Ideally the association would like to have a sub-branch at every country race track.

Sub-branches are Subject to the GOTBA Constitution. (See web site EXTERNAL LINK - under label ABOUT) Sub Branch reference on page 25, Rules 86 to 88.

Persons interested should email Secretary at [email protected]

Everyone can see how the GOTBA is moving forward in a positive direction and it would be great to hear how you guys are trying to make a difference FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE GRV in Victoria .

Now can any person on the Committee acutely use a computer and a little bit of information for the members would of been more appropriate on Greyhound Data because NO ONE EVER USE'S THE GOTBA WEBSITE and NO ONE every reply' to a email sent to the GOTBA Committee

Meeting with GRV CEO Alan Clayton ON 3RD September 2015

Alan,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with our committee and allowing us to talk to you about what we believe are the current most important issues now facing participants in the greyhound industry. The following details are a precise of our conversations to assist you in recollecting the matters covered.

1) The protocol of stewards and welfare officers when entering a property of a registered person. As trainers are fully responsible for greyhound care and need to ensure no one else has access to their property without their permission, it is essential that they are present when any inspections of their property takes place. If they are not present what rights do the GRV representives have to enter their property and if they are present do GRV representatives have the right to inspect their house as well as the rest of the property? As we should all be working together for the prosperity of Greyhound racing the attitudes of parties involved in these inspections should be one of co-operation and respect from both the trainer and the staff of GRV. We have always advocated this in discussions with our membership.

2) The changes necessary for the lures used on racing tracks. We have been advocating the use of the hoop lure for five years now, knowing that greyhounds being mainly sight chasers need to have good visibility of the lure in order to perform consistently and chase honestly. This lure is much safer than the current lures for the dogs to run onto and also is less likely to cause injury if a dog turns and runs back into the field in a race. It has been proven to be successful in New Zealand and Adelaide, where we send a lot of dogs who fail to perform on our current system. Using this lure to run onto in races is optional so some tracks could offer the run on option while others could still run into the catching pen. The membership is still considering the best options for the way the dogs should finish the race, the main thing to consider is what is the safest, and what will encourage the dogs to continue to perform well. There are systems in America where the lure disappears into a chute and the dogs slow down and spread out listening for the noise that replaces the lure. There is no catching pen gate for them to run into and because they are not all stopping at one point there is less likelihood of injury. However there is no dispute among participants about using the hoop lure to trial onto in place of existing lure, as it is far safer and the use of it for races whether or not the dogs finish on it would be a great way to give all dogs the best chance of sighting the lure.

3) Race Track design and Type of Surface and maintence of a consistently safe racing surface. For many years tracks have been designed without industry input and consequently mistakes are made. This created situations where dogs were put at risk, poor design causes interference and injury, hard or boggy surfaces also add to injury problems. There are many ways these problems can be improved by proper consultation with the persons who race the greyhounds, so that they can inform the administrators what creates the safest racing environment.

4) Lack of industry knowledge on the board and within the administration. We can consult and explain in a limited capacity as our meetings with the Board and Administrative staff are short. Usually one hour every 3months with the board and regular contact with the CEO and then the CEO makes recommendations to the board. This has not worked in the past and is not likely to work in the future, even if we impart a lot of information to the CEO and in all good faith he uses that knowledge to inform the board, without the background of years of experience in the industry he will not be able to give a comprehensive report and answer adequately questions that will need answers. Therefore it is imperative there is someone one the board who has raced greyhounds over a long period of time so that they have experienced the difficulties and have a good grasp of what is necessary to keep the greyhounds sound (So we need a lesser number to be bred to meet racing commitments) and also how to encourage people in the sport to remain interest and help them to create a good image for greyhound racing. These are the people who will bring new participants into our industry either through new owners or friends and family. A person who has not had this long involvement cannot understand what it is that motivates people to remain involved. It is sad that presently many people are considering giving up because it all seems so overwhelming... Good regular communication to participants with explanations as to why we have to make the changes recommended and how GRV do want the sport to prosper would be a great help. It must be remember that this is the sport mainly of the working class and has prospered because of the commitment of many individuals who love their dogs and the social life that it creates. Please don?t let it become a commercial operation, where the individual small trainer is forced out by making it unaffordable, or impossible to comply with the many rules and regulation now being considered. The greatness of this sport is that every person has been able to have a greyhound and if they wish they can learn to race that dog. It is to the greyhounds benefit that in most cased they are kept in a family environment and treated as individuals, part of that family unit. Let?s help the industry prosper by encouraging these people to stay in the industry. Without proper industry representation on the board these people are losing hope about their ability to remain in greyhound racing, knowing that this lack of representation in the past has caused many of the problems facing us now.

