Registered sex offender Warren ‘Wazza’ Wright disowned by charities Beyond Blue and R U OK?

Two charities have distanced themselves from a registered sex offender who was purportedly raising money for them by walking across Victoria.

R U OK? and Beyond Blue have disavowed any association with Warren ‘Wazza’ Wright who claims he is journeying across north-west Victoria by foot and bike to raise money for mental health issues.  

Wright, who was convicted of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a caravan park in the northwest Victorian city of Mildura in 2021, continually associates his trip with R U OK? branding on social media.

R U OK? confirmed on Friday they have no affiliation with Wright, who following his conviction was reportedly placed on the sex offender registry for eight years and also served an 18-month community corrections order.

Beyond Blue also confirmed Wright had not worked with them since 2021 when the mental health charity learnt of his offending. 

Concerns have been raised in towns that Wright has been visiting and warnings are being posted on his social media accounts where he promotes his supposed fund-raising endeavour and asks for cash donations, accommodation and food.

Wright’s Facebook page where he was giving daily updates and asking for accommodation and food at projected destinations has been taken down. 

Wendy Seggie, who lives in the west Victorian told of Willaura, said she only learnt of Wright’s history after inviting him to spend the night of June 5 on the lounge in her home, where her six-year-old granddaughter and two daughters were also staying.

‘I offered for him to stay at my bookshop in Willaura but then thought there was no heating, so we offered him to stay in the lounge,’ she told Herald Sun.

‘When he left there was something still bothering me about him and that’s when I found the post (online) about what he had done in Mildura.

Despite associated himself with R U OK? branding in social media posts the charity says that Wright has no connection with them

Wright has been using social media to ask for food and accommodation while journeying from town to town by foot and bicycle

‘I feel sick and so violated that a person on the sex offenders register can just go and stay wherever they like and not have to inform people of their history.’

Ms Seggie said she ‘feels sick’ she allowed Wright into her home and had grown anxious about going outside after dark in case he returned. 

It has also been reported on social media that Wright was seen loitering outside Monivae College on Thursday and a skate park early on Friday in the south west Victorian area of Hamilton.  

Ballarat woman Paula Platek said she was concerned for her community’s safety and it was terrifying he was asking people to stay with him who had ‘no idea’ what he has done.

Wright was convicted of assaulting the 16-year-old girl, who was struggling with mental health issues, as she showered in 2021 after reportedly plying her with alcohol.