Details of Kimberley College principal’s overseas trip and back pay revealed

THE family at the centre of nepotism allegations at a Brisbane private school allegedly splashed more than $350,000 on an extravagant overseas trip while pocketing more than $1.7 million in wages and unauthorised bonuses.

• College funds ‘unauthorised’ trip
• Kimberley College group ‘want senior heads to roll’

THE family at the centre of nepotism allegations at a Brisbane private school allegedly splashed more than $350,000 on an extravagant overseas trip while pocketing more than $1.7 million in wages and unauthorised bonuses.

The Courier-Mail has obtained documents revealing the exorbitant blowouts at Carbrook’s Kimberley College.

In 2016, principal Paul Thomson was paid $407,072 while also pocketing $320,000 in back pay. In the same year, his daughter Amy Thomson, who was the chief financial officer until recently, earned $95,878, plus $10,761 back pay and $71,827 travel expenses.

A letter sent to the college community late yesterday by board chairman Paul Wilton also revealed unauthorised loans to members of the Thomson and Ferguson family had totalled more than $650,000 over the past three financial years.

Kimberley College principal Paul Thomson received $320,00 in back pay in 2016.

More than $690,000 in unauthorised “back-pay” and “bonuses” was also allegedly paid to Mr Thomson and family members.

Mr Thomson said last night the board’s letter was “wildly inaccurate”. He refused to comment further.

A review of the college’s financial management by forensic accounting firm GT Advisory and Consulting, was launched last month.

The six-week holiday to Finland and the UK in 2016, totalling $350,945, was allegedly taken by Mr Thomson, his wife Jennifer, Amy and her husband Kevin Ferguson, another daughter Debbie Thomson, and an unknown man with the last name Thomson, as well as four children.

There is no suggestion that anyone other than Paul and Amy Thomson were aware the trip was funded by the school.

The Kimberley College board sent a letter to the school community detailing the report.

The review considered about $141,000 to be employment-related.

“The trip was wholly unauthorised by the board,” the letter read. Airfares for 10 people cost $168,384 while $65,616 was spent on hotels and $34,430 on car hire.

The board’s letter also said that during 2017, accommodation-related expenses worth more than $21,000 were charged to “Mr Thomson and Mrs Ferguson’s company credit cards”.

More than $6.385 million is also allegedly owed from parents in school fees.

One document revealed Underwood Bus Service, operated by Mr Wilton, recorded earnings of more than $1.073 million.

In a statement to The Courier-Mail, a spokesman for UBS said it was a contractual service for Kimberley College.

“The payment is made to Underwood Bus Service and no payment is made directly to Paul Wilton. Paul Wilton sits on the College Board in a voluntary capacity and he does not receive a payment.”