Proms evening to raise money for PCYC

A "Pearl Beach Proms" evening has been organised for Saturday, September 20, to help raise money for the Umina PCYC.

Pearl Beach resident Mr John Walklate said the evening "promised to be a wonderful occasion".

"This is a fundraising event to support the work of two skilled young police officers who have been seconded to the Umina PCYC to work with troubled youngsters," Mr Walklate said.

"Senior constables Paul Hanna and Renee Jackson's work involve a close and caring association with young people in pre and early teenage years, who need understanding to help them alter their anti-social behavior, which can lead to much heartbreak and damage to property here on the Peninsula.

"This is one of the main reasons for having a PCYC: to save young people from descending into a life of crime and reducing offences in our local area.

"Recent reports of the program being run by these two officers have shown that there has been a marked reduction in offending amongst the youngsters on their caseloads."

Pearl Beach and Patonga Chamber of Commerce Public Relations Officer Ms Rosemary Ruthven said a recent report to the Chamber stated the program has resulted in a 98 per cent rehabilitation success rate, well above the State average of 70 per cent.

"Local businesses like Woolworths in Woy Woy and Flemings and Bi-Lo in Umina are showing their support for the fundraiser by supplying coffee, milk, sugar, paper cups and plastic wineglasses for the occasion," Ms Ruthven said.

"The Ocean Beach Hotel Bottle Shop donated a magnum of red for one of the lucky door prizes and Hungerford Hill is very generously providing the majority of the wine for the evening."

Event organiser Ms Margaret Walklate said all profits received from the evening would be going to support a very worthwhile cause.

"We've kept the price low, so that more people can come along.

"It promises to be an evening of good music, song and laughter."

Dr John Irvine will be the MC for the event and director of the Gosford Philharmonic Choir Mr Phillip Rees will be the musical director.

Coffee will be served and wine will be available for a gold coin donation.

Tickets are available for $10 per person.

The evening will be held from 7pm at the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall.

To purchase tickets please contact Margaret Walklate on 4342 1306.

"If we can provide a program to delight everyone, while at the same time raise money for such a worthwhile cause, it will be all that we have aimed for," Mr Walklate said.

Press release, 25 Aug 2008 Rosemary Ruthven, Pearl Peach and Patonga Chamber of Commerce Letter, 20 Aug 2008 John Walklate, Pearl Beach