Police bring ‘Fight for Success’ to the bush
Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett have been selected as part of a new program to encourage young people back into the PCYC and to change the way they interact with police.
The ‘Fight for Success’ program is an initiative of the NSW Police Force to encourage youngsters back to the PCYC and harks back to the role both organisations have played in the past in steering at-risk youth away from crime and anti-social behaviour.
‘Fight for Success’ aims to build on positive relationships with police through boxing training programs, rugby league and physical activities, areas where the PCYC has played a huge role in the past.
As part of the program, NRL stars Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton have put their hands up to be involved, promoting the benefits of training, fitness, and goalsetting.
The first round of Fight for Success targeted four towns: Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Kempsey with other locations to be considered for the rollout.
During the launches, young participants took part in boxing drills, met with NRL players, and even enjoyed a friendly game of touch football with their idols.
They also engaged with officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Aviation Command, Youth Command, the Police Dog and Police Mounted Units, and the Recruitment Branch.
Assistant Commissioner Region Commander, Peter McKenna, said he had high hopes for the program and for the role of the PCYC in the lives of young indigenous people in remote communities in the western region.
“In my role, I look after Aboriginal engagement and I teed up with Brett Greentree, Assistant Commissioner for the Western region, to come to Bourke to launch Fight for Life,” he said.
“It is a partnership with police, the PCYC and No Limits Boxing, who provided the gloves, pads and training equipment and put together programs to get kids back into the PCYC.
“We don’t want kids to only see police at times of crisis or in negative situations, we want to build strong relationships with them based on positive interactions.
“Boxing has been a flagship sport for the PCYC for many years and many talented boxers – like Bourke’s Willy Middleton – have come out of these towns.
“Who knows – perhaps the next boxing champion might be from a primary school at Bourke, Brewarrina or Walgett.[…]
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