So yesterday marked 3 years since the GRV suspended a group of registered trainers for [supposedly]using live rabbits to trial their greyhounds.

While there is no dispute some of these trainers were aware of their actions in using live animals, most were trialling on the basis that the rabbits used were properly euthanized by the track operator as was accepted practice by GRV stewards & the RSPCA.

Over the past 3 years a large group of the trainers protested their innocence at RADB & subsequently through VCAT.

The costs of defending their innocence & the viciousness they were subjected to in defending themselves proved too much for some- & who could blame them-GRV spent massive amounts of money to persecute these people.

What should be remembered here is that the trial track in question Tooradin-was operated under licence from the GRV & operated under their regulations .

How slack/lazy were the stewards that routinely arrived at Tooradin for inspections & found nothing wrong-there are many stories that the Stewards on these occasions didnt even bother to get out of their cars-& yes, these are the same Stewards still employed by GRV & from my understanding earning far greater salaries-nice reward for not doing a job properly.

One of the trainers charged, Mr. Brett Mackie, was eventually found not guilty at VCAT after spending possibly $60000/$70000 to prove his innocence-none of which is recoverable.

While GRV has highlighted the disqualifications it has never bothered to mention anywhere of Mr. Mackies innocence-fair-no not likely.

It was most disappointing through this harrowing period that an organisation I feel is a must to belong to-GOTBA-never at any stage stood up to GRV & questioned their approach to persecuting these people-many of whom had been greyhound participants for decades. Surely this is the point of having the GOTBA- to speak out for the participants that they represent-GRV certainly wont.

Although a number of trainers subsequently had their charges dropped by the RSPCA they continued to be pursued by GRV.

I was one of the trainers involved & to this moment continue my statement of innocence-the Judge at VCAT finding me guilty on a technicality.

I spent more than $75000 defending myself & also lost the contract to the business that I had operated for more than 50 years.
I am still in contact with a large number of participants, all of whom feel that this has been handled appallingly by GRV, who it would appear to have harmed itself by its heavy-handedness & apparent belief that all participants are cheats.

Through my 50 years of involvement with greyhounds I have found the participant's to be honourable & fair & have a great love for their dogs.

Finally I thought it a little odd that the, almost vicious, PROSECUTOR employed for most cases at RADB & VCAT-Paul Holdenson Q C prosecuting rabbit cases, last week was in court DEFENDING a human rabbit[drug criminal].

What a sad ending to 3 years of hell.

Kerry Chalker

The State Election happens in November. If you want change, if you want this clandestine attempt to gain political advantage by appeasing opponents of greyhound racing, just remember this.....

A VOTE FOR LABOR IS A VOTE FOR THE GREENS SO THEY CAN DISMANTEL THE INDUSTRY WE LOVE.

WE LOVE OUR GREYHOUNDS AND WE VOTE!!!

Also remember that being an election year they will throw cash at anything that will give them advantage, seduction is the name of the game, be weary!

They are quite happy to ruin a few innocent peoples lives to make a point and Holdenson is just in it for the money

The complete opposite in NSW.
The Libs were the ones trying to sink the greyhound industry, not Labor.

So what is the solution??
Maybe SFF?

Don't forget Greens and ALP in the ACT have done the damage!

So, it depends on the State/Territory. However, the SFF Party, once they started supporting the greyhound industry in 2011/2012, they never and haven't stopped. Borders mean nothing to their staunch support and they won't stop their pursuit of a fair share for the industry. That's why Mr Borsak explained to some industry participants that they/we could become a Powerful Political Influence. Hence the reason for a greyhound branch.

Spot on Jamie, this is why after my disqual for one ml of B12 (the dreaded COBALT) and all the people I personally have known for many years being sacrificed to appease the voting public I did not reapply for my license so I could freely express my views and support without fear of repercussion from an organisation hell bent on regulating the crap out of all involved.

I joined the SFF during the NSW debacle and I can only see us getting our sport/Industry back via political means. GRV are an arm of Government/public servants, the board has a huge lack of experience in the Industry so damage will be done before we get it back. Damage has actually been done. 12 million gone in 12 months!

