An article from the Kalgoorlie Miner about a Laverton resident supporting loan shark Mr Tomarchio. Take a look at the Miner to catch up with news on the Goldfields.
27th Jan 2010 FRANCES PRATT
A Laverton man has come forward in support of Sam Tomarchio, the man accused of ripping off Aboriginal residents through a cash-lending scheme.
Jack Long said he operated a similar business for 28 years until stopping two years ago after building up $150,000 in losses.
The 72-year-old who has lived in the town since 1978 considers himself a “grandfather to every black man in the desert” and is dumbfounded at accusations he is racist.
“At least I have a conscience,” he said after returning from Leonora to collect medical supplies for a local woman. “Last week I gave out three tyres and two jerry cans of fuel; it’s just me, just the sort of thing I do.”
Mr Long said indigenous people were “never off (his) doorstep” and his wife and he, who spent years nursing at Laverton Hospital, were well respected by the Aboriginal people.
He said his money and goods-lending practice and Mr Tomarchio’s more recent operation were not the cause of the town’s anti-social behaviour and alcohol problems.
“It is the white advisers, holy rollers and do-gooders who are the problem,” he said, adding the town’s alcohol accord was pointless because in place of wine casks, indigenous locals bought large bottles of spirits.
Mr Long also said he believed out-of-date and damaged food, earmarked for animal processing, was being sold to Aboriginal people in Warburton at 2000 per cent profit.
He said he had unloaded bread and sugar off a truck in Warburton that was “black” and “like bricks”.
Mr Long said he did not “lie or cheat” but prefered to give help where needed.
“We are dealing with the biggest pack of drongos called politicians,” he said.
“They don’t want the Aboriginal people to advance one day ahead of where they are now.
“There are too many politicians and holy rollers making too much money out of them.”
Mr Long said Mr Tomarchio and he would not have had to lend money if the Aboriginal people had access to proper education.
“What else are these people going to do?” he asked.
“We don’t even have banking machines in Laverton, even I’m running out of money now.”
The Kalgoorlie Miner understands Laverton shire this week received interest from financial institutions looking at installing an ATM in the town.
Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin sent a team of professionals to Laverton last week in a bid to encourage Mr Tomarchio’s clients to take control of their own finances.
“What right does anybody have to tell Aboriginal people what they should spend their money on,” Mr Long said.
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They are such generous souls.
I have updated Sam Tomarchio Loan Shark – Link to News Articles
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