Canberra event manager guilty of stealing $70,000 to feed gambling addiction

August 14, 2024

Nigel Benton

Events / Finance / Legal /

Canberra event manager Luke Lowes has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service after being found guilty of stealing over $70,000 from his employed to fuel a gambling addiction.

Lowes, who worked as an Event Coordinator at Master Builders Association (MBA) of NSW between 2019 and 2022, was yesterday ordered to pay more than $5,000 in reparations and complete community service work in the ACT Supreme Court.

Lowes, who organised ticketed events for the MBA of NSW, siphoned funds raised for multiple events held by the Association into his own bank account.

These included national awards events, golf challenges and a Business Excellence Australia event.

The Court heard that Lowes used the funds to continue gambling in an effort to make up his losses and pay the money back.

He paid back around $11,000 before he was arrested, with insurers paying out more than $56,000 to cover the loss.

In a victim impact statement, MBA Chief Executive, Denita Wawn advised “the fraudulent activity was bad enough, but the fact he went to extremes to cover up the fraud … was even more disappointing."

Wawn went on to explain "the mental anguish and sheer exhaustion for all of us at Master Builders was profound and long standing" adding that Lowes' "sudden departure left a gaping hole in our capacity to organise our biggest event of the year".

She said that while insurance had covered part of the stolen money, the association was still "out of pocket directly" and had been hit with increased insurance premiums."

Agreed facts state that over about 11 months Lowes stole $73,136 from his employer by directing funds into his own personal accounts.

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.