OFF THE WIRE
BY: Robyn Wuth
goldcoast.com.au
The new Finks patch claiming Surfers Paradise.
OUTLAW motorcycle gang the Finks has been rebranded -- adding the rocker Surfers Paradise to the club's colours, clearly claiming ownership of the party precinct.
The move has outraged civic leaders who said the last thing the city needed was for Surfers Paradise to be openly associated with the notorious outlaw gang.
The club has been weakened in recent years with many senior members behind bars, leaving Surfers Paradise ripe for takeover and the Rebels and the Bandidos making inroads.
But as members of the so-called `terror team' are released from jail, police believe the Finks are ready for a show of strength.
Ballroom Blitz enforcer Nick Forbes is back at the club and fellow Fink Shane Bowden, who taunted police while on the run, is expected to be released this month, police say.
The addition to the club's colours was on show at the funeral of life member Maxwell John "Promax" Merchant this month.
Any change to the colours of an outlaw motorcycle gangs is significant.
The club patches always remain property of the club itself, not the member, and only members are allowed to wear the club's patches.
"The change to a club's colours is unusual, but not unheard of,'' said a police spokesman. ``Some clubs add various patches when members commit certain crimes, and of course there's the 1 per cent which means they operate outside the laws of society."
The Finks have also developed a feeder club known as the 66 Support Club. The 66 represents FF -- Finks Forever -- and hangers-on to the club have been enlisted, although they are not full members.
The move has outraged civic leaders who said the last thing the city needed was for Surfers Paradise to be openly associated with the notorious outlaw gang.
The club has been weakened in recent years with many senior members behind bars, leaving Surfers Paradise ripe for takeover and the Rebels and the Bandidos making inroads.
For Cr Susie Douglas's response see today's Gold Coast Bulletin
But as members of the so-called `terror team' are released from jail, police believe the Finks are ready for a show of strength.But as members of the so-called `terror team' are released from jail, police believe the Finks are ready for a show of strength.
Ballroom Blitz enforcer Nick Forbes is back at the club and fellow Fink Shane Bowden, who taunted police while on the run, is expected to be released this month, police say.
The addition to the club's colours was on show at the funeral of life member Maxwell John "Promax" Merchant this month.
Any change to the colours of an outlaw motorcycle gangs is significant.
The club patches always remain property of the club itself, not the member, and only members are allowed to wear the club's patches.
"The change to a club's colours is unusual, but not unheard of,'' said a police spokesman. ``Some clubs add various patches when members commit certain crimes, and of course there's the 1 per cent which means they operate outside the laws of society."
The Finks have also developed a feeder club known as the 66 Support Club. The 66 represents FF -- Finks Forever -- and hangers-on to the club have been enlisted, although they are not full members.