OFF THE WIRE
OVER 50 members of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang gathered for the funeral of member Maxwell John 'Promax' Merchant on the Gold Coast. Pics: Richard Gosling..
GOLD Coast police officers watched on as more than 50 members of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang attended a long-time member's funeral at Carrara today.
The Finks Motor Cycle club gathered at the Dream Centre church on Chisholm Road at 12.30pm today to farewell fellow member Maxwell John 'Promax' Merchant as police watched from the surrounding streets.
Mr Merchant died, aged 61, on June 25 in the presence of his girlfriend of 35 years, Kerry.
He has been a member of the motorcycle club for 40 years.
Police in uniform and plain clothes patrolled the barrier of the funeral throughout its duration.
Officers originally searched the members for illegal property and performed licence checks when the motorcycle club members gathered at its club house in Molendinar at 11am.
The members then proceeded to arrive together on their motorbikes in a large guard of honour travelling from Molendinar to Carrara.
A police spokesman said only one member they searched had a disqualified licence and no drugs were found prior to the funeral.
Finks members travelled from across Australia to attend today's funeral service.
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/07/02/329381_gold-coast-lead-story.html