RAMSGATE RSL Memorial Club officials are tight-lipped on whether police will be asked to investigate financial irregularities disclosed in a damning report.
Chief executive Phillip Bragg declined to comment on whether the club would refer the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority's report to police.
Several club members contacted the Leader to ask what action would follow the findings of maladministration by the former board and management.
One member with a background in liquor licensing questioned whether the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, which carried out the investigation, might also make a referral.
The report revealed a discrepancy of $104,000 in gift cards bought for promotions, and a lack of control over spending.
The club was fined $5000, ordered to pay $68,664 in investigation costs, and former secretary Noel Neate and nine former board members were disqualified from holding any office in any club for three years.
In a report to members, the administrator and present management said the gaming authority had the power to impose severe fines and cancel the club's licence.
However, it had accepted a submission from the present management that the club had already suffered considerable financial hardship as a result of the actions of the previous management and board, and a larger penalty would only penalise members.
RSL WAS RICH
SUBSIDIES paid to keep Francis Drake Bowling Club operating were not raised as a concern in the report by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.
Ramsgate RSL closed the Monterey bowling club in March, saying the ‘‘financial drain’’ could not continue.
Members of the bowling club replied that the RSL club had allowed facilities to run down, and had moved poker machines to Ramsgate.
Secretary of ‘‘the Drake’’ Pat Bugden said, at the time an administrator was appointed, the RSL club had $1.8 million in the bank and an annual profit of $300,000, even after subsidising Francis Drake.
‘‘They say it costs $180,000 a year to subsidise us, but we have provided them with an asset that is worth $12 million,’’ he said.
Mr Bugden said the RSL club could not sell the site until members voted to reclassify it from ‘‘core’’ to ‘‘non-core’’ property.
The annual general meeting was due to be held in May, but has been postponed to July.
Mr Bugden said Francis Drake members were hoping for strong support from others in the club.
‘‘There is a lot of feeling among Ramsgate RSL members about other things that have been happening under the new management,’’ he said.
Do you think the police be called in?
