PCYC Halifax: Thieves target Emergency Services Cadets in Hinchinbrook
Callous thieves have stolen $1000 worth of empty drinks containers needed to fund a PCYC program in a small North Queensland town.
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Callous grubs have stolen an estimated $1000 worth of empty drinks containers that were due to be exchanged for badly needed cash to help fund the operations of PCYC Emergency Services Cadets in a small North Queensland town.
Mark Regazzoli, local cadet coordinator of the Hinchinbrook Police Citizens Youth Club (PSYC) EMS Cadets in Halifax, said the thieves had made off with the overflowing contents of four 1000 litre containers of cans and bottles that were due to be exchanged for cash for recycling.
Mr Regazzoli, also controller of the Hinchinbrook branch of the Blue Light Association, said the $1000 was intended to fund the cadet program, which was blossoming with 25 full-time members.
“I’m appalled, we are volunteers who work with children and young persons in our community,” he said.
“Although we are government based, we are not government funded, everything we do for (the cadets) comes out of either my pocket, my leader’s pocket or from donations or charity and the bins are one of our major ones … along with the Lucinda Hotel raffles some Fridays.”
Mr Regazzoli said Halifax Police were following “good leads”, with the theft occurring about two weeks ago.
“There are reports of a ute with a trailer and two older people with a younger child were seen here loading.”
He said that in typical fashion, members of the comparatively close-knit community had banded together to help restock the plundered containers.
Mr Regazzoli said cadet numbers were rising, with three new 12-year olds signing up last week alone.
“We have a broad spectrum of training subjects that we go through … to teach them to become respectable community members,” he said.
“My challenge is to maintain some sort of training that they can carry through life, even if they don’t enter the emergency services or become paramedics … they’ve got some sort of commitment to the community.”
He said a number of cadets had stepped up during the February Hinchinbrook flood disaster that had left Halifax and other parts of the Lower Herbert completely isolated and without power and food.
He singled out Lucinda teen Keldon Fletcher, 16, who had played a crucial role in relief efforts in Lucinda.
In a Queensland first, Mr Regazzoli said Mr Fletcher had reached the rank of Group Leader and was the recipient of a Gold Star Award for his commitment to the community.
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Originally published as PCYC Halifax: Thieves target Emergency Services Cadets in Hinchinbrook
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