Bikie war hits drug
program
05jun05
THE Australian Red Cross has withdrawn a lifesaving first-aid program from
Heaven nightclub amid fears that SA's bikie war could erupt at the venue.
The Save-A-Mate
program, which is run by volunteers who scout for potential drug overdoses
and people drinking excessively, has temporarily ceased after two months at
the West Tce nightspot.
Australian Red Cross
SA acting executive Kerry Symons would not comment on whether concerns had
been raised about the threat of bikie violence erupting at the club.
But she said the aid
organisation had a "duty of care" to volunteers and staff.
"We are making sure
that everything is in place so (volunteers) are providing a good service and
that they are in a safe environment," Ms Symons said.
"We have saved a number of young people's lives who have overdosed. (But) we
have a duty of care on these issues to our volunteers and staff."
Ms Symons said the Save-A-Mate program was being
reviewed by Red Cross management to gauge whether it was operating
efficiently and reaching its target group at the venue.
The move comes almost two weeks after Hells Angels and
Rebels clashed and shots were fired during the Adelaide Dance Music Awards
at AAMI Stadium.
A bikie gang source told the Sunday Mail last week it
would take "very little" for a similar situation to the AAMI Stadium clash
to ignite "something big".
Heaven nightclub manager John Pike said he was
disappointed the program had been suspended, but the concerns were unfounded
and the club had no links to bikie gangs.
"I am terribly disappointed because we go out of our
way to make sure we can cope with various events whether they be fire,
earthquake or overdose," he said.
"We have had correspondence to say it (the Save-A-Mate
program) would stop for two weeks and that the powers that be think it is
bikie-related.
"There are no grounds for their concern.
"Not one of our employed security (officers) is even
distantly related to a bikie.
"The systems and the way we run our hotel/nightclub is
better than how some corporate companies run their systems."
Heaven, which is the only nightclub where the
Save-A-Mate operates, has up to four Red Cross volunteers and one paid
instructor working on Saturday nights.
The volunteers aim to minimise harm and death among
young people at Heaven and other events such as raves, Schoolies Week and
the Big Day Out.
Police from Operation Avatar, the bikie gang
investigation team, have confirmed Heaven nightclub had organised several
tables at AAMI Stadium awards, where Hells Angels members were sitting.
Members and associates of the Rebels were seated at a
table booked by Rise nightclub, police said.
.
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