By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A $250,000 TAFE student support fund is among 26 local charities facing deregistration for failing to meet their obligations.
The Trustee for Community and Gordon Institute of TAFE Student Support Fund is included on an Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) list of non-complying charities.
The charities watchdog said it had tried numerous times to contact the local charities but received no response. The commission this week also published an urgent list of five local charities, giving them 28 days to respond or face immediate revocation.
The list included Caring Clownz Australia Charitable Trust, Geelong Assemblies Of God Jesus Centre, Newtown Community Church, Bellarine South Hospice Care Group and Norlane Baptist Church.
Charities commissioner Susan Pascoe said the commission was keen to hear from the listed organisations to determine whether they were still operative.
Organisations that lose their charity registration may lose access to Commonwealth charity tax concessions,” Ms Pascoe said. “It is important that we hold accurate information about registered charities so that donors, funders and members of the public can be assured that charities are well regulated.”
The list of charities included a Clonard College building fund, Ocean Grove and Portarlington pre-schools, Geelong Central Fidelity Club and two Montessori education associations.
Workers redundant after International Harvester closed used $1600 from a union shop steward account to set up the Gordon fund in 1987.
Student support fund co-founder Kevin Boland said he had been unaware the charity was on the ACNC list.
“I was shocked,” he said. “We don’t want to lose our tax deductibility status. I appreciate the fact you have let us know.
“I think the paperwork must have been lost. The fund’s co-founder, Ernie Speight, died some time ago and I can only assume that’s why.”
Gateway church’s Lee Eden said the church had changed its name from Geelong Assemblies of God, which might have caused confusion.
“I’ll check with the commission as soon as I get off the phone. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.” Urban Seed spokesperson Simon Reeves said Norlane Baptist Church was wound up about five years ago. “We’ve been chatting with (the commission), so it’s a little unusual to be on the list,” Mr Reeves said.
A Geelong Kindergarten Association spokesperson said some kindergartens on the list had closed but it would follow up the remaining pre-schools.
The Independent unsuccessfully attempted to contact a number of other charities on the list.
