Nomads Motorcycle Club (Australia)
The Nomads Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club in Australia with around 70 chapters and 2,000+ members nationwide. It was founded in Sydney, in 1968 A number of countries have motorcycle clubs called "Nomads Motorcycle Club", e.g. Australia,[1][2][3] South Africa[4] and Germany,[5] and there is a Nomads gang in New Zealand.
Abbreviation | 14-NMC |
---|---|
Founded | 1968 |
Founded at | Sydney |
Type | Outlaw motorcycle club |
Region | Australia |
Key people | Sam Ibrahim |
History
Nomads MC was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 1968.
On 9 July 1997 the National President Greg Craig gave control of the Parramatta chapter to Sam Ibrahim, brother of well known Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim. Sam Ibrahim was not required to follow the normal path of first becoming a prospect, then a fully patched member, before taking over the role of chapter president. The Parramatta chapter was shut down in 2006 after several members were arrested. See the "Crime / In The Media" section below for further information.
Patch / motto / colors
The Nomads patch consists of a skull wearing a helmet. The helmet has wings and a swastika. Behind the helmet are a set of pistons. A small set of wings are also seen beside the "NOMADS" text.
The Nomads colors are black and white.
#14
Chapters
The club has chapters throughout Australia, but none in other countries.
Rough geographical locations of the chapters are as follows:
- Nomads Adelaide chapter
- Nomads Newcastle chapter
- Nomads Parramatta, New South Wales / Girraween, New South Wales / Wetherill Park, New South Wales chapter (Western Sydney)
- Nomads Sydney / Marrickville, New South Wales chapter
- North coast Byron Bay, New South Wales chapter
- Blacktown, New South Wales chapter
- Victoria chapter
- Gold Coast chapter
- Brisbane chapter
- Hobart chapter
- Launceston chapter
- Perth chapter
Well-known members
Hassan Sam Ibrahim – former Parramatta chapter president
Sam Ibrahim, the brother of well known Kings Cross club owner John Ibrahim, was the Parramatta Chapter President. He was patched into the chapter by National President Greg Craig, without the need to first prospect. In January 2011 he was shot in the legs in a drive-by shooting outside his mother's house. In September 2015, it was announced that the Australian Government would be deporting him.
Allan Sarkis – President of Notorious
Allan Sarkis was patched into the Parramatta chapter by Sam Ibrahim (then the Parramatta President). Sarkis left the club, along with other Parramatta members, to start the Notorious Gang / Motorcycle Club, which gained media attention as they promoted themselves as a motorcycle club although many members did not ride Harley Davidson motorcycles and they often wore clothing not associated with the traditional outlaw motorcycle club scene. They were deemed the "Nike Bikies" in some publications.
Moto- #14-only the dead see the end of the war
As part of the New South Wales Police operation named Strike Force Raptor, the organizational structure of Notorious MC was dismantled and the group classified as no longer being active as of March 2012.
Scott Orrock – Nomads National President / Hells Angels
Scott Orrock was the Nomads National President and had been involved in several high profile events including the shooting at the Nomads Newcastle clubhouse in September 2004 (see "Crime / In The Media" section below for more information).
He has owned multiple tattoo shops including "Skin Deep Tattoo" in Newtown, New South Wales.
In December 2009, Scott Orrock patched over to the Hells Angels, bringing with him several members of the Nomads. This move was one of the reasons for the escalating violence between the Nomads and Hells Angels over the coming months, including his vehicle being torched the following day.
Crimes and events
2004 – 12 September 2004. Parramatta President Sam Ibrahim, National President Scott Allan Orrock and Paul James Griffin travel to the Nomads Newcastle clubhouse for a meeting. A fight broke out at the clubhouse, with Newcastle Sgt-At-Arms, Dale Campton, being shot in both knees by Ibrahim. Newcastle chapter member Mark Chrystie was also shot in both legs. A third Newcastle member had his Nomads jacket and ring taken, before being bashed. In May 2006, Campton became a police informer and provided details of the crime.
2006 – May 2006. Newcastle Sergeant at Arms, Dale Campton, becomes a police informer, providing them details of the fight with the Parramatta chapter on 12 September 2004.
2006 – December 2006. Ibrahim, Orrock and Griffin are arrested for the 12 September 2004 attack on the Newcastle members. As part of Ibrahim's arrest his unit in Parramatta is raided by police. In the raid police uncover weapons, ammunition, a bullet proof vest, walking stick sword and nunchucks, leading him to also be charged for 11 weapons and property offences.
2007 – April 2007. The "Skin Deep Tattoo" store in Newtown, Sydney, which is owned by Orrock, is shot up.
2008 – October 2008. Ibrahim, Orrock and Griffin are acquitted of the 2004 attack at the Newcastle clubhouse.
2009 – 27 February 2009. 14 Nomads are inside the Sydney chapter clubhouse in Marrickville when gunmen wearing balaclavas enter. Three Nomads are shot in the legs and lower torso before the gunmen leave the building.
2009 – 3 December 2009. A Toyota Soarer vehicle owned by former President Scott Orrock is torched. This attack comes the day after he patches in to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.
2015 – 30 January 2015. 13 members of the Nomads are arrested following a raid on their clubhouse in Wetherill Park, Sydney. Most of those arrested were charged under recently brought in legislation making it illegal to consort with convicted offenders. The Wetherill Park clubhouse was shut down as part of the raids.
2015 – May 2015. 12 people associated with the Nomads, including 2 high ranking members, are arrested in raids across New South Wales and Adelaide. The group includes mainly members of the Adelaide chapter. Charges against the 12 people include soliciting to murder, kidnapping, blackmail and assault. Included in those arrested were the Adelaide chapter President, Adelaide Sgt-At-Arms and the New South Wales Vice President. Police advise that the crimes "were committed as a result of the victims not undertaking the required acts set out by the Nomads" and that the victims were either Nomads members or associates.
Books / movies / TV
While there are no books specific to the Nomads Motorcycle Club, multiple books detail the events that they have been involved in.
Nomads Book – Gangland Sydney by James Morton and Susanna Lobez. Find out more on Amazon (link opens in a new tab).
Nomads Book – Biker Gangs and Transnational Organized Crime by Thomas Barker. Find out more on Amazon (link opens in a new tab).
Enemies and allies
Nomads MC enemies:
- Rebels MC (Australia) are enemies.
- Finks Motorcycle Club, Australia.
Nomads MC allies:
- Hells angels MC
- Notorious Motorcycle Club (gang / motorcycle club) are allies, with many Notorious members being in the Nomads previously
See also
References
- Ashton, Kelly. "RIP Metho Tom". Ozbike: Thunder Down Under. no. 320, 18–22.
- Veno, Arthur (2004). The Brotherhoods: Inside the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 67.
- Baker, Jordan. "Crime Inc's Riders". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 January 2008.
- Here, Your Name. "Nomads Motorcycle Club of Cape Town". www.nomads.org.za.
- "Motorcycle clubs". nomads-mc.de.