A Brief History of PCYC

 Police-Rotary Boys’ Club

In 1997 the PCYC movement in New South Wales celebrated the 60th anniversary of the opening of the first official “Police Boys Club” at Woolloomooloo in April 1937.

The Club officially known as the Police-Rotary Boys Club was established in a disused police station as an initiative of Police Commissioner, William John Mackay, and the Rotary Club of Sydney.

The purpose of the Club was to provide a venue where boys could engage in healthy sporting, cultural and recreational pursuits and mix with police in a non-confrontational environment, improve the relationship between youth and the police and so help reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour.

By the time the Club officially opened on 1 April 1937, it had a membership of 400 boys and facilities such as a library containing 3000 books, wrestling, physical culture classes, debating and teams in the rugby league competition.

In July 1937 the founders of the Woolloomooloo Club began the process of bringing together other boys’ clubs that police had initiated around the State and placing them under the authority of a central governing council. Clubs had been established independently from the Woolloomooloo Club at Bega, Cooma, Cootamundra, Goulburn, Tamworth, Yass and Young and there were moves to establish other in Balmain, the St George area and Wollongong.

Changing Times, Changing Identity

On 23 September 1938 the Federation of New South Wales Police Boys’ Clubs was incorporated with a Council of Management comprised of William Mackay and a further nine individuals including police officers, public servants and businessmen. Over time the organisation grew strongly with Clubs being established throughout Sydney and in most regional centres around NSW. The name of the organisation has changed over time to reflect the increasingly important role of community involvement. In 1945 it became known as the Federation of Police Citizens Boys’ Clubs.

In 1985 the movement became known as the Federation of Police Citizens Youth Clubs to reflect the provision of services for both males and females, despite female membership commencing many years prior to 1985.

In 1995 the name changed yet again to Police and Community Youth Clubs NSW to update the organisation’s image and streamline the name in line with a new “PCYC” logo.

PCYC NSW today is one of the largest youth organisations in Australia, with 59 clubs, 125 police and 300 civilian staff, over 2,500 volunteers and ovr 70,000 members throughout rural, regional and metropolitan New South Wales.

Focus on the Future

The focus of club services had over time steered towards sport and physical fitness, and the organisation has produced many champions in sports like boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and gymnastics. The Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) Review conducted in 1988 recommended that a more “community policing” focus was required for the organisation and that clubs should target youth “at risk” as a priority.

The Callaghan Inquiry in 1997 recommended an even greater focus on youth support and crime prevention. It also recommended the civilianisation of the organisation to allow police officers to return to core crime prevention work and to allow the movement to benefit from civilian professional expertise.

A new Board was appointed in 1998 together with the first civilian CEO, Ms Deborah Mills.

The Challenges

Throughout its 63-year history, the PCYC movement has enjoyed strong community support at club level through membership and activity fees and club-based fundraising activities, including sponsorships and financial support from local business communities. Currently this support realises approximately $12 million per annum.

At State Office level, the Community Awareness Unit continues to expand a very successful Payroll Deduction Program. However, maintaining 59 current clubs and meeting the demand for new facilities to be established presents PCYC with a significant financial challenge.

As part of the Strategic Plan, the organisation is continually expanding its fundraising program to raise its public profile and expanding Club activities, programs and services to young people. .