The lavish lifestyle of a charity boss, who retired due to ‘health reasons’, have been revealed after an internal audit was launched to investigate his hefty expenses.
Don Rowe was president of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) for more than a decade, but retired in 2014 because of his ailing condition.
However, an audit into Mr Rowe found the former veteran’s charity boss had racked up $475,000 in costs on his company credit card between January 2009 and December 2014, Fairfax reports.
Included in the near half million in expenses were $213,000 in withdrawals and a ‘presidential suite’ reservation at a four-star hotel for Mr Rowe and his son to use for as long as seven years.
The former president said he believed he could use the room ‘for my use as I saw fit’ and said he was not aware that he was acting inappropriately allowing his son to live in the room
Mr Rowe says he was told by RSL administration a ‘presidential suite’ was available to him to use at the Hyde Park Inn in Sydney’s CBD
The NSW Government investigated Mr Rowe over the audit’s claims that Mr Rowe had taken advantage of his situation as the boss of the RSL and inappropriately used the charity’s money for the benefit of himself and his family.
Mr Rowe says he was told by RSL administration a ‘presidential suite’ was available to him to use at the Hyde Park Inn in Sydney’s CBD.
The rooms cost up to $500 per night, and despite the room intended to be used by Mr Rowe working on behalf of the company, his son lived in the apartment from 2007 until a month before his father’s resignation in 2014.
The former president said he believed he could use the room ‘for my use as I saw fit’ and said he was not aware that he was acting inappropriately allowing his son to live in the room.
‘It didn’t mean that you could allow members of your family to use it … as [a] home away from home … did you understand that at the time?’ Anthony Cheshire, working on behalf of the council, asked Mr Rowe.
‘No, I didn’t,’ he replied.
Mr Rowe also claims he was ignorant to the fact he was misusing the company credit card.
‘When I was given the credit card, ‘This is the card for you to use’. That’s all he said unfortunately,’ he explained.
Company policy dictates employees using a company credit card can only charge up to $50 for dinners when acting on behalf of the RSL, however Mr Rowe admitted to using it to pay for expensive meals at Mezzaro restaurant in Sydney (pictured)
Don Rowe (right) was president of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) for more than a decade, but retired in 2014 because of his ailing condition
Company policy dictates employees using a company credit card can only charge up to $50 for dinners when acting on behalf of the RSL, however Mr Rowe admittedly used the charity’s money to pay for expensive meals for him and his family at the opulent Mezzaro restaurant in Sydney.
‘Regrettably on occasion I did (pay for his family’s meals),’ Mr Rowe said.
‘You were using the credit card to pay all your expenses of daily living?’ Mr Cheshire asked.
‘Yes,’ Mr Rowe said.
He also used company money to help pay off the $400,000 mortgage of his Armidale despite receiving $1,000 per week in pension from the RSL.
He admitted to using the credit card to support his ‘day-to-day’ costs while in Sydney and denied that any expenses were ever rejected.
He admitted to using the credit card to support his ‘day-to-day’ costs while in Sydney and denied that any expenses were ever rejected
Mr Rowe says his resignation, due to ‘health reasons’, came after a threat from former national president Rod White said he would ‘forensic audit’ him.
‘He was out to get to me, I believe.’
Mr Rowe apologised for his actions in misusing the company credit card and the charity’s funds and accepted responsibility for the situation.
‘We’ve had a big stuff-up. I don’t blame anyone else. The buck stops with me.’