Random Jessie Watson Jessie Watson jessiedaisy80@aol.com Jessie Watson 06/24/2009 AU_12 Sydney Analysis

Dressed in black leather, his trademark a handlebar moustache and long white hair, 58-year-old Steve Melchior is, by his gruff exterior, a ‘bikie’.

Dressed in black leather, his trademark a handlebar moustache and long white hair, 58-year-old Steve Melchior is, by his gruff exterior, a ‘bikie’, proud of his adventurous live or die anti-establishment attitude. He is also a father, a grandfather, a successful businessman, a skydiver, and an avid fundraiser for families affected by leukaemia. Earlier this year laws were passed in NSW, which criminalize association with outlaw bikie gangs. Melchior believes the laws will only create greater tension between police and bikies. (See timeline of recent violence: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/30/2530292.htm ) “Two friends of mine were pulled over on the way to work the other day, they didn’t have any patches [badges representing gang membership] on or anything…the coppers made them strip off their jackets and pulled all the lining out of their helmets.” Melchior is an 18-year member of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club. He is also a fringe member of other clubs, bikie gangs that have been outlawed in NSW. “Of the one percent [that are labelled outlaw bikies] only point zero one percent of that are bad guys,” says Melchior. The police lost Melchior’s respect at a very young age as they enforced punishment as they saw fit. “In the old days the sarge [police sergeant] used to belt you if he thought you were causing trouble.” Growing up on the south coast of Sydney, Melchior discovered a talent for mechanics and “bikes were cheaper to pull apart than cars.” By the age of 13 he acquired a love of motorcycles. “It’s freedom. You can feel, taste, and hear it. It’s all around you. The wind in your face, the bugs in your hair.” The younger generation of bikies, he feels, don’t have the same code of respect. “In the old days if you wanted to have a blue [a fight] you’d just go out to a paddock somewhere and have a fisty-cuff … then you’d have a beer with them later. Today things are different but it’s not bikie gangs, the whole world is different.” Criminal gangs involved in recent events have, sometimes mistakenly, been labelled bikies. ‘Notorious’, which cruise Sydney’s Kings Cross in black BMWs, were called “bikies without bikes” by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper “[But] six months ago the media were praising bikies,” Melchior says, displaying a collection of newspaper clippings from his many fundraising efforts with pride. One stands out from December 2008 in the Illawarra Mercury, a full-page spread of 350 bikies riding together armed with bundles of toys to donate. Melchior says he became part of a club so he could ride with other people that share his passion for motorcycles. They have also been helpful in his fundraising efforts. “We had this big fundraiser… I was selling tickets and there was two guys from the Comancheros [bikie gang] working on the door…they’re good guys.” This isn’t the first time Melchior has experienced tension between the law and bikies. In 1985 a riot broke out between police and bikies at the annual Easter bike race held in Bathurst, an inland city in New South Wales. Melchior claims that was an example of violence aggravated by police rough tactics in crowd control. Melchior, who witnessed the riots, said “It was just a bunch of people having fun when the police turned up in riot gear to make it ‘family friendly’.” Today Melchior runs a successful bed-and-breakfast an hour south of Sydney. Friendly and welcoming he is always ready to sit down and have a beer with a new guest. He also owns a Harley Davidson tour company.“ I did a tour the other day for two older ladies, and as we rode home on the Harley their grandkids were yelling ‘look at Nana’ they’re my favourite tours to do.” Melchior agrees there is a big problem with criminal gangs in NSW but says, “It’s a worry that police will be given so much power.” “I believe it will only get worse,” he says but he will never give up riding motorbikes. “It gets in your blood…it’s just something you have to do. I’ll be riding bikes until the day I die.” Steve Melchior in bike leathers Melchior as Santa raising money for children with cancer Melchior at a fundraiser with volunteers from the dialysis and transplant association 2009-06-24 21:21:13 UTC 2010-03-10 23:59:12 UTC