictional girlfriend's "death" led to an outpouring of sympathy, on the social network site and fooled family and friends of the Brisbane man.
"One thing that Kell said to me the day before she passed away will always stay with me: 'You have made me the happiest woman in the world . . . I love you Clintypoo . . . I'll always be with you'," the Herald Sun quoted post on his Facebook page last week.
However, the charity workers and police are now demanding answers after it was revealed that the story was an elaborate work of fiction.
The case highlights the dilemma social networking sites are posing for schools as they struggle to clamp down on the online behaviour of teachers.
Online, Acworth's high-flying life was one of endless charity events, rubbing shoulders with celebrity friends and volunteering for good causes.
Last September, while teaching at Sheldon College in Redland City, south of Brisbane, Acworth boasted online of a lucrative job offer with Kids Helpline.
"They will start me on $85,000," he wrote, later telling friends he had accepted the national training deputy director job.
Over more than a year, Acworth wrote online of his jet setting around the country to attend fundraisers, presenting to audiences of up to 2000 people at charity events, working as a Youth Beyond Blue Ambassador and other charities, and refereeing at weekend rugby matches.
"Absolutely love this work and the people I meet have become mates for life," he wrote ahead of one event.
But organisations such as Kids Helpline, Ronald McDonald House, Youth Beyond Blue, the Mater Hospital and Sunshine Coast Rugby League say they have no record of a Clint Acworth working as either an employee or volunteer.
Kids Helpline operations co-ordinator Tony Fitzgerald said the group had launched an internal investigation and was considering police action to stop statements by Acworth that he works for the charity.
"I can confirm that he does not and has never worked for us and the position he claims to hold has never existed in this organisation," he said. (ANI)
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