Little Athletics president Rhonda O’Sign fraudulently spent money fundraised by children

The former president of Little Athletics Tasmania has pleaded guilty to defrauding the organisation of more than $10,000. See the frivolous items she spent her ill-begotten cash on.

Low Head woman Rhonda Ruth O'Sign has pleaded guilty to defrauding Little Athletics Tasmania of more than $10,000.

The former president of Little Athletics Tasmania has pleaded guilty to defrauding the organisation of more than $10,000 – including money fundraised by the children themselves.

Rhonda Ruth O’Sign, 63, appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Monday and pleaded guilty to five fraud and stealing charges committed between 2016 and 2018.

Crown prosecutor Heather Denton said the Low Head resident had been involved with the children’s sporting organisation for 29 years and had worked in a volunteering capacity as its president from 2006 to 2019.

Ms Denton said Little Athletics planned to send some children to the International Children’s Games in Taiwan during 2016, so opened a bank account – with O’Sign given a MasterCard to access it.

The account was only to be used for fundraising money for the children’s games, or used for the children to attend the event, Ms Denton said.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos APRIL 30 2021: Supreme Court of Tasmania, Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Jupe

But the prosecutor said O’Sign used the card on 22 occasions for non-legitimate expenses, including on clothing at Lorna Jane and Peter Alexander, and at a cosmetic injectables clinic.

Her offences included the spending of $6052 and the withdrawal of $4000 from the organisation’s account.

Ms Denton said O’Sign also manipulated the outcome of two Little Athletics raffles in order to benefit herself and her family, and stole a Thermomix – which was the first prize in one of the raffles.

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She said O’Sign “manipulated the figures” on bank statements “to conceal her spending” and also falsified the minutes of a board meeting, so she was able to close and open accounts on its behalf.

Ms Denton said O’Sign had however since repaid all the funds.

“The sad part about that loss was the children had been involved in the fundraising of this money that was then appropriated,” she said.

She said the children’s fundraising efforts had included delivery phone books, setting up for quiz nights and selling raffle tickets.

O’Sign pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud, fraud as a clerk or servant, stealing and computer-related fraud.

Little Athletics has been running in Tasmania since 1973, and caters for children aged three to 15.

O’Sign will return to court on November 7.

Originally published as Little Athletics president Rhonda O’Sign fraudulently spent money fundraised by children