Airlie Beach skydiving champ Jonell Noeline Goss pleads guilty to fraud over parachute scandal

‘I have lost everything … I have lost my life. I guess there’s worse things, could be living in Sydney.’

A record-breaking Airlie Beach skydiving champ was hit with a fraud charge over a parachute scandal after she reimbursed herself thousands of dollars from a not-for-profit organisation.

Jonell Noeline Goss has been involved with skydiving for 40 years and completed more than 13,000 jumps.

The 59 year old has represented the country, won gold at state championships and successfully broken an Australian record for largest formation in 2015. She also went for another record attempt in 2019.

RECORD BREAKERS: Jonell "Jonny" Goss was one of 119 Aussies to set a skydiving record in the US in 2015. Photo: Skydiving photography

Record-breaking Airlie Beach skydiving champ Jonell Noeline Goss pleaded guilty to fraud over a parachute.

“Up until now (she) has been highly regarded in her field,” defence solicitor Elizabeth Smith told Mackay Magistrates Court

But on Monday morning Goss stood before Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy charged with fraud – the victim was not for profit organisation North Queensland Parachute Council and the amount was $2500.

Prosecutor David Epstein said Goss had bought three parachutes and skydiving equipment with her own money.

The court heard she kept one of the parachutes for her own use, while the rest of the equipment went to NQPC – but she reimbursed herself for the full amount.

The matter went to a tribunal and in January 2021 was forwarded to police.

Jonell Goss steps out for a world record attempt Photo Contributed

Goss pleaded guilty to fraud – dishonestly obtain property, between October 2017 and June 2020.

Ms Smith said her client, an Airlie Beach resident, had been “a major contributor to the industry”.

“It’s basically an unusual set of circumstances,” Ms Smith said. Goss had no criminal history.

“She was responsible for the obtaining of grants from the government to facilitate the purchase of equipment.”

Ms Smith said the “account process was such” that Goss would buy the equipment with her own money and “basically then reimburse herself”.

Jonell Goss

“The difficulty came as she purchased those three canopies, two of which were for the club and another was for her personally, because it was such a good deal,” Ms Smith said.

“But then reimbursed herself the entire amount without clearly articulating an explanation for that.”

The court heard she told police she was able to reimburse herself for expenses accrued as a consequence of her role with NQPC.

“It seems that you’ve put in many, many years of hard work and at the end of it, you’re standing here,” Mr Kennedy said.

“I have lost everything … I have lost my life,” Goss told the court.

“I guess there’s worse things, could be living in Sydney.”

Goss was ordered to complete 50 hours of unpaid community service and pay $2500 restitution. A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Airlie Beach skydiving champ Jonell Noeline Goss pleads guilty to fraud over parachute scandal