Finks converge on Gold Coast for 40th

THE arrival of more than 100 Finks bikies on the Gold Coast is not opposed by tourism authorities and the State Opposition, despite the motorcycle club being declared a serious criminal organisation.

Finks from across the country have converged on the Coast to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the city's chapter, the third oldest in Australia.

Today, the Finks, who have travelled from as far as South Australia for the celebrations, will ride through the Gold Coast Hinterland before finishing their run in Surfers Paradise.

 

Shadow police minister Vaughan Johnson said the Finks 'should be made welcome.'

"But if they want to come and cause the police grief and cause heartache to the community they won't be welcome," he said.

Gold Coast Tourism spokesman Ben Pole also said he did not believe the Finks' visit would harm the city's image.

"Everyone has a right to experience the Gold Coast, I can't see that it is going to stop visitors coming," he said.

The Finks denied the ride into Surfers was a deliberate show of strength to combat claims police had crippled the feared club.

"It's our 40th anniversary so we were heading there anyway," said Blacktown Finks sergeant-at-arms Ferret, who is the spokesman for the NSW United Motorcycle Council.

"People from all over Australia are coming. But it's not compulsory; if people want to turn up they turn up.

 

"Some of the older members we haven't seen for a while may pop up out of the woodwork."

While several high-profile members are behind bars, the Finks have broken their silence and vowed their Gold Coast chapter is not going anywhere.

"We're not on the way out at all. We've got about six blokes in jail, six is nothing," said Ferret.

Ferret said there were plenty of other members on the Coast.

"Because people aren't getting arrested at the moment and aren't making it into the paper, people think we're not on the Coast anymore," he said.

"Ask any other bike club if the Finks are still on the Coast and they will tell you we are."

While the Finks may look menacing, Ferret said the public had nothing to fear.

"The public probably won't even see us, unless we ride past them in traffic they are not going to notice we are there," he said.

Ferret said the Finks, who will be wearing their colours during the weekend, will be policing themselves.

"No one is going there for trouble. We're not going to get up to anything," he said.

Gold Coast Superintendent Jim Keogh said police would monitor their behaviour and 'step in' if they misbehaved.

In May, Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick revealed police had been unable to use tough anti-bikie laws passed through State Parliament seven months ago due to government administrative delays.