Disgraced former RSL NSW president Don Rowe is now a convicted fraudster after the Vietnam veteran used one of the charity's credit cards to pay $9400 in hotel and phone bills for family members.
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The 71-year-old from Armidale, who was found guilty of two fraud charges in February, was on Friday ordered to pay a $2000 fine and be of good behaviour for two years.
"He was in a position of trust," magistrate Jennifer Atkinson said in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.
"People in positions where they are spending money paid in by membership, as is the case with the RSL, need to be particularly careful about what is required of them (and) what they can spend."
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Rowe used his credit card to pay phone bills totalling $9063 for his wife, two sons and daughter from 2012 to 2014.
Each bill averaged $362.
He also paid for a $363 three-night stay in a Sydney hotel for his daughter over the Anzac Day long weekend in 2010.
Rowe challenged the allegation of fraud, arguing the RSL's honorary treasurer, and financial audit and risk management committee never disapproved his expenses.
But police said Rowe abused his position amid "a culture of ineptness" in the organisation and knew what the card was to be used for.
In 2015, he was confronted about the credit card payments and resigned shortly afterwards.
"He continued on this ... gravy train and this went on until he resigned," police prosecutor Karlo Haralovic told Rowe's hearing in December.
A medical report detailed the traumatic events Rowe experienced in Vietnam and his recollection as a returning soldier of being called a murderer, Ms Atkinson said.
"He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD," the magistrate said.
"He has experienced depression, anxiety and sleep issues."
Ms Atkinson noted Rowe's remorse, his prior clean criminal record and his repayment of $2400 to RSL NSW.
His successor Peter Stephenson wrote a character reference detailing the large swathes of time required to fulfil the role of RSL NSW president, including significant time away from home.
"It was a voluntary position ... one that demanded huge amounts of time and the requirement that he was available to respond to queries, and (spend) huge amounts of time away from family," Ms Atkinson said.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Friday said he was glad to see justice served with Anzac Day around the corner.
"I was horrified when originally as Veterans Affairs Minister I heard about the allegations against Don Rowe," Mr Elliott said.
"I can only apologise to veterans and their families that they've been let down so badly."
Australian Associated Press
