THIS month, the PCYC Club on Gypsum Street turns 80 years old, and this morning at 11am the group will be having its birthday party, of sorts.
The mayor will the there, as will the club’s many sponsors, donors and volunteers from over the years – and, of course, any number of the over 500 members the club enjoys today.
“We’re just going to have a little celebration for our 80-year anniversary,” said club manager Linden Cox.
“We sent out invites to all the businesses that have supported us over the years, so it’s just a chance to have a chat, have a feed, and celebrate the fact that we’re still here.”
Established in July 1945, the Broken Hill Police Citizens Youth Club was one of the first regional branches of an organisation that began in the rough Sydney suburb of Woolloomooloo in 1937, with the original purpose being to divert young boys from a life of hooliganism on the street.
“It was originally a police initiative and essentially a boy’s club,” Mr Cox said.
“The idea was to sort of bridge that gap, to provide a safe and positive space as an alternative to what was outside.
“There was a lot of concern at the time around the rise of juvenile delinquency, so the club was heavily centred on sports, particularly boxing.
“Of course, it’s different now, a lot more rounded. It’s for everyone.”
Today, more than just a gymnasium and café, the PCYC runs youth programs like Fit for Life, designed to engage young people in physical activity and mentorship before school, staff running outreach sessions in Wilcannia and Menindee as well as Broken Hill.
“We’re a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity, so we don’t really profit so much off our success,” said Mr Cox.
“All we try to do is to make sure that all the money we spend, we make back in return, to just keep the doors open for the community.”
Mr Cox said the Broken Hill PCYC of the future will be focusing on more social engagement than pure gymnastics.
“What we’re trying to establish here in Broken Hill is that it’s not necessarily sports orientated, but more centred on community recreation as a whole,” he said.
“We’ve been speaking to local gaming group, for example, who play table top card games. They’re a community in themselves.
“Some social groups don’t necessarily want to do basketball or boxing or archery.
“They’re social communities, and we want PCYC to be a safe place for all.”
