Chairman and noted racehorse dabbler David Rush appropriately introduced Sal Perna.

Sal is Victoria’s inaugural and current Racing Integrity Commissioner.   He pointed out the complexity of the industry (gallopers, harness and greyhounds) and the numerous interfaces between a very large number of participants in it.

The office reports to Parliament as an independent overseer of the integrity of the State’s multi-billion dollar racing industry ( $2.8 Billion).  He told how Victorian legislation, recently promulgated, provides him power "to do anything necessary", and with court like capacity to attract and interview witnesses with "contempt of court" remedies.

In summing up his role, and the current concerns of betting on sports generally, Sal noted that many  Australian States now define game fixing etc (and knowledge of) as a criminal activity. a basis from which police can take action.

How did Sal get here?.   The title says all.

Sal's has a Rotary connection too, he was a GSE member sponsored by Eltham RC to a trip to West Germany. 

First, Sal was a Commissioned Officer of the Victoria Police, achieving the rank of Detective Inspector, and holding the position of Officer In Charge, Crime Courses Unit.  In a 20 year career with wide experience, he was commended on four occasions, awarded the National Medal in 1990, the Police Service Medal in 2014 and twice served as a member of the Homicide Squad.   He observed that murder can be driven by seemingly minor motives.

His mail connection comes from a time with Australia Post as the senior internal security/internal fraud investigator.  Tales of curious and dangerous items in the mail rooms were fascinating, ranging from bombs, to live animals, and simple false alarms such as sand being viewed as anthrax impregnated powder.

A similar role with Telstra took him to the world of mobiles and their networks and combating external criminal threats to such systems and their use.

Lastly in his own business,  Sal was the founder and Managing Director of Calibre International Pty Ltd, established July 2007.  It provided a high level,  professional and independent consultancy service specializing in all aspects of security risk, anti-corruption, development of professional standards and the conduct of major and complex investigation/reviews.

Sal's clients touched on the major sports.  It started with Tennis Australia and the problem common to all, namely the inside betting on events, and the actions of players in the course of the contests.   He told of the circumstances and methods by which competitors apparently had significant form reversals and the varying controls by which authorities could monitor and detect betting patterns driven by such reversals.  Extensive data gathering and analysis were key---for example today in Victoria , licensed bookmakers can only use the race authorities' supplied computers and mobile phones to process bets.     

Finally we had a run down of some stories from across the world  about corrupted results and betting plays in other sports such football, cricket and baseball, none seemed immune. 

All in all a ripper of a talk. 

Two members are about to go into hospital for significant surgery; and we wish them both well:  Henry Drury is to have a cyst cut out of his brain on 28 October; and expects to be out of action for a couple of weeks.  Whilst Gordon Cheyne is to have a heart valve replaced on 6 November, and may be out of action for some 6 weeks.

Remember Geoff Wright collates attendance information and he needs to be told of  "make up " events which we attend.

Tell Noel Halford days before of an inability to attend Tuesday.  Late or non apologies raise catering costs. 

Also please alert him to attending guests.   Unforeseen higher numbers make problems for a surprised chef in supplying all meals simultaneously.