NOW IT'S THE BANDIDO'S TURN - BEWARE A RANT FOLLOWS

[aussiebandit]

From the ABC News 22 June 2005

The NSW Department of Gaming and Racing is seeking the temporary closure of a Hunter Valley bowling club, after a joint police investigation raised serious concerns about it being run by the Bandidos motorcycle group.

Police say members of the group started drinking at the Weston Bowling Club and were gradually elected to its board.

The club was searched on Friday and police seized a quantity of drugs - two Bandidos members are facing charges as a result of the investigation.

The police gang squad's commander, Nick Caldas, says while there is concern about illegal activity on the premises, the bowling club is not being run in accordance with the legislation governing registered clubs.

"Over and above that, the criminal activity, I mean clearly protocols and legislation that governs registered clubs were not being complied with by that group," he said.

"It's not so much their membership that causes the problem, it's their activities and using their position on the board."

[aussiebandit]

From the Daily Telegraph 23 June 2005

A LAWN bowls club, which was taken over by the Bandidos motorcycle gang will be shut down for up to six months while allegations of criminal activity are investigated.

The Department of Gaming and Racing will apply to the Licensing Court on Monday to close the club where two Bandidos were arrested and drugs seized.

The closure could be for a shorter period if the club meets conditions including disbanding the board of directors.

Government officials believe the Weston Bowling Club at Kurri Kurri may have been used to launder money and as a den for selling drugs.

While two Bandidos were arrested last week, The Daily Telegraph has learned police earlier seized a large number of weapons in a separate raid on another property.

A departmental investigation is under way into activities at the bowling club which has a membership of just 35 and operates nine poker machines .

Club officials could face penalties if it is proved they breached liquor and governance laws.

[aussiebandit]

From the Maitland Mercury - 23 June 2005

A Sydney police squad has raided a bowling club at Weston that became a Bandidos bikie haven, arresting four people and seizing 15 firearms and drugs.

The Weston Bowling Club, once a tranquil meeting place for older people, was gradually infiltrated by Bandidos motorcycle club members, police alleged yesterday.

Police from the Gang Squad and officials from the Department of Gaming and Racing swooped on the club in Elford Avenue on Thursday.

Two members of the Bandidos motorcycle club were arrested, as were two club associates.

The bowling club was closed for 72 hours - and a closure may be sought for another six months. Several people living in the area were delighted at the police raid.

They told the Mercury yesterday that they have been living in fear since the bikies slowly began moving into the club.

"The place was like a bee hive on some weekends - with well over a hundred motorcycles roaring about," said one resident, who declined to be named.

Detective Superintendent Nick Kaldas, commander of the Gang Squad, said: "The activities of the Bandidos at the club came to our notice and we began investigating.

"The Bandidos didn't just take over the club - it was infiltration done by stealth."

He revealed that the president of the Weston Bowling Club board was also president of the Hunter Valley Chapter of the Bandidos.

"We have identified a number of people allegedly involved in criminal activity," Det Supt Kaldas said.

"We will continue to monitor the activity of the Bandidos.

"They will need to go somewhere now."

A total of 15 firearms were seized in the club raid, ranging from hand guns to shotguns and shortened firearms, State Crime Command media liaison officer Daniela Ongaro said.

She said a quantity of amphetamines was also seized.

It is believed the Weston Bowling Club is the first registered club to in NSW to receive a closure order on the grounds of being a "risk of serious offences'.'

One resident described the police raid as "the best thing that's happened around here in a long time".

The elderly man said: "I remember the days - about 18 months ago - when I would enjoy walking to Kurri Kurri.

"But since the bikers moved into the club, I've been too scared to do that."

A woman who lives nearby said: "Bikers would arrive from everywhere on weekends.

"I remember the days when lovely old ladies who had been members at the bowling club for years began staying away."

Police said two members of the Bandidos club had been arrested and faced charges of conspiring to supply amphetamines and cultivating cannabis, as well as conspiracy to supply drugs.

