A Tasmanian woman who stole $47,000 from her local RSL club while serving as a volunteer treasurer has avoided jail, as the organisation now struggles through administration.
Over three months in late 2023, 41-year-old Marissa Howard pocketed all the cash that came through the Rosebery RSL sub-branch – including bar takings, meal sales and gaming revenue.
When the money ran out, she dipped into a $10,000 grant set aside for building repairs to pay the club’s bills, trying to cover her tracks as the losses mounted.
The theft went unnoticed until suppliers began complaining they hadn’t been paid. By then, the damage was done.
Supreme Court Justice Michael Brett noted the financial devastation when sentencing Howard to 12 months’ behind bars, wholly suspended.
“You took a substantial amount of money from a non-profit organisation set up for community benefit,” he said.
“It could not afford the loss caused by your theft and is now, partly because of that, in administration.”
The court heard Howard’s offending was driven by a financial crisis.
Her husband had lost his job, four foster nieces weren’t returned after visiting their mother – triggering Centrelink payment issues – and the family was left without income.
Howard turned to gambling to solve their money troubles. Instead, she dug herself deeper.
Justice Brett said her behaviour was a “significant breach of trust”, but ultimately unsophisticated and “out of character”.
“Your crime came to an end, not because you desisted, but because you were discovered,” he said.
Howard has since repaid $10,000, leaving an outstanding debt of $36,700. She was ordered to pay full compensation to the club.
Alongside the suspended sentence, she must complete 140 hours of community service and spend 18 months under probation supervision.
