More than 60 young Wee Waarians headed to the town’s Sporting Complex on Friday night for the third Police and Community Youth Club event of the year.
“This is a fabulous turnout, and it goes to show just how quintessential these sorts of programs are in bringing the community together because of the numbers you see here tonight,” Police Chief Inspector Robert Dunn told The Courier.
“You’ve got a very diverse age group here and you’ve got a diverse socio-economic group.
“This isn’t just for troubled kids, it’s for everyone.
“It’s great – they’re all being active, and probably hanging out for a sausage sandwich after.”
In March, Oxley Police District Superintendent Bruce Grassick attended the monthly Wee Waa and District Chamber of Commerce meeting and flagged a PCYC outreach program would be coming to town.
At the chamber meeting, members raised concerns about crime, the judicial process, and discussed ways to keep youth engaged, entertained and off the streets to ensure the town stays an attractive place for businesses and people to call home. And attendees welcomed news of a PCYC program coming to Wee Waa.
Superintendent Grassick acknowledged the serious issues raised at the chamber meeting.
“Whatever the crime is, it has an impact on the community,” he said.
Superintendent Grassick gave the chamber meeting a snapshot of Wee Waa crime statistics over ‘about a four-and-a-half-month period’ from October 2022 to March 2023.
He said there had been 32 break and enters reported to police and 12 stolen cars reported.
“Quite large for a town like Wee Waa,”
Superintendent Grassick said there was a ‘spike’ in reported crime in January.
In some good news, on Friday night, Chief Insp. Dunn said, “Crime across the district is on the decline.
“We always go through peaks and troughs.
“And we’re always vigilant of the fact that a victim of crime, for them, it’s the worst day of their life.
“And we’re there to support them.”
The first PCYC U Nites program was held in Wee Waa on May 5 and last Friday’s evening event was the third of its kind.
Parent and Wee Waa Public School P and C member Jordann Hobden and Chief Inspector Robert Dunn.
For the short-term, it’s understood the program will continue to take place every fortnight.
“Importantly, we would like to see something a lot more long-term,” said Chief Insp. Dunn.
“It would be awesome to have something within the shire on a more full time basis.”
The program aims to engage young people in a fun, safe and supervised environment and offers entertainment such as sport, craft, or games.
Breaking the cycle of boredom and preventing the trouble and dangers that can occur when country youth don’t have positive role models or activities, the U-Nites program is designed to meet the needs of the young people within the local community.
Youth related offending issues have decreased significantly in communities where U-Nites programs take place.
“It’s tried and tested in places like Dubbo and Walgett, where it’s actually shown a reduction in the incidents of juvenile repeat offenders,” said Chief Insp. Dunn.
“So, other than getting the community together, it’s about helping those youths to find something else to do other than committing crime.”
Chief Insp. Dunn said local police officers were “absolutely thrilled” when they received news a PCYC program would be started in Wee Waa.
“The youth command has shown the initiative in conjunction with the Oxley Police District and got this going.
“With Mr Grassick being the Western Region sponsor for youth, I think it’s been an integral part of getting it off the ground.”
Aaliyah Vitnell and Blaikley Hobden having fun with a basketball.
Prevention is always better than cure, and when it comes to combatting crime PCYC has a great track record of positively influencing youth through recreation, education, leadership, and cultural programs, working with at-risk youth to break the cycle of disadvantage through crime prevention, vocational education, youth capacity building and social responsibility programs.
“The big one, of course, is prevention,” said Chief Insp. Dunn.
“And prevention is not just about locking your door, or putting on a light, prevention is about engagement.
“And these sorts of activities are integral in breaking down those barriers where you can see I’m out of uniform tonight and I’ll have other police here that won’t be in uniform either.
“This is yet another avenue that plays an important role in getting the community together, it’s an opportunity where everybody is treated exactly the same.
“Certainly, the kids who are getting bored and going out and committing crimes, they have something else to do other than the crime – this sort of program is just brilliant for that.”
At the March chamber of commerce meeting, attendees welcomed the news of a PCYC program, but Superintendent Grassick asked local groups, organisations, parents and families to help support police.
“We will work with the community, but you need to work with us too,” he said.
Chief Insp. Dunn praised the community groups and parents who have volunteered their time at the Wee Waa PCYC events.
“It’s amazing and it’s vitally important.”
Police and PCYC workers were thanked for their outstanding contribution, with young attendees especially excited to play sport with PCYC worker and Australian Ninja Warrior contestant Cruze Morley also well-known as the Boggy Ninja.
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