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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

PCYC full of surprises

 

Umina Beach Police and Community Youth Club is an unimposing building at the end of Osborne St, Umina, but for those who venture inside there is a surprise around every corner.

Club manager Colin Fraser says the young people of the Peninsula have had a significant input into the appearance and programs at the centre from the blue, green and yellow paint and furnishings to the choice of activities.

With help from Senior Constable Paul Hanna, the police programmer for the club, a variety of sports and other activities have been implemented for the residents of the area.

In activity room one, you may find a drama group rehearsing their latest production, or a dance party with music by the centre's own DJs running the sound equipment.

Elsewhere you will find a professionally equipped gymnasium with boxing classes, circuit training and Tae Kwon Do groups.

Enter another area and there will be tap dancing or gymnastics classes being held.

There is a café where patrons may relax over a coffee or soft drink around the corner from a cyber café where young people may access the Internet or play computer games.

Nearby you can play a game of pool or snooker on the pool tables.

The Umina Beach PCYC was born three years ago when Energy Australia and Gosford Council offered the Energy Australia warehouse, garage and grounds to the PCYC committee along with a $500,000 grant to refurbish.

Janet Booth of Umina, the administration officer for the club, attends the reception area.

Janet has been with the club since it opened over two years ago.

In fact, Janet began her duties three weeks before the official opening.

Janet's own two sons, Scott, 16, and Dale, 14, also volunteer at the club, helping to run the café or other tasks around the buildings and grounds.

The dance parties take place in a huge auditorium that at other times may be partitioned off into three smaller rooms.

There is a training program underway for young DJs who are learning to use the audio-visual equipment.

The current program has six trainees who receive hands on experience during the dances.

Colin Fraser says the club's pride and joy is the $100,000 gymnasium housed in what used to be a truck shed behind the main building.

As well as state-of-the-art training and exercise equipment, there is a professional boxing ring in which qualified boxing instructor Joel Keegan of Umina coaches trainees.

The PCYC boxing group is doing particularly well, having won their last tournament winning 19 of the 20 fights.

Circuit boxing is also available.

Popular with local women, circuit boxing is based on physical training with no contact involved.

Colin Fraser said there are no school holiday programs in place at the moment but plans are underway to implement activities for the next holidays including the provision of shuttle buses from shopping centres and caravan parks.

Gwyneth Cooke, April 17