5) Breeding numbers required to meet racing commitments (reducing wastage) who in GRV know the number dogs required to meet current racing commitments. Taking into account, bitches can?t race when in season and in milk after season, dogs that are injured cannot compete, some need a break to freshen up, others die of accident or illness and some will not chase the lure at all. Who is doing the statistics and looking at the best way to utilize the pool of race dogs that are available. Reducing the numbers bred is not the answer! Until you are able service the race fields by reducing injuries and lengthening the number of starts the average dog has and also providing all dogs who do race with a place where they can be competitive you will not be able to reduce the numbers required. This takes industry knowledge and a constructive plan about the way forward to make it happen, it would help if the welfare department researched this aspect of our sport by consulting with industry participants.

6) Permits-Why do so many people not have a permit? For the people who have been battling for years to get permits to keep their greyhounds the answer is simply. To get a permit is costly and in many cases not obtainable even if you are prepared to meet stringent code of practice. If you apply where you live and get a refusal, then you go looking for another more appropriate property. When you find one most people won?t sell subject to obtaining a permit as it is a long draw out process usually between 6 to 12 months. Most go to the appeals tribunal and also have advertising requirements. The initial application to council can cost $500 or more just to be considered and no refund if you fail. Then a town planner or expert solicitor needs to be employed to represent you at the appeals tribunal, this can run into thousands and take much time in drawing up plans and long consultations to brief your counsel. So if your serious you must purchase the property go to the expense of relocating and maybe have also to change your employment if you have had to move a long way from where you previously lived. Then you hope and pray you don?t get too many people objecting to your application because if someone has plenty of money and doesn?t like greyhounds they can take you to the high court even if you get the permit at appeal. Most people find this process to daunting and far too expensive. That is why they keep a low profile and make sure there dogs don?t annoy anyone. There have recently been cases where people have not had a permit but were not creating a problem for anyone and GRV knowing this have forced them to apply for a permit. It is for this reason the GOTBA bought the situation of permit to the previous board and lobbied Denis Napthine the then racing minister to help obtain the keeping of greyhounds as a? right of use,? providing they were prepared to keep the dogs under to code of practice currently required. We went to many meetings with the Victorian Planning Department and the end result was that in the residential area only two dogs could be kept and in other area 5 dogs per acre up to a maximum of 20 would be permitted as a right of use. This was a great result for all involved and only needed final approval by the Minister, but for some reason it was shelved and we could get no answer as to why. GRV employed a lawyer who specialized in town planning and she also attended the meetings to progress this matter and when we could not get a response from the planning department we asked GRV to please follow up. We are still awaiting a reply 18months down the track. If people are not allowed to keep their retired dogs because of permit limitations, is it any wonder they have no option after failing gap to have them euthanized.

These are what we see as the major issues that are preventing the industry moving forward successfully. However we have many other ideas to help the industry become more successful in the future, and look forward to working with you on any matter that you wish to explore further.

(.) (.)

Meeting with new CEO
Written By: GOTBA Victoria on September 17, 2015

Meeting with GRV CEO Alan Clayton ON 3RD September 2015

Alan,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with our committee and allowing us to talk to you about what we believe are the current most important issues now facing participants in the greyhound industry. The following details are a precise of our conversations to assist you in recollecting the matters covered.

1) The protocol of stewards and welfare officers when entering a property of a registered person. As trainers are fully responsible for greyhound care and need to ensure no one else has access to their property without their permission, it is essential that they are present when any inspections of their property takes place. If they are not present what rights do the GRV representives have to enter their property and if they are present do GRV representatives have the right to inspect their house as well as the rest of the property? As we should all be working together for the prosperity of Greyhound racing the attitudes of parties involved in these inspections should be one of co-operation and respect from both the trainer and the staff of GRV. We have always advocated this in discussions with our membership.