Once upon a time the GOTBA was a force to be reckoned with, sadly not anymore, what I will say is there intention and hearts are in the right place and this is no where near enough any longer(I did spend 6 months on the committee and things did not move quickly enough for me)I achieved more outside as an individual(I have 500 emails in my GRV folder to prove that.)

I miss my training however I do not want to train in an environment that is unfair, biased and run by people following political orders.

The one sad thing I believe is the rank and file don't actually do anything until it effects them directly. Whinge.......yes. Action no.

So what do you suggest David?

In Victoria Labor need the Greens, so they are on a fine line at present and I will be doing everything I can in my electorate to have the sitting Labor member defeated. Greyhound people a traditionally Labor voters, this is going to change dramatically where I live.

Welfare issues have caused life disqualifications to a couple of others

Scenting the lure caused the loss of another one

These didn't even make a ripple in the pond

Has the industry moved on ??

Hayden, This all starts with Tooradin and the mishandling of the whole situation by GRV from the top down, The top guy and board fell on their swords to take the wrap, yet many other GRV employee's responsible for keeping their eyes on things still retain their pay packets.

It's not about "moving on" though. Rules are rules whether we like them or not, to play the game you must adhere to them. The fight for justice continues and many have not rested or sat back to let others do the job they continue to push forward in silence.

David, I asked this before but you did not give an answer.
Which one of the major parties are going to back us for the long term?
Answer, neither of them.
Yes the numbers are small at the moment but the way the Nats are going, a lot more numbers will come to the SFF from there.
As greyhound participants, we need to join forces with people who enjoy hunting and fishing, people who are farmers, people who like riding motorbikes in national parks. All these people are being threatened by city based idealists with no idea of rural culture, but great political nous.
Remember David, the Greens were once a micro party.

More accurately, it was not the Libs but Baird personally, helped by Grant, who tried to sink the industry. You can classify most of the other Libs as weak rather than opposed to greyhounds in that they toed a (supposed) party line in the hope of future promotion.

My point would be that you should not ignore anyone in an effort to better present the greyhound story. Whatever their persuasion, they all need education. And some Lib/NP people did strongly support greyhounds, despite the threat from Baird/Grant.

One who did not was the new Minister who hails from a greyhound racing town (Bathurst) yet spoke and voted for the ban. He is a risk but Orange is just up the road so he should be wary.

To combat all that I disagree a little with David (below) in that
support for SFF is definitely going to be helpful. Borsak is a proven good operator and whatever boost the SFF can get next time will make the major parties take note. Whether they are dumb or not they can all count votes.

Thanks Michael. I didnt even read the article on AGR. I received my information elsewhere. So, its refreshing to know the rank and file are being told accurate and reliable information to pass on to the reader.

David, the greyhound industry needs the SFF Party to hold the balance of power for its short and long term survival. From little things big things grow.

Bruce,

Although Luke Foley said all the right things during the fiasco in parliament when Baird and Grant were "grandstanding", I don't believe he will have the support when push comes to shove within his own party based on what has recently happened in Canberra and elsewhere against the greyhounds. It is no good hedging our bets and spreading out votes with two parties. We need to take the approach it is "all or nothing" and therefore channel all of our votes to the SFF. JMO

Absolutely disgraceful the way they treated Kerry Chalker who always championed the industry at great expense to himself, and when he needed their support they let him down badly.

For those who don't know him, Kerry was an absolute gentleman who got countless people into the greyhound industry looking after his clients at every turn, something you rarely see now.

He is a man of great integrity and a trainer who the industry couldn't afford to lose, and the ptb didn't even bother to find out, they just bundled them all together and steamrolled him (and many other good people) into oblivion.

It's just plain wrong.

Nice mention of support Dribble for this group of cowards, the LIB/NAT. Some, only a handful (so dont give them too much credit) who did cross the floor were demoted. What a narrow-minded low Party.