Boxing at Mt Druitt PCYC a lifesaver for the Carr brothers

BOXING is changing the lives of three young Tregear brothers who train at Mt Druitt PCYC. Daniel, Matthew and Greg Carr all agree they were headed down the wrong path a few years ago.

The Carr brothers Matthew, 17, Daniel, 20, and Greg, 15, have turned their lives around and are now mentoring other young people to help them do the same. Picture: AAP Image/David Swift

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BOXING is changing the lives of three young Tregear brothers who train at Mt Druitt PCYC.

Daniel, Matthew and Greg Carr all agree they were headed down the wrong path a few years ago.

For Daniel, 20 — the eldest of 12 — it was a brush with the law over a graffiti charge that changed his life.

“I was, I guess, troubled,” he said. “I was getting caught up with the wrong crowd and graffitiing and got sent to court.

“They asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be a boxer. I asked the judge if he could help organise me going to a PCYC and ... I haven’t left since I‘ve come here.”

The Carr brothers says boxing at PCYC has turned their life around. Picture: AAP Image/David Swift

Matthew, 17, and Greg, 15, saw the change in their brother and took up the sport as well.

That was three years ago. Now the trio are mentoring others through a new boxing program run by NSW Youth and Crime Prevention commander Superintendent David Roptell at Mt Druitt PCYC.

Run early on Mondays, it allows young people to get to know highly ranked police officers while learning to box and enjoying a healthy breakfast.

“We’ve got uniformed officers holding the pads for the kids and they get to talk with them,” Supt Roptell said. “Those boys (the Carr brothers) are so respectful. One week I couldn’t take the session, I got one of the boys to take it. He did a great job.”

The Carr brothers are now mentoring other young people. Picture: AAP Image/David Swift

PCYC NSW chief executive Dominic Teakle said the program will be rolled out in other PCYCs.

“It’s more about the engagement than the activity itself,” Mr Teakle said. “It’s important for the leadership to lead by example. I don’t think that is missed by the youth.”

Mt Druitt police Inspector Donna McCarthy said: “We have some great young men and women in our community who are trying to make a great future for themselves. Mt Druitt police are very pleased to support this initiative.”

For more details call 9628 2628.

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