June 27, 2014
The South Burnett PCYC in Murgon is bidding farewell today to manager Sgt Michael Eadie who’ll be soon packing his bags and heading off to Brisbane’s prestigious Lang Park.
Michael has been stationed at Murgon since 2009 and has become a very familiar face in the local community through all his PCYC activities.
He joined the police force in 1991: “I always wanted to be a police officer. From the age of seven, I wanted to be a cop,” he told southburnett.com.au
But while stationed in Townsville, he became involved with the local Upper Ross PCYC.
“I have always been very sports-minded. It was a way for me to give back to youth through sports and activities that I didn’t have when I was growing up.”
Michael has clocked up years of experience to qualify him for the Lang Park role. As well as the South Burnett PCYC, he has relieved at PCYCs in Fortitude Valley, Arana Hills, Biloela and Mt Isa.
And he’s looking forward to the new job.
“For me, it’s a step up, the next challenge,” he said.
The Lang Park facility has a long and proud history. It was the first branch of the Queensland Police-Citizens Youth Welfare Association to open its doors, in 1949.
The membership is more than 4000, a big rise on the 700 in the South Burnett.
When Michael arrived in the South Burnett, council was still running the facility, which was then known as “The Pulse”.
It was open three afternoons and two mornings a week, and offered dance, squash and fitness classes.
Now the South Burnett PCYC is open five days a week, and as well as dance classes and squash, there’s gymnastics, a modern gym, cheerleading, tiny tots fitness, Les Mills exercise classes, personal training and Punchfit.
The “Friday Night Live” program of U18 activities once a month is hugely popular, with 195 youngsters enjoying the latest event.
They enjoy activities such as indoor cricket and soccer, Xbox and PlayStation games, pool tables, Gladiator challenge … plus hot food.
“We open up the whole centre,” Michael said. “They go crazy!”
Grants have led to the installation of a fully-sprung gymnastics floor and a full range of related equipment.
Michael said it was important to remember that the South Burnett PCYC did not just service Murgon.
Programs are also run in Cherbourg, fitness classes in Kingaroy and after-school activities at Taabinga State School.
A skateboarding program at Murgon, Cherbourg, Goomeri, Kingaroy, Nanango, Yarraman and Blackbutt attracted more than 1000 children across the region and culminated in the popular King Of Roy skateboarding competition held at the Kingaroy Youth Park.
There have also been mountain bike rides in Yarraman and Blackbutt.
Michael said he would like to thank the South Burnett community for getting behind the PCYC and “fulfilling the vision”.
He made special mention of volunteer Alan Foster who at age 72 is still coming in to help at the Murgon facility three says a week.
“Hopefully the community will remain behind it and push it even further,” Michael said.
“We have built it up and we want to keep it going.”
His hopes for the future of the Murgon complex include a new gymnastics hall, which would allow the current area to be turned into an indoor skateboard area and drop-in centre.
Michael won’t be completely severing his connection with Murgon, as the Lang Park PCYC is the official “brother” PCYC to the South Burnett facility.
Senior Constable Jaime Hastie, from Murgon police station, will be filling in at the PCYC until the Queensland Police Service advertises the position.
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