The Sandgate and Gladstone clubs were established in 1977 and 1978 respectively, then Beenleigh and Innisfail in 1979. The Association also entered the new field of vacation and after school care. In 1982 the Sandgate Branch introduced Blue Light Skating. This activity proved very successful and was extended to Blue Light Skating discos each fortnight on Saturday nights, with an average attendance of more than 300 children.
During 1983 new branches affiliated, included, Nerang, Ashmore, Capalaba and Blackwater. In 1984 the original old Lang Park club was demolished, and a new building erected on the same site. It was named after William Power (formerly the Minister of Public Works 1949) in honour of his contribution to the club. Mount Isa and Biloela were affiliated in 1987. The total number of youth clubs established was now 28, with 40 officers stationed at the youth clubs.
The largest building project for the year was the construction of a new complex at Camp Bornhoffen. Initial costing for the project was more than $400,000. After discussions with the Queensland Prison Service and the Superintendent of the Numinbah State Prison Farm, a co-operative team effort was established to handle the construction.
In 1988 capital improvements were undertaken to upgrade facilities with the Association raising and expending in excess of $3.5 million during the financial year, in addition to the $1.5 million provided by the Police Department in officer’s wages to conduct the Association business. Membership of the QPCYWA exceeded 25,000 during the year and was attended by members over 600,000 times. In addition to these attendances, Association premises were used extensively by schools and other community groups which substantially increased the number of participating youths.
This Queensland Police Service Ford Falcon wagon has participated in many Variety Bash events since 1988. Entry was supported by the PCYC and Queensland Blue Light (disco), with all the money raised going to sick and disadvantaged kids.
Image courtesy of Senior Sergeant Steve Watterson.
The Association hosted the first World Youth Conference at the Gold Coast from 22 August to 3 September 1988, with over 200 senior staff and both male and female youths from clubs around the globe in attendance. The conference demonstrated the police/youth relationship existing in Australia, and the facilities made possible when government and private enterprise work together.
In 1989 the affiliation of the Pine Rivers Police-Citizens Youth Club saw the construction of a club house by the Pine Rivers Shire Council at a total cost of $750,000 which included a $150,000 pledge by the QPCYWA. Branches at Charters Towers, Cairns, Mackay, Dalby and Caboolture were affiliated soon after.
Youth patrols, which commenced in 1990 at Redcliffe and Wynnum, targeted young people who were on the streets between 9pm and 3am on Friday and Saturday nights. Their purpose was to highlight alternative entertainment, and transport was provided to and from the club.
In 1993 a Mobile Activity Centre was developed using a custom designed trailer stocked with equipment, to target areas where young people congregated. The trailer provided a range of activities in the hope of diverting young people from less healthy and illegal pursuits.
In August 2001 the Lang Park Police-Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) had to temporarily relocate a kilometre down the road to the Sacred Heart Parish Hall at Rosalie due to the redevelopment of the Suncorp-Metway Stadium. Premier Peter Beattie officially opened the new club, now located on various levels of Suncorp Stadium, on 22 June 2004.
Sergeant John chatting with a trick biker at the Deception Bay PCYC grounds, 2006.
Image courtesy of the Queensland Police Museum.
In 2018, their 70th year, there are 54 branches throughout Queensland, from the tip of Cape York to the Gold Coast hinterland, supporting over 75,000 members. View club locations, sports programs and community events here; http://www.pcyc.org.au/
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This information has been supplied by the Queensland Police Museum from the best resources available at the time of writing. The Police Museum is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm on the last Sunday of the month (Feb-Nov) and is located on the Ground Floor of Police Headquarters at 200 Roma Street, Brisbane.
Contact: E: museum@police.qld.gov.au
“FROM the VAULT – QPCYWA Part 4” by the Queensland Police Service is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (BY) 2.5 Australia Licence. Permissions may be available beyond the scope of this licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/legalcode