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THE Gypsy Jokers motorcycle gang has
offered to pay Warrnambool City Council $50 after illegally
camping at Swan Reserve last weekend.
About 100 members of the motorcycle gang camped at the reserve
after arriving on January 2 on their national run.
Acting Superintendent John Robinson said at the time the
motorcycle group said it would pay for the use of the power, but,
when they rode off he never expected to see any money. He said he
received a phone call on Wednesday from one of the group's
members asking where he should send the $50 cheque.
Acting Superintendent Robinson said it was a similar principle to
robbers putting money into a parking meter for their getaway car
after the event.
He said on the night in question he approached Warrnambool City
Council asking for permission to let the motorcycle gang stay at
the reserve. "Once they arrived it was my opinion that from
a community safety view it was better that they stay there,"
Acting Superintendent Robinson said.
He said council agreed as long as police were able to keep the
peace.
Warrnambool City Council corporate services director Bruce Anson
said he understood money was being sent for use of the site.
He said the Gypsy Jokers had their own generators, but due to
complaints about excessive noise the council agreed to provide
power to the site.
Mr Anson said he supported the decision to leave the motorcycle
group at the site. People who had since said the gang should have
been moved should have thought about doing it themselves, he
said.
He said the $50 would go towards the council's next Christmas
Cheer appeal.
Police reported the overnight stop was trouble-free.
Copyright © 2004 Warrnambool Standard
