Gaming & Racing finds breaches at Worker’s Club

The Department of Gaming and Racing has taken enforcement action against the Helensburgh Workmen’s Club after a number of breaches of the Registered Clubs Act were detected.
An investigation was conducted after concerns were raised by the former Treasurer of the club, Ian Wilson.
In a letter to Mr Wilson, the Assistant Director of Compliance with the Department of Gaming and Racing (DGR), Albert Gardner, said the investigation involved interviewing the former president, Graham Thomson, president Colin McArthur, CEO Gordon Steele and reviewing club records.
“The investigation detected a number of breaches of the Registered Clubs Act 1976,” Mr Gardner wrote. “In this regard, the Department took enforcement action against the club and directed the club to immediately rectify the matters pertaining to breaches of the Act.
“Additionally, I have referred the insolvency issue to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission for information and any action deemed necessary.”
A spokeswoman for the DGR said details of the breaches could not be made public however they were not significant.
“They are what we would describe as lower level breaches,” she said.
Club secretary manager Gordon Steele said the club had not been fined nor prosecuted.
“The club has received a notice from the Department identifying six areas where the club has not technically complied with the Registered Clubs Act,” he said.
“The club has acknowledged these and has addressed or is in the process of addressing all of them save for one which is still being clarified by the club.
“Although it was not a requirement of the DGR, the club will be issuing a notice to members informing them of these details shortly.”
The club is holding a General Meeting on 5 June to put to members an ordinary resolution which would allow the club to operate two premises if its bid for the Helensburgh Bowling Club is successful.
Mr Steele said the article in last month’s Helensburgh & District News was incorrect in that the club did not intend to sell its existing premises to finance a redevelopment of the bowling club but intended to redevelop the Walker Street site itself.
Members voted in April to sell land behind the club, at 9-15 Stuart Street, to fund the purchase of the bowling club. Tenders for the sale of the property closed on 24 May.