Two associates of the motorcycle club were also arrested and faced various charges.

[aussiebandit]

From the Daily Telegraph 24 June 2005

A LAWN bowls club has closed down after being taken over by the Bandidos motorcycle gang and used for serious criminal activity.

Two Bandidos were arrested when the Weston Bowling Club at Kurri Kurri, in the Hunter Valley, was raided by police who allegedly seized a quantity of illicit drugs along with documents and a computer hard drive.

Government officials believe the club may have been used to launder money and as a den for selling drugs. They hold serious concerns that the club's gaming and liquor activities are controlled by the Bandidos.

An investigation is under way into activities at the club, which has a membership of just 35 and operates nine poker machines.

The club was shut down for 72 hours last Friday after officers from Strike Force Dalby executed a search warrant the day before.

A police spokeswoman said a 31-year-old Bandido was arrested and charged with five drug offences including supply and conspiracy to supply amphetamines and cannabis cultivation. He is in custody.

A second gang member, 43, was charged with conspiracy to supply drugs. He was granted bail.

It is understood the raid also uncovered material indicating the Bandidos were in control of the club's affairs.

The 72-hour closure order was granted on grounds of a threat to public health safety "or a risk of serious offences" -- carrying a maximum penalty of not less than two years' imprisonment -- may be committed on the premises.

It is understood to be the first registered club to receive a closure order under such circumstances. Gaming Minister Grant McBride said yesterday he had been made aware of the allegations.

"They are a concern -- obviously the departmental investigation is still continuing," he said.

Gaming chiefs indicated they wanted to ensure the future sale of liquor and conduct of gaming at the club complied with the law and the club licence was exercised in the public interest.

Apart from the police investigation, club officials may face disciplinary proceedings.

It is understood the department is considering whether there have been breaches of the Registered Clubs Act or the Liquor Act.

The club was due to reopen today but the doors remained closed when The Daily Telegraph visited.

A spokesman for Clubs NSW said the Weston Bowling Club ceased to be a member of the organisation in February, 2003.

"We're surprised at the news -- it's the first we have heard of it," the spokesman said.

"We would advise the club management and the board to co-operate with the police and the department's investigation."

It is understood a large team of police and departmental inspectors had the club under surveillance for some time. Sources said the club had been suffering serious financial difficulties and had approached several other clubs about possible amalgamation earlier this year.

[aussiebandit]

That's just a sample of the articles and news reports - yet on the other hand they, the press, treated the "Slow Ride" across the 'Bridge as an absolute joke.

It appears that the only way Motorcylclists (Bikers, Bikies, tempory Aussies/Kiwis, whatever it is that you want to call people who ride motorcycles) can be taken seriously is when one of the 1%'er clubs does something "a bit silly" or illegal, then we are all lumped in with the minority.  The only possble exception would be the annual Toy Runs held across the country each Christmas - but even then they still portray us as bad people doing a good thing.

Sorry but this sort of two faced journilism really pisses me off..

[B6mick]

Showing my age here in saying, "When we do wrong no-one forgets, when we do good no-one remembers".
As for the Bandidos, they are showing some age too.
A Bowls Club fa gods sake, now I bet there is a few of the old Comms, laughing thier titts off. The Angels must be choking on thier beers. And the Reb's well, I bet they are all having a hard time kicking some life into thier rides, belly laughing so much.

[PeteSC]

There's been a major crackdown and roundup of the outlaw biker gangs here, too.
  They've been busting large numbers of them nationwide for drug trafficing, porn, weapons...all sorts of stuff.

[aussiebandit]

I gotta agree, hard arse bikies and a bowling club - at first thought seems silly and mutually exclusive...until you think about this...

Bowling Clubs make MONEY - how

GAMBLING - legal gambling endoresed by the NSW Government - Pokies, card machines, keno and the TAB
BOOZE - now they don't need to worry about liquor licencing the Bowling Club's already got one

And to top it all of - they've got themselves a ready built club house with nice flat areas for burnout comps - bon fires and Volvo burning - hell there'd be plenty of Volvo's out in the car park - it is a bowling club.

