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A ‘white pride’ group is looking for members in the Beaufort area and has used a newspaper advertisement as part of its recruitment. Fairfax Media can reveal that an Ararat Rural City employee listed their mobile phone number in the advertisement. On Friday, a community newspaper published a classified advertisement seeking people interested in forming an ‘alliance’ based on ‘white pride’ and ‘right wing politics’. The newspaper in question was not operated by Fairfax Media, which is the publisher of this website. “Wanted: People interested in white pride and right wing politic’s (sic) to form an alliance. Beaufort Area,” the advertisement stated. The wanted notice was published on a page that included notices for community group annual general meetings, prayer services and tourism services. The white pride alliance notice also included a mobile phone number. Fairfax Media called the number on Wednesday morning but was directed to voicemail. The phone number belongs to Steve Stranks, who runs Southern Pride Boxing Club in Beaufort. Pictures of Mr Stranks in his gym show an American Confederate rebel flag, Confederate-era state flag of North Carolina and a 'White Pride World Wide' Celtic cross emblem in the background. The white pride Celtic cross emblem is closely associated with Stormfront website, one of the oldest and largest white supremacist and neo-Nazi online forums in the world. Mr Stranks is also an employee of Ararat Rural City. Ararat Rural City chief executive Allan Bawden said the municipal government did not condone or engage in any discriminatory activity. “Steve informed us late yesterday that he had placed an advert to meet people of like mind,” Mr Bawden said. “We counselled Steve about inclusion and explained that Council does not support ideas of racial discrimination of any kind. “We are an inclusive organisation and will continue to be inclusive of all people in the community. “We have recently joined the Welcoming Cities Network, which has a strong focus on the transition of migrants into society and equality for all people – a value Ararat Rural City Council fully supports. “We do not condone or engage in any discrimination activity.” Pyrenees Shire mayor Ron Eason said he didn’t want the group to establish itself in Beaufort but people had a right to free speech. “Isn’t it wonderful that we live in a country where people can be dead against something but people can still have their point of view?” he said. “I hope no one ever rings that number, that’s my view. “People can express their own views as long as they aren’t hurting anybody.” According to the 2016 Census, 86.4 per cent of people in Beaufort identified as having English, Australian, Irish, Scottish or German ancestry. The largest non-European group was the 0.5 per cent of residents who identified as having Vietnamese ancestry. More than 88 per cent of Beaufort residents spoke English and no other language at home in 2016.

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