2) The changes necessary for the lures used on racing tracks. We have been advocating the use of the hoop lure for five years now, knowing that greyhounds being mainly sight chasers need to have good visibility of the lure in order to perform consistently and chase honestly. This lure is much safer than the current lures for the dogs to run onto and also is less likely to cause injury if a dog turns and runs back into the field in a race. It has been proven to be successful in New Zealand and Adelaide, where we send a lot of dogs who fail to perform on our current system. Using this lure to run onto in races is optional so some tracks could offer the run on option while others could still run into the catching pen. The membership is still considering the best options for the way the dogs should finish the race, the main thing to consider is what is the safest, and what will encourage the dogs to continue to perform well. There are systems in America where the lure disappears into a chute and the dogs slow down and spread out listening for the noise that replaces the lure. There is no catching pen gate for them to run into and because they are not all stopping at one point there is less likelihood of injury. However there is no dispute among participants about using the hoop lure to trial onto in place of existing lure, as it is far safer and the use of it for races whether or not the dogs finish on it would be a great way to give all dogs the best chance of sighting the lure.

3) Race Track design and Type of Surface and maintence of a consistently safe racing surface. For many years tracks have been designed without industry input and consequently mistakes are made. This created situations where dogs were put at risk, poor design causes interference and injury, hard or boggy surfaces also add to injury problems. There are many ways these problems can be improved by proper consultation with the persons who race the greyhounds, so that they can inform the administrators what creates the safest racing environment.

4) Lack of industry knowledge on the board and within the administration. We can consult and explain in a limited capacity as our meetings with the Board and Administrative staff are short. Usually one hour every 3months with the board and regular contact with the CEO and then the CEO makes recommendations to the board. This has not worked in the past and is not likely to work in the future, even if we impart a lot of information to the CEO and in all good faith he uses that knowledge to inform the board, without the background of years of experience in the industry he will not be able to give a comprehensive report and answer adequately questions that will need answers. Therefore it is imperative there is someone one the board who has raced greyhounds over a long period of time so that they have experienced the difficulties and have a good grasp of what is necessary to keep the greyhounds sound (So we need a lesser number to be bred to meet racing commitments) and also how to encourage people in the sport to remain interest and help them to create a good image for greyhound racing. These are the people who will bring new participants into our industry either through new owners or friends and family. A person who has not had this long involvement cannot understand what it is that motivates people to remain involved. It is sad that presently many people are considering giving up because it all seems so overwhelming... Good regular communication to participants with explanations as to why we have to make the changes recommended and how GRV do want the sport to prosper would be a great help. It must be remember that this is the sport mainly of the working class and has prospered because of the commitment of many individuals who love their dogs and the social life that it creates. Please don?t let it become a commercial operation, where the individual small trainer is forced out by making it unaffordable, or impossible to comply with the many rules and regulation now being considered. The greatness of this sport is that every person has been able to have a greyhound and if they wish they can learn to race that dog. It is to the greyhounds benefit that in most cased they are kept in a family environment and treated as individuals, part of that family unit. Let?s help the industry prosper by encouraging these people to stay in the industry. Without proper industry representation on the board these people are losing hope about their ability to remain in greyhound racing, knowing that this lack of representation in the past has caused many of the problems facing us now.

5) Breeding numbers required to meet racing commitments (reducing wastage) who in GRV know the number dogs required to meet current racing commitments. Taking into account, bitches can?t race when in season and in milk after season, dogs that are injured cannot compete, some need a break to freshen up, others die of accident or illness and some will not chase the lure at all. Who is doing the statistics and looking at the best way to utilize the pool of race dogs that are available. Reducing the numbers bred is not the answer! Until you are able service the race fields by reducing injuries and lengthening the number of starts the average dog has and also providing all dogs who do race with a place where they can be competitive you will not be able to reduce the numbers required. This takes industry knowledge and a constructive plan about the way forward to make it happen, it would help if the welfare department researched this aspect of our sport by consulting with industry participants.

