In a complete reversal of last years shabby self promoting and dangerous performance by the NSW police, this years Anzac Day Poker Run saw a change of tack as they overtly presented themselves as trying to be helpful to the riders and the general population out on the roads that day. The riders were given a green light run to the last set of traffic lights prior to entering the Highway and heading for the first stop at Wallacia, this no doubt enabled a safe orderly start to the run, and, as was evidenced by the sheer number of police cars and motorcyclists at every conceivable intersection plus within the ride itself, and of course not forgetting the obligatory chopper in the sky, well, they had obviously spared no expense in doing it. Upon arrival at the Wallacia Hotel, further evidence of serving the public was apparent as the police stopped traffic thus allowing the run to enter and also to leave the pub, once again in a safe manner.

This proved to be typical for the rest of the Poker Run to Lapstone and back to the Clubhouse, and, I even overheard a conversation between a couple of disgruntled visitors to the pub and one of the boys in blue, where, upon being asked why the police had allowed the bikers to fill up all the available parking spots, thus making them park their car way down the road, the gist of the reply was, “they are allowed to park anywhere they want, so long as its legal and they are not blocking traffic” which promptly brought a quick stop to their complaining.

Now, I will leave it up to the riders on the day and of course anyone else reading this, to form their own opinion as to veracity of the police involvement that day, unfortunately though, and call me somewhat cynical in light of this and other runs, but, my feelings are, that, whilst no doubt some of the police’s actions did help the run, it was evident, by the almost exclusive number of “riders” that were booked for minor traffic and defect offences, that by the way, were also being committed at the same time and place by car drivers, and, shock, horror!! even by some members of the police force that I personally saw, it struck me as being more like an exercise akin to shooting fish in a barrel, also I would also not be at all surprised if the police spin-doctors/media reps laid the entire taxpayers donation to the cost of the exercise firmly on the backs of the 1% ers, by saying the police had to do it under the auspices of the new gang laws in order to protect the public in case any trouble started, whilst naturally neglecting to mention, that, for over 20 years this Poker Run has been going on without any drain on the governments purse and no threat to the public, plus, I reckon from my own personal experience any inconvenience to the other road users over those years would also have been minimal at best.

As I said, that’s just my opinion, but, I would be curious to see what the police have to say about it, and also find out just how truly altruistic their involvement was. Having said that, I had a bloody good day out in Sydney, and was once again impressed by the great attitude of all the bikers and the residents of the street that were in attendance during the eulogy and playing of Last Post, also, the courteous behaviour of the riders towards each other during the run is well worth mentioning.

It would be nice though, if, as a sign of the police’s Anzac Day sincerity during the most solemn part of the Poker Run, next years chopper pilot turned his engine off for the minutes silence, it might take a bit of practice, but, after all, they have a whole year and a few choppers to get it right, and I don’t think that I would be alone in considering my taxpayers dollars well spent if the police succeeded in doing that one small thing for us next Anzac Day, figuring that after all, they do get free admission to the run.