AusLeisure

A former accountant has been sentenced to a three year prison term after stealing more than $475,000 through his role as treasurer of a regional Victorian golf club.

Bendigo-based Travis Austerberry, the former Treasurer of the Belvoir Park Golf Club (pictured), pleaded guilty last week to the offending, which happened between April 2020 and November 2022.

In the Victorian County Court he was sentenced to a three year jail term with a non-parole period of two years.

Austerberry, who was also working as an accountant while serving in the voluntary role of Treasurer of the Belvoir Park Golf Club, had resigned the same month his crimes were discovered.

The Court heard that 40-year-old had been addicted to gambling for 20 years and had used the money to place bets, with his lawyer telling the Court he was spending "tens of thousands of dollars a day".

Austerberry’s lawyer Jonathan Brancato advised “it's more than a gambling addiction - it's a gambling disorder.”

Austerberry made 271 transfers - which he disguised as tax-related payments - from the golf club's account of amounts ranging from $250 to $5,892, over a period of 967 days.

The Court heard Austerberry covertly made some repayments to the golf club before his offending was detected.

Austerberry started playing at the club in 2016 and became a committee member the following year.

He was elected club treasurer in 2018.

Commenting on this, Judge Geoffrey Chettle told Austerberry “it was your good character that enabled you to commit these offences.

The Court also heard Austerberry put another volunteer "in the firing line" by using her login details without her permission to approve his transfers, also being advised that Austerberry's accountancy skills helped him hide the offending, which was discovered after committee members at the not-for-profit club raised questions about its finances.

The total loss to the golf club was $365,320, most of which the court heard insurance had covered.

A former committee member who was present for the sentencing told the ABC after the Court hearing that the offending almost had dire consequences for the golf club.

Austerberry was also sentenced to restitution of $12,500, to cover the cost of the excess on the insurance claim.

The maximum penalty for theft is 10 years in prison.

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