The Maryborough Highland Society wants your money

By Andrew McKenna

Is greed at the bottom of the Maryborough Highland Society’s desire to install poker machines in this town (please correct me if I am wrong, and my apologies for insinuating your intentions may be other than completely honourable).

Why have you chosen Castlemaine for new poker machines? Is your own community suffering already from too much gambling?

As you are a not-for-profit, do you intend to put profits back into the Castlemaine community, towards marriage counselling, food for the needy, Alcoholics Anonymous and counselling the bereaved of suicide victims?

Or will the profits go to Maryborough and the Maryborough Highland Society?

The Battle of Culloden

Don Hester is the GM of the Maryborough Highland Society. They get together in tartan, eat haggis and celebrate the poetry of Robbie Burns (famous for Address to a Haggis, Address to the Deil and Address to a Toothache). These days, as well as shedding crocodile tears over Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Battle of Culloden and their lost highland home, the MHS makes a lot on the side out of pokies, mòran taing (thank you very much)

These days the Highlanders are no longer fleeing the sharp edge of English steel. They’ve regrouped, and have a few volleys of their own to fire. They have an application in for a (pokies?) venue here in Castlemaine. They recently bought 65 new poker machine licenses (at more then $5000 each, those wacky dudes in kilts have regrouped strongly.)

On Saturday CI sent Mr Hester the following email. (If you wish to ask your own questions his address is dhester@iinet.net.au)

Dear Don,

I am a journalist based in Castlemaine. I would like to ask several questions regarding your intentions here. If you could respond by mid-next week I would be delighted.

If I hear no response, I assume you do not intend to make your intentions transparent with this community.

Is your application for the leasehold of the VicTrack shed at Lot 64 Kennedy St Castlemaine expected to be successful?

Do you intend to install 65 poker machines at the site?

Are you aware of the negative impact of poker machines on communities?

Why have you chosen Castlemaine for new poker machines? Is your own community suffering already from too much gambling?

As you are a not-for-profit, do you intend to put profits back into the Castlemaine community, towards marriage counselling, food for the needy, Alcoholics Anonymous and counselling the bereaved of suicide victims?

Or will the profits go to Maryborough and the Maryborough Highland Society?

How much money do you envisage you will make out of this community?

Fickle Fortune, by Robbie Burns: Though fickle Fortune has deceived me, She promis'd fair and perform'd but ill; Of mistress, friends, and wealth bereav'd me, Yet I bear a heart shall support me still. I'll act with prudence as far 's I'm able, But if success I must never find, Then come misfortune, I bid thee welcome, I'll meet thee with an undaunted mind.

Are you aware that a group of artists in Castlemaine is working on a proposal to lease the sheds and turn them into an arts complex?

What do you envisage would be the best option for this town: a new gambling den or an arts complex?

Is greed at the bottom of the Maryborough Highland Society’s desire to install poker machines in this town (please correct me if I am wrong, and my apologies for insinuating your intentions may be other than completely honourable)?

I look forward to your responses.

Yours
Andrew McKenna
Castlemaine Independent
0423 934 192

VicTrack is the government’s agency that manages V/Line property. A Castlemaine Independent reader, Chris Hosking, has received this response from them regarding questions he asked about the leasing arrangement:

Thank you for your email of 16 June 2010 and subsequent telephone calls on 17 June 2010.

Unfortunately VicTrack is unable to provide internal policy documentation about how we manage our property portfolio.

Railway Lot 64 Castlemaine Goods shed is a commercial property with significant commercial potential. VicTrack is proposing to let it for a commercial use as our mandate allows us to do.

We have not leased the property to date.

Regards

Tana Parker
Customer Service Co-ordinator
Property Group
VicTrack
Level 8, 1010 LaTrobe Street
Docklands  VIC 3008
GPO Box 1681, Melbourne VIC 3001
Tel: (03) 9619 8824