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Margaret Thomas

By 25 March 2024October 23rd, 2024No Comments
Overview

Employed as Financial Officer with RWA in 2005.

In 2007, Ms. Thomas was appointed by the Board as CEO, retained Financial Officer role as well but renamed this to CFO.

In February 2024, Ms. Thomas terminated her contract with Retirees WA, resigning both CEO & CFO roles.

In July 2024, Ms. Thomas took legal action against RWA, pursuing a suit in the Industrial Magistrates Court.  As of October 2024 this suit has been withdrawn.
Businesses
 CEO

RETIREES WA INC

ACNC

2007-2024
Businesses
 CFO

RETIREES WA INC

ACNC

2005-2024
Businesses
 Mayor

KALAMUNDA SHIRE

2019-present
Businesses
 Director

Australasian Group Investments Pty Ltd

ABR

Note on Australasian Group Investments Pty Ltd

It was revealed in the Retirees WA 2024 Annual Financial Statement that Margaret Thomas received her CEO/CFO salary as consulting fees paid to this company (p.27 – Note 23: Related Party Transactions).

Ms. Thomas was appointed as a Director of Australasian Group Investments Pty Ltd in 2021.

Frank Pinner has been a Director of this company since it was established in 2003.

In complaints as far back as 2003, Roger Nicholls was listed as a Director of Australasian Group Investments Pty Ltd.  It is unclear when he ceased as a Director.

In September 2024, Australasian Group Investments Pty Ltd lodged a application with ASIC for voluntary deregistration.

People
 Husband

Frank Pinner
People
 Daughter

Kelly Bradley
People
 Son-in-law

Shane Bradley
People
 Son

Kristian Thomas
People
 Brother

Ross Fenn
People
 Cousin

Garry Brandli
Other Notes
 Justice of the Peace

WA GOV

Other Notes
 CPA – Certified Practicing Accountant

CPA AUSTRALIA

2024
July
Margaret Thomas sues RWA

Margaret Thomas sues Retirees WA after being stood down as CEO/CFO in February, in a claim for long-service leave entitlements through the Industrial Magistrates Court.

March
Margaret Thomas stands down as CEO of RWA

Margaret Thomas ceases her role as the CEO & CFO of Retirees WA.

The Board’s official statement in July 2024 says “Margaret Thomas left her position with Retirees WA as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer on the expiry of her Services Agreement on 28 February 2024.”

2020
July
Shane Bradley employment terminated at RWA

Some time during 2020, Shane Bradley (son-in-law of Margaret Thomas, CEO)’s employment at Retirees WA is terminated by Ms. Thomas.

2019
January
Kelly Bradley ceases employment at RWA

Kelly Bradley (daughter of Margaret Thomas, CEO) ceases employment at Retirees WA as a Project Manager.

2011
September
Geraldton Retirement Village plan approved

Per the 2011 AGM minutes, “plans have been approved for the construction of 45 units at Bluff Point in Geraldton and RWA has been granted the road reserve adjoining this land to be incorporated into the grant”.

This retirement village development is to be built by Frank Pinner (Margaret Thomas‘ husband), with the lease-for-life contracts to be sold on RWA’s behalf, by Frank Pinner’s company RWA Homes.

This development is later named “Lighthouse Estate“. As of mid-2024 only 24 villas in the estate have been completed.

July
Shane Bradley employed as Property Manager at RWA

Some time during 2011, Shane Bradley (son-in-law of Margaret Thomas, CEO) commences employment at Retirees WA as the Property Manager to all villages.

July
Kelly Bradley employed as Project Manager at RWA

Some time during 2011, Kelly Bradley (daughter of Margaret Thomas, CEO) commences employment at Retirees WA as a Project Manager.

2007
March
RWA Lease sales management outsourced to RWA Housing

Some time during 2005, the sales management of lease-for-life contracts in Retirees WA villages is outsourced to a newly established business trading as ‘RWA Housing‘.  RWA Housing is owned and operated by Over 55s Lifestyle Villages Pty Ltd – the directors of this company are Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas) and Roger Nicholls.

January
Margaret Thomas formally appointed CEO of RWA
2006
September
Sue Hiddlestone resigns as CEO of RWA

At the 2006 AGM, Sue Hiddlestone announced her intention to retire from the CEO position in April 2007.  There is conflicting information available as to when Sue actually stood down, indicating Margaret Thomas was acting CEO for a portion of 2006 until her formal appointment in January 2007.

September
RWA headquarters relocates

By the 2006 AGM, Retirees WA headquarters has relocated to Unit 2 / 915 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park, with a 5 year lease at just under $52,000/year. From 2010 onwards, this rent commitment is raised to around $110,000/year.

The premises is owned by Over 55 Lifestyle Villages Pty Ltd, and at this time holds a $4.4M loan from RWA, as well as operating RWA Housing as the exclusive sales Manager for RWA.  The company is owned by Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas).

June
RWA Committee concerns over Roger Nicholls & Frank Pinner financial dealings

An article titled “Retirees in dark over loans” is published in the West Australian.  The article highlights concerns over the $1.8M loan from the Retirees WA Funeral Fund to a company owned by Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas), used for the purchase of a property in East Victoria Park which Retirees WA now leases office space in.

The article also highlights concerns from the RWA Finance Committee Members that Roger Nicholls is in control of the organisation and decisions are being made outside of the committee and outside of constitutional due process.

June
RWA Finance Committee demands details of $3.4M loans to Roger Nicholls & Frank Pinner

An article titled “Deals with ex-MP start revolt” is published in the West Australian.  The article reports that Retirees WA Finance Committee Members were demanding to know the details of $3.4M of loans and investments the RWA Funeral Fund had paid to private company ventures of Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas).

The Members were especially concerned that such substantial investment had been made at the same time RWA reported cash-flow problems, being forced to sell their CDB headquarters and make staff redundant.

June
Roger Nicholls & Frank Pinner conflict of interest exposed

An article titled “Nicholls fell on feet as pensioners’ consultant” is published in the West Australian as a supplement to the article “Deals with ex-MP start revolt“.  This article details the “tangled web” of companies connected to Roger Nicholls, Frank Pinner, and Margaret Thomas and private business dealings these companies have with Retirees WA.

The article also highlights concerns from the RWA Finance Committee Members that Roger Nicholls is in control of the organisation.

2005
July
RWA Housing employed as RWA sales manager

RWA Housing, owned by Over 55 Lifestyle Villages Pty Ltd, is established to manage the sales of lease-for-life contracts for Retirees WA.  The company is owned by Frank Pinner (Margaret Thomas‘ husband) and at this time holds a $1.6M loan from RWA.

June
Margaret Thomas appointed CFO of RWA

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