CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Warning: This article contains an incessant, opportunistic and misleading use of the word ‘community’
Board members for the East Betoota library say that they have no option other than to install several poker machines to ensure the future of their community.
With cuts to education and the imminent amalgamation of local councils, it seems the 104-year-old educational institution have been forced to utilise the pokie machine’s power to service the community.
Taking a leaf out of other local community organisations, librarian Tracey Wembley says it’s not too different to the local Leagues Club or RSL providing their patrons and community members with the opportunity to irresponsibly gamble what little money they do have for a short and sweet hit of synthesised endorphins.
“The Leopard’s Leagues Club on William Street proudly boast and entire acre of pokie machines in the middle of their community venue,” says Mrs Wembley.
“It’s been really good for their community. They have so much extra funding to give back to the community,”
“Our library has been battling for some time and it seems this is the only way. It’s really about the community.
“We didn’t want to do this initially, because of the euphoric cartoon style noises and the machine’s flashing lights make will probably distract some readers, but it’s a decision we have had to make to stay afloat”
Poker Machines, colloquially known as ‘the pokies’ are renowned across Australia, particularly New South Wales, for their ability to create a cycle of cash flow that services the community and keeps everyone happy.
By taking money from other members of the community (problem gamblers), the pokies give back to the rest of the community by passing that money on to community organisations, who then pay themselves and give the rest back to the community.
“It’ll be great for foot traffic too” says Tracey.
“We’ll have plenty of people in here browsing books while they wait for their turn to have a slap”
A spokesperson for Aristocrats, Australia’s leading poker machine retailer, says that pokie machines can suit just about any setting, and more libraries should be looking at them as a reliable means of keeping afloat.
“It’s just like free wi-fi, people really appreciate these little things,”
“Plus it’s great for the community”
“library’s”. What’s going on? You folk must have at least 20 sub-editors proofing your copy, how can such an appalling misuse of the apostrophe slip by our nationally admired record of note The Betoota Advocate? I have come to expect this low level of grammar from the SMH and Age, but The Advocate?
That how it be spellet, mate. What librararies did you get ya dictionarey from?
Consider making changes in paragraph beginning With cuts to education- use of the word “have” in the third line change to has. Nick’s mother you know who I am!
It will come out sooner or later, so why not here, but the Bathurst Community Library is a stalking horse for what all governments in NSW want, and that is the funding of all community services by the problem gamblers.
The more community orientated the service is the less the afflicted gamblers and their families matter. The “what’s in it for me” syndrome kicks in and the pollies know it. Stick “community” in front of anything and it takes on the shroud of motherhood: why we may even get community brothels.