[Red01]

Volvo burning? Here in the States, they burn Japanese bikes.

[PeteSC]

Now I'm puzzled.  What is the purpose of burning Volvos?
  Are you Aussies anti-swedish or something?
 
  I can think of a couple Volvos locally I'd like to see burned, but I doubt I could get them to drive to Australia.

[slo coach]

Gee Wizz------Volvos,,,HMM.  

Thats falling into the category of Culture or Symbolic or even borderline the banned religion or politics arena.I'm suspecting they mean different things in different countries.......

might get a 2 out'a 10 down under in any nominated category,----OOOPPS



Slo coach

[aussiebandit]

In the land of Oz Volvo's and their drivers are the traditional and natural enemy of the Bike Rider.

They, the drivers, are generally older Lawn Bowls playing people or upper class snobs whose belief that they drive the 'safest' car in the world means they don't have to follow the road laws or even common courtesy

For example,

Indicating Right and turning left, or just not indicating at all,
Stopping in the middle of the intersection because the lights have turned red,
Stopping in the middle of a round about to "give way",
Using the wrong lane at round abouts, or worse still going the wrong way,
Driving at 80km/hr in a 100km/hr zone - because it's safer.

They, also often have a white labradore running around the back seat totally distracting the driver from the task of driving.

The Volvo driver, however, has now been overtaken as enemy No1 by the drivers of 4WD's that NEVER see the bush - in Melbourne they are referred to as Toorak Tractors - Toorak being a very expensive suburb to live in.  I beleive in the 'states these things are driven by 'Soccer Moms'.

[B6mick]

Is it true that Volvo offers a free frontal labotamy with every new car sold?
Just so you wont stick out like a sore thumb, from all the other Volvo drivers.

[slo coach]

The words

 Try hards

 Greenies

 University lectures

 poorly maintained older volvos



all come to mind,so i suspect the word is symbolic of a culture of
would be's if ya could be's-----IN nz and in OZ at least

[PeteSC]

I won't mention a certain relative of mine that drives Volvos, and kind of fits the descriptions you gave...

  (I do annoy her by reminding her FORD owns VOLVO cars, but the Swedes still own VOLVO trucks.....  They kept the good stuff!)

  Other vehicles do have an obligation to get out of her way!

  Many years ago,  she had a certain German expensive vehicle, and lived in a town with very narrow streets.  I rode as a passenger with her a few times, then realized why she was getting in little fender benders all the time.
  On these narrow streets, with cars parked on both sides of the street, there was room for two way traffic as long as both drivers didn't have their head up their   .
  My relative would firmly plant her car in the center of the road, and give dirty looks to opposing traffic and forcing them to almost sideswipe the parked cars....while mumbling 'I'm not taking a chance on hitting the parked cars on my side of the road and screwing up my car, they can get out of my way!', or something like that.

  I'm not sure the SUV drivers are worse than drivers in general here in the US.   (They all suck!)   They just tend to make a different impression on you, when you look in your mirrors, and see some little tootsie climbing up on your arse in a huge SUV, and it looks like she's maybe 90 pounds....and can barely see over the wheel.

  If some jerk in an SUV runs into me, as a result of predatory driving, I can guarantee they aren't 'safe' if I'm able to walk.
   I will personally pound them into the pavement with my SUV sized self......

   

  OH yeah, I'm not totally 'anti-volvo'.  My elderly mother drove them for years, and she was a pretty good driver.   One did pretty much save her life when a HUGE 60's era Buick ran a stop sign in front of her.  She tboned it at 50 mph......and lived.   This was before airbags.....



  Maybe we can come up with a bumper sticker that says something like....
  "You may survive the accident you may cause in that Volvo/SUV, but you won't survive ME if I can crawl out of my wrecked car or bike!"