Child centre 'must go on' after alleged fraud
THE former president of a Clifton childcare centre left around $100,000 out of pocket by the alleged fraud of a former employee has said more than 80 local families rely on its services.
As reported yesterday, the 48-year-old former male employee was charged with fraud on Saturday after a police raid of his Allora home.
Police will allege he dishonestly used a corporate credit card to make purchases while he was an employee of the Treasure Island Clifton Community Child Care Association between 2007 and 2012.
Former committee president Robyn Bargh yesterday said she spent six months collecting information which assisted police after she noticed anomalies last April.
Mrs Bargh said she felt her hard work had paid off with the arrest.
"It has been hard to keep the secret from the committee members at the time, staff and my husband," she said.
"It was tedious work - going through the store room and reading several years worth of documents."
It will be alleged the man's actions left the centre with a significant debt to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
"We have over 80 families relying on the centre and we don't want to shut the doors," Mrs Bargh said.
The accused man is on bail to appear in the Warwick Magistrates Court on November 27.
He is charged with fraud and making false records.