6) Permits-Why do so many people not have a permit? For the people who have been battling for years to get permits to keep their greyhounds the answer is simply. To get a permit is costly and in many cases not obtainable even if you are prepared to meet stringent code of practice. If you apply where you live and get a refusal, then you go looking for another more appropriate property. When you find one most people won?t sell subject to obtaining a permit as it is a long draw out process usually between 6 to 12 months. Most go to the appeals tribunal and also have advertising requirements. The initial application to council can cost $500 or more just to be considered and no refund if you fail. Then a town planner or expert solicitor needs to be employed to represent you at the appeals tribunal, this can run into thousands and take much time in drawing up plans and long consultations to brief your counsel. So if your serious you must purchase the property go to the expense of relocating and maybe have also to change your employment if you have had to move a long way from where you previously lived. Then you hope and pray you don?t get too many people objecting to your application because if someone has plenty of money and doesn?t like greyhounds they can take you to the high court even if you get the permit at appeal. Most people find this process to daunting and far too expensive. That is why they keep a low profile and make sure there dogs don?t annoy anyone. There have recently been cases where people have not had a permit but were not creating a problem for anyone and GRV knowing this have forced them to apply for a permit. It is for this reason the GOTBA bought the situation of permit to the previous board and lobbied Denis Napthine the then racing minister to help obtain the keeping of greyhounds as a? right of use,? providing they were prepared to keep the dogs under to code of practice currently required. We went to many meetings with the Victorian Planning Department and the end result was that in the residential area only two dogs could be kept and in other area 5 dogs per acre up to a maximum of 20 would be permitted as a right of use. This was a great result for all involved and only needed final approval by the Minister, but for some reason it was shelved and we could get no answer as to why. GRV employed a lawyer who specialized in town planning and she also attended the meetings to progress this matter and when we could not get a response from the planning department we asked GRV to please follow up. We are still awaiting a reply 18months down the track. If people are not allowed to keep their retired dogs because of permit limitations, is it any wonder they have no option after failing gap to have them euthanized.

These are what we see as the major issues that are preventing the industry moving forward successfully. However we have many other ideas to help the industry become more successful in the future, and look forward to working with you on any matter that you wish to explore further.

The new CEO is in way over his head and he is being led by the same people who got us all into this live baiting predicament in the first place imo .

We all know that staff at the GRV were made aware of live baiting years ago and this hush hush bullcrap has continued for years with tipoffs to certain trial tracks owned by family members well before inspections took place and it was ingrained in many staff at the GRV .
I would like to see in a Court of Law some of these staff members to take the stand and swear on the Bible that they had no idea of live baiting taking place and Adam Wallish was the main Lier or was he ..... he claimed he had no knowledge of live baiting taking place and I have no problem at all calling him and other LIERS or are they.
We had people years ago at the GOTBA who tried in vane to get the FOL because of the live baiting aspect that was taking place and this was the very reason so many are frustrated today and the GRV turned around 8 months ago and said they had not been told about LIve Baiting by anyone and this is a LIE ..or not

Its was 100% the failure of action by many GRV staff that led us down the road we are heading down today .

The Failure of the GRV to contain and control all live baiting action was negligent and ignorent in all area's and as simple as that .

We have the GRV ..ANIMALS AUSTRALIA ..RSPCA ..INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER
All of these organisations and people failed to recognise Brad Keel hitting a greyhound behind the boxes at tooridin trial track ...WHY

Every one of these organisations had the 15 hours of footage for over 7 months
They each have come out with some lame excuses about these actions ..
Brad Keel was a protected species because he was giving up everyone he new who was at the Tooridin trial track and the GRV protect this DOG ABUSER .

We have a massive cover up by everyone associated with this live baiting cases and if it was not for Tony Vass and the Greyhound Union who come out with footage days before the GRV charged Brad Keel then WE WOULD OF BEEN BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT BUT THIS TIME WE ALL WOULD OF BEEN CLASSED AS DOG HITTERS .....and by Tony coming out well before the press did this SAVED US ALL from the negative press and this is why it was so importent for the GRV to be on the front foot from the very first day of the live baiting scandal first broke but all they did WAS DENIE ANY KNOWLEDGE LIVE BAITING HAS TAKEN PLACE .

