Miller defends chamber over crook appointment

Andrew Mathieson
A RECRUITING company was responsible for hiring disgraced Geelong Chamber of Commerce boss Greg Rowe, according to long-serving predecessor Lawrie Miller.
Rowe, 54, resigned weeks after taking on the chamber job. He was this week found guilty this week of scamming $35,000 from work colleagues.
Police charged Rowe in January with three counts of obtaining property by deception.
He received a five-month jail sentence wholly suspended for 12 months.
Former chamber executive officer Lawrie Miller, who held the position for 16 years, said Rowe’s conviction was a shock to Geelong’s business community.
He defended the chamber’s decision to hire Rowe.
“You can’t do anything about people who don’t tell you everything when they’re being interviewed for a job,” Mr Miller said.
“Greg was interviewed by a very professional organisation, not by the chamber at first.”
Mr Miller said Mr Rowe was involved in two Geelong enterprises, including a City Hall organisation.
Mr Miller believed the chamber had carried out full due diligence.
“There are some things that cannot be disclosed unless you do a full police check and that’s not done these days for executives.”
Mr Rowe accepted the new role with the chamber last month after police laid theft charges.
He held the position for less than a month before resigning.
Mr Miller shrugged off fears the chamber could lose members over MR Rowe’s brief stint at the helm.
Membership peaked at more than 900 in 2005 but has declined to about 700 this year.
“The chamber has been going for 157 years and is bigger than any one person or any one director,” Mr Miller said.
“It’s the biggest independent chamber in Australia, so I don’t think it is going to impact on it all.
“In fact, the members may say all the more reason for people to join the Chamber.”
The Independent was unable to gain comment from chamber president Jim Walsh before going to press.