The "patches"OFF THE WIRE
Robyn Wuth(DFC)
goldcoast.com.au/
THE Nomads bikie gang has warned a Gold Coast social motorcycle club to remove their club insignia because it ''offends'' the outlaw organisation.
The Gold Coast Cruiser club, which has more than 160 members, was ordered to ''get the patches off'' after a member wearing the social patch was spotted by a member of the Nomads outlaw gang.
The Nomads from the southside chapter of the gang confronted the biker as he was coming out of a doctor's surgery.
A statement on the Cruiser website has urged members to remove their patches.
''I have had a phone call from a 1 per cent club The Nomads, Southside Chapter. A member rang me stating our back patch is too much like a motorcycle club back patch and all members should remove them and replace them with one which Nomads would be happy with and to come up with a design as a replacement,'' the statement reads.
''I did put the point forward regarding the round back patch worn by members of Ulysses Club who, like Gold Coast Cruiser Club, are social motorcycle riders.
''The problem the Nomads have with our patch is the wording around our logo making the patch look like it has rockers, which had been deemed at the 2005 Ulysses AGM in Canberra to be avoided and never to be worn on member's vests.''I consider it advisable to remove the Gold Coast Cruiser Club back patch.''
The statement said the club understood the ''annoyance and frustration'' as in the club's seven-year history, the insignia has never been an issue.
''All I can say is, I have been given this message to pass on to everyone as soon as possible.
''The message is ''Get the patches off and that's it!'' from the Nomads.''
The cruiser club has appealed to the United Motorcycle Council of Queensland to mediate the dispute.
It is not the first time an outlaw gang has attempted to strongarm a social motorcycle club.
In 2005, a Canberra-based Rebels motorcycle gang warned that the Ulysses veteran social to remove their insignia.
Ulysses Club members were confronted, intimidated, and threatened their bikes would be destroyed by members of the Rebels Motorcycle Club if they did not remove the cloth patches, known as ''rockers''.
In a bid to avoid violent incidents, Ulysses' national committee has instructed its 5000 members attending the Canberra rally to remove the rockers from their riding apparel.