Surf Life Saving NSW's reputation damaged by former executive's fraud

A Sydney Court has heard how the fraud by former Surf Life Saving NSW General Manager Matthew Hanks has damaged the reputation of the charity.

Speaking yesterday in the NSW District Court, Surf Life Saving NSW board member Anthony Waller advised how Hanks' theft of almost $2 million from the charity had impact its 76,000 surf life saving volunteers, members and fundraisers.

During a pre-sentencing hearing for Hanks, who has pled guilty to six counts of fraud and is currently awaiting sentencing, Waller told the Court that those involved in the body felt “betrayed” by the fraud.

As reported by Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Waller advised "reputation takes decades to build but it can be destroyed in a fleeting minute.

“The organisation has never before faced a crisis over a fraud and we hope we will never face another one.”

Waller revealed that the money defrauded by Hanks before he was caught in 2016 had led to lack of funds to buy safety equipment for the frontline life savers and to repair buildings, and they could never know the full impact of the fraud in lost donations.

He also noted that, in the wake of Hanks' fraud, fundraisers had been ridiculed by members of the public.

Speaking by video from the chambers of his barrister for the sentencing submissions, Hanks has told the Court that he “felt dead” and that his treatment in the news media and on social media had been “not fair”.

Hanks, whose fraud had funded the purchase of two luxury homes and a yacht, said he had paid back $600,000 and then another $1 million in a court settlement, was unemployed and had broken up with the partner.

Judge John Pickering warned him "(you are) clearly at risk of receiving a jail sentence (and) should expect the worst when he comes to court."

Hanks pleaded guilty to using a fictitious name to create a false invoice for $121,000 worth of construction work done at the Port Macquarie Surf Club. He altered the name on the cheque to resemble his own then deposited the money into his bank account.

Hanks also pleaded guilty to using inflated invoices when buying and selling cars for the organisation. There were 55 cars involved which netted Hanks over $1,318,000.

He admitted defrauding the organisation of $400,000 through invoicing the Surf Life Saving NSW printing work to his own company, See Hear Speak, but subcontracting it out to cheaper operators, then pocketing the difference.

Hanks will be sentenced on 18th February.