One of the more heartwarming stories the North West Star has covered in recent weeks is the opening of the PCYC youth zone.
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The youth zone repurposes the old Woolworth's building in Pioneer and puts a great youth project in the heart of the area that most needs that kind of help and dynamism in Mount Isa.
In partnership with Queensland Police Service and Pioneer Police Beat, PCYC launched the Youth Zone at the vacant Pioneer Woolworths building in September in conjunction with Child Protection Week.
The intent of the Youth Zone is to provide a physical activity hub for school aged children to engage youth within low socio-economic areas and build respect through positive interaction and role modelling.
The building is divided into three physical activity areas including the junior zone, senior zone and chill out area.
I understand there are plans to provide a variety of activities for all ages including table tennis, boxercise and circuit exercises.
The facility will be open Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and on some weekends.
Congrats to Sgt Bernadette Strow and her team for making this happen, and I'm sure the money raised by Rodeo Queen Aimee Sewell has been a welcome bonus.
As Sgt Strow told the North West Star the zone would deepen the connection to the local community.
"This zone is to interact and engage with local children, while we build good role modelling with assistance from police and other agencies," she said."
"The bigger picture is also getting the families involved as well."
I wish it every success.
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While I'm handing out bouquets, here's one to the Mount Isa City Council for their mural project at the water tank.
The artwork by Red Ridge Interiors is stunning and really adds vibrancy and colour to the city skyline.
The area is critical for Mount Isa as the site of the lookout and this project gives visitors more reason to hang around a bit longer.
It really is a lovely piece of public art. Derek Barry