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Brett Somerville from PCYC was today's guest speaker and he was introduced by Past President, Retired Police Superintendent, Frank Fuller.
Frank gave Brett an enthusiastic welcome to our club. Brett has had a strong career in the area of sports management. A Collingullie boy, Brett was Master in Charge of the Greater Western Sydney Sports Academy. He coached the First Eighteen at Riverview College and after returning to Wagga in 2015 he coaches the Collingullie Demons. Brett has managed the PCYC for 5 years. Frank was himself President of the PCYC in the 1980's.
The Police Citizens Youth Club organisation began in 1937 in partnership with Rotary. Brett said its purpose is to empower young people with the assistance of police and other community organisations. It is a Charity and not a Government Run organisation although it receives Government assistance.
It promotes Respect, Commitment and Resilience for young people.
It is an exciting time for PCYC Wagga as a $23 million dollar facility will commence construction in 2020 on the old South Wagga Bowling Club site. It will be designed to complement the Wagga City Council Sports Precinct at Bolton Park.
The PCYC movement has 65 Clubs with 110,000 members, 900 staff, 220 police, 1,500 active volunteers and provides 1,000 different activities for young people.
Programs provided in Wagga include: Police Programs, Indigenous Programs, Driver Education, Leadership, Vacation and After School Care, Youth Committee, Savannah Pride ( A basketball program aimed specifically for Sudanese), and Emergency Service Cadets.
Brett is particularly proud of the Emergency Services Cadets program which he initiated in Wagga as a Pilot Program. It allows suitable young people to participate with emergency services personnel. The young people involved in this program helped to set up and run "Nations of Origin" event and it is hoped their participation will give them skills to assist in finding career paths.
PCYC can use community help with bus driving, selling raffle tickets, running barbecues, Co-ordinating programs and doing administrative work.
Brett showed us a video of PCYC work and then fielded a number of questions.
Brett said that NSW PCYC is its own entity. After care costs $29 a day which is means tested. Kids join through the Rise Up Strategy sometimes with referrals from police, youth workers, homeworkers or anyone linked into community organisations who see young people at risk and who might benefit from the programs offered.
"Fit for Change" is a 10 week program designed to change anti-social behaviour. The bike track located at the current PCYC facility will not be replicated at the new facility, but the bike track objective will be met by the new bike track at Pomingalarna reserve.
Richard Rossiter gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Club. He said we are all looking forward to the new facility which will be of great benefit to the Wagga Community. He said how he enjoyed the bike track as a kid and commended the work that PCYC does. Richard presented Brett with a Bottle of Wine in appreciation. Members endorsed his thanks with applause.