Travel writer’s organisation probed again by gaming officials over raffle cheating allegation
The president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) has insisted officials have done nothing wrong as the organisation faces a second investigation by gaming officials over a raffle in which organisers are alleged to have cheated and denied the rightful winner his prize.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation confirmed it is conducting inquiries into the December 2013 raffle, held by the ASTW, after a complaint from long serving member Glyn May.
It is the second time the ASTW has faced question over the raffle, which took place in Brisbane.
May claimed he saw the business card of his friend Peter Cole drawn from a bucket only for it to be replaced and another drawn.
Travel writer cheating probe (comment)
The question of who owned the first card drawn and discarded in the disputed travel writers “raffle” of December 10, 2013 is irrelevant to the reopened official investigation of this matter.
The probe is now focussed on two actions in the conduct of the draw to determine whether there was a breach of the cheating provisions of section 106 of the Act.
The first action was when the three members of the officiating party, Kerry Heaney and two ASTW life members from Sydney, Mike Smith (a former president) and travel agent Helen Wong, examined the first card drawn, discussed it quietly among themselves and then discarded it without offering an explanation to the audience.
The second action was drawing a second card and awarding it to a non-member of the ASTW who the officiating party knew, or should have known, was ineligible under the published rules of the ASTW.
Ms Heaney is quoted in Mumbrella as saying: ”We believe that we have done everything possible to resolve this issue in a sensible manner and, in fact, offers of mediation from the society have been refused.”
Nothing is further from the truth.
The ASTW has done nothing to resolve the matter –- only to inflame it.
I initiated mediation in writing on February 1, 2014, only five weeks after the “raffle” when I offered to appear before the full committee for questioning and a possible resolution.
This was rejected by the committee.
I later formally twice advised the secretary Rama Gain and the committee that a dispute existed and that mediation was necessary under the ASTW’s own constitution and relevant legislation.
This was ignored. Kerry Heaney later withdrew from yet another mediation arrangement.
Kerry Heaney tried to sweep the whole issue under the carpet by unlawfully, and without explanation, expelling both myself and magazine editor/travel editor Peter Cole whose card was first drawn and discarded.
I was expelled for stirring up trouble. Peter Cole, an innocent bystander, was axed because he is a friend of mine.
If, as Ms Heaney asserts, I was not expelled, perhaps she can explain why I (and Peter Cole) are no longer members.
Kerry Heaney, as president and senior ASTW person officiating at the drawing of the “raffle”, might now consider whether the expulsion provisions of the ASTW Code of Ethics (section c) and the ASTW’s Constitution (Section 11) may be relevant to her own position in the ASTW.
(Glyn May
glynmay@bigpond.com
Mob: 0418 730 686)