Major Nottle told radio station 3AW on Thursday his organisation could have better handled the situation. "We get it wrong sometimes, as we've done here," he said. "We could have handled this a lot better but under the pressure of a chaotic environment up there I get why it happened." He confirmed the cost of all seven tickets would be reimbursed to Mr McDonald.

Salvation Army spokesman Steve Speziale said all seven tickets were initially given to homeless clients, but hours before the show on December 5, two of the ticket holders were unable to attend and returned them. “Shortly before the concert, two clients returned tickets and we were unable to place them with other homeless clients or volunteer workers in the time left,” Mr Speziale said. He said the other five tickets were used by homeless clients. Major Nottle said the Salvation Army wasn't Ticketmaster and concert tickets were not the best form of donation. "When you're working with homeless people – to be blunt, do homeless people need tickets to Paul McCartney or do they need a roof over their house? Do they need assistance with mental health issues or trauma or do they need food in their belly? I think the answer's pretty obvious."

Paul McCartney performs in Melbourne in early December. Credit:Tony Moore Mr Speziale said in hindsight, a phone call to Mr McDonald to let him know how the tickets were being used would have been a better option, "but in the bustle of the homeless centre, our manager chose to offer them to a former colleague rather then waste the tickets". The last-minute ticket swap took the shine off a heartfelt gesture, Mr McDonald said. "The worst part of it all is that they didn't even have the courtesy to tell me," Mr McDonald said. "Obviously, this was not the spirit of my donation and I feel very upset by this. My donation has been abused and I think they need to be held accountable for that. This donation was motivated by a genuine desire to do good."

A John Lennon figure is part of Chris McDonald's vast Beatles' memorabilia collection. Credit:Justin McManus McDonald had waited 23 years for Paul McCartney to perform in Melbourne again. When he heard the music legend was returning he spent what little life savings he had purchasing nine tickets to the show. He then decided he would donate seven to homeless people who would never be able to afford to share in the magic. Mr McDonald, who is unemployed due to a chronic illness and on Centrelink payments, said it took him more than a year to save up the more than $2350 it cost to purchase seven tickets, which he donated to Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614.

The 53-year-old, who spent much of his youth sleeping rough as he battled drug and alcohol addiction, said he wanted to have a positive effect on those living on the edge of society. "I'm not a wealthy man myself," he said. "But I wanted to give people something unusual beyond what they would have disposable income for themselves. To give something to people who need a lift and to remind them they're included in the wonderful things of the world." Inside his home in the regional Victorian town of Dookie, almost 200 copies of the rock band's 13 albums fill his shelves alongside a custom-made Beatles drum kit and a series of collector's memorabilia, including a book from McCartney's 1993 tour. "Listening to the Beatles has got me through some pretty hard times," Mr McDonald said. "Their songs just lift your spirits." In a series of email exchanges seen by Fairfax Media, Salvation Army Project 614 staff member Kineisha Nottle,who is also the daughter of Mr Nottle, thanked Mr McDonald for his donation in November, before promising the tickets would be handed out to clients in need.

"I know these will go to great use and the people who receive them will absolutely love this experience," the email read. "Incredibly thankful for your generosity." Despite his experience, Mr McDonald said he still supported the charity. "They do an awful lot of good for people and for the homeless," he said. "I have been a recipient of their relief so I know how important the work they do is, but the golden rule is never to dip your hand into the donations, it calls the integrity of the entire organisation into dispute."