Bad year for PCYC
PCYC committee president Ms Carolyn Carter has described the club's last year as horrible but with some good outcomes.
Writing in the club's annual report, Ms Carter cited the absence of a civilian club manager, the controversy surrounding a license for its dance, and the resulting financial situation as factors contributing to a disastrous year.
"The incoming Council had expected that there would be a civilian manager, so we felt considerable astonishment when he went on leave almost immediately after the 2003 AGM and then resigned," Ms Carter said.
"It then took until August 2003 before applicants for the position were interviewed.
"Unfortunately this person had a serious illness and was unable to take up the position.
"We were then informed by the State Office that we could not have a new manager appointed until the Minister of Police had approved further funding.
"At this stage, it is anticipated that the position will be filled by October at the latest.
"Up until March-April 2003, one of the more lucrative youth activates at the our club had been the regular dance parties.
"Imagine our horror when it was discovered that we did not have a Places of Public Entertainment (POPE) licence less than 24 hours before a live band function in May 2003.
"It went ahead, but outside rather than inside.
"This was much better than having 400 young people at our front gate demanding their money back for the pre-sold tickets."
After much negotiation, the club now has an interim POPE licence until all the work to upgrade the facility is completed.
"Apart from the loss of income, the lack of a POPE licence also led to a break in a very strong link between our club and our local young people.
"We would hope that this will pick up from here on in."
The resulting financial situation at the PCYC ultimately meant that staff had to be cut and there was a loss of jobs in administration, and the branch controller also had to act as full time administrator.
Despite all these setbacks, Ms Carter said the PCYC still had good achievements for the year.
She cited the new Police Programmer working from June last year, the new close links with the Peninsula Community Drug Action Team, the success of the Alternative Learning Centre, the Bush Tucker Garden created by the POEMS group and the continued use of the gym.
Other achievements were:
*
The "Rebound" basketball program
* A Tuesday Night Oztag program
* Dance parties
* Skateboard and biking competitions at the skate park
* Monthly Friday night barbecues
* The Why2Wise drug information program through Brisbane Water Secondary College.
Ms Carter thanked the volunteers at the centre and all those who helped through the year's difficulties.
Alison Branley, July 22