Tony Vass tried in vain weeks before to get the GRV to acknowledge Brad Keel hitting of that greyhound behind the boxes and if it was not for TONY VASS coming out then the press would of once again would of ran amuck and had a field day with fresh accusations but Tony is the one who SAVED OUR BACKSIDES THIS TIME BY MAKING IT PUBLIC IN THE WAY THAT HE DID AND IT SOFTENED THE BLOW FOR US ALL ..

Let's not hide behind anything in the future and we have a history where live baiting takes place but in 2015 we have to now stop all forms of animal baiting .
Why do we have to stop using DEAD RABBITS why do we have to stop using tanned skins ..why do we have to put up with people who manage us who have no idea about Greyhounds .

This is how far things have gone ..
Welfare staff at the GRV tell trainers to remove all sheep skin cut offs that have been dyed and are off cuts from the sheep skin market and they are every colour of the rainbow but no greyhound is aloud to sleep on them because there is a tanned hide attached to the lambs wool ...

We have cases of Welfare and integrity staff accusing members of live baiting because they have a old cage in the back shed ...

We have Members of the GRV jumping gates and walking around property's for periods of time when PEOPLE ARE NOT HOME

We have welfare integrity staff threatening Members with all sorts of claims .

We have GRV Staff taking pictures of dog poo and telling people that all dog poo must be picked up after the dogs decides too take a dump and if they see two or three lumps of dog turds well then all hell breaks loose .

We have a Pack Animal who runs and hunts in packs for centuries together who are now BANNED from running with two or more hounds in a run or yard .

I can go out hunting with any dog or greyhound and let my dogs run down rabbits in a field but IF YOU ARE A OWNER OF A GREYHOUND YOU ARE FINED AND CAN BE sentenced TO JAIL for committing this act
We have members pressured into spending money on shade cloth and chicken wire even after you explain that chicken wire can be dangerous to greyhounds and shade cloth just dont cut it because one dog within 5 min can rip it apart .

We have members now seeking medical help for depression and other associated medical reasons that has been brought on by the actions of the Welfare and Integrity departments at the GRV .....Officers that have gone out to property's have been RUDE and aggressive in there tone and manner ...

We have massive cover ups that will be addressed by a new independent report .

The Labour Government have now lost the next State election and it looks like the Racing and Integrity Commissioner was in on the LIE'S OR WAS HE from the start and this will all come out in the wash very shortly.

Now lets not forget this importent fact .....

It is not illegal in the State of Victoria to use a DEAD RABBIT ..

It is not Illegal to use tanned skins for dogs to sleep on and to be used as a lure .

iT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO HAVE SOME TRACE OF BLOOD OR ANIMAL MATTER ON YOUR LURE .
it is not illegal to place a bone or even a leg a lamb on the lure ..

WHO MADE THIS ILLEGAL FOR IT'S MEMBERS ...........THE GRV ....

It is not illegal to to stand up and have a voice ....

We have a MASSIVE cover up and it started at the TOP ....

The Racing integrity commissioner in his report also either lied or was told lie's MAYBE to protect who's skin at the time and in his report he failed to address many issues and concerns that have been brought up by the GOTBA for many many years.

Who is the lier

Who has the most to gain by Lying

Who has to now deal with aggressive members at the GRV who continue to this day to harass and hound good honest people who just happen to have wire on there runs and yards not compliant with the new GRV code of practice.

The GRV expects many people to have to now spend thousands of dollars on there property's who 12 months before were given the all clear on there establishments as being up to code .

We have a State law that has now been interpreted by the GRV in a way that it makes all greyhound training establishments a Business even thou they are run as hobby farms and most just have there own greyhounds on there premises so this takes it out of the Boarding Kennel area and the main problem is the GRV have in it's head for some reason that every private Owner Trainer and rearing farm has to be now interrupted as a Boarding Kennels and they clearly are not in that area of the STATE LAW under the Boarding Kennel Act ...

Why once again do we have to be targeted as Boarding Kennels establishments because many are not and are private Kennels and they should be under the same LAW as any one else only Boarding of there own animals with no out side income from any rearing deals owned by a third party ..

The GRV have taken the new animal act and rules in the same category as a commercial Business and this is certainly not the case in many instances ..

Who has it wrong US OR THEM