Farewell to hard man who loved life on the open road

[F420]

"Gently, gentlemen, gently," implored a Bandidos chieftain as his feloow members took to their spades with gusto, spreading the freshly dug earth over the coffin of their late comrade Rodney "Hooks" Monk.

 

 

Mr Monk, 31, shot dead in East Sydney last week, was buried yesterday at Castle Hill Cemetery.

 

Earlier in the day Mr Monk's coffin, draped with long-stemmed yellow and red roses, arrived in the sidecar of a Harley Davidson accompanied by the roar of more than 150 Bandidos and friends on their motorcycles to St Gerard's Majella Catholic Church, Carlingford.

 

Dave, from the Christian biker group God's Squad, told the mourners that Mr Monk was a true Bandido, "a hard man with a heart of gold" who loved a big bike, the sense of community provided by fellow Bandidos and the call of the open road.

 

Mr Monk's older brother, Brad, a detective inspector, made no mention of the different paths their lives had taken, but spoke with great affection about his sibling.

 

It was his talent as a hooker playing junior rugby league that gave rise to his nickname Hooks, Inspector Monk told the congregation and said the graffiti tag of the same name began appearing around Sydney at that time.

 

Inspector Monk told of the time that his teenage brother had promised to mow his elderly neighbour's lawn. Despite accepting payment, the neighbour's grass continued to grow, prompting the neighbour to ring Mr Monk's father, George, to complain.

 

Inspector Monk said he ended up mowing the lawn in question to maintain the family's good name.

 

As the strains of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother echoed through the church, pallbearers from the Bandidos, including Ray "Chopper" Johnson, a former detective, bore Mr Monk's coffin to a waiting hearse. The former NSW policeman is sergeant-at-arms of the Downtown chapter of which Mr Monk was president.

 

Most Bandidos, in their uniform colours, rode without their crash helmets - a mark of respect known as tipping the hat recognised by motorcycle clubs worldwide.

 

Outside the church the convicted rapist, kidnapper and armed robber Arthur Loveday said Mr Monk's death called for an end to violence.

 

Loveday, the national public relations officer for the Bandidos and a godfather to one of Mr Monk's young children, described the late member as "a sensitive, new age biker with a touch of royalty".

 

"I was his protege. We need to put an end to this violence or it will destroy our future. We are all destroyed by his death."

 

Ambulance officers later attended to Loveday outside the church as he almost amputated his little finger, having come a cropper from his bike on the way to the funeral.

Paying respects at Mr Monk's funeral were other bike clubs including the Nomads, led by the 'underworld figure' Sam Ibrahim, and eight members of the Lone Wolf club also attended.

 

Notably absent was any mention of Mr Monk's suspected killer, the former national sergeant-at-arms, Russell Oldham, 39, who is wanted by detectives attached to Strike Force Coombah, established to investigate the killing.

 

Oldham had reportedly broken club rules by having an affair with a female parole officer.The parole officer resigned on Monday amid an internal investigation into her involvement with Oldham, sparked by a newspaper report. Police say they have been in touch with club affiliates and are hopeful there will not be reprisal attacks for the "brazen" execution-style killing.

 

However, Oldham will only be too aware of one of the club's credos: "God forgives, Bandidos don't."

 

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[stonedstump]

Interesting read, thanks.

[two2time]

Im sorry mate to see that happen to a brother . He must have been a good mate.

 

 

tt