Easter in the Country celebrations was brighter than ever this year when PCYC Maranoa’s annual ColourXplosion Fun Run, supported by Senex, burst into action.
Held on 20 April – Easter Sunday – the event saw entrants in the PCYC ColourXplosion being showered in a vibrant kaleidoscope of colours when they took to Bassett Park in droves for the 5km fun run and walk.
All profits from the event support PCYC Maranoa’s youth programs.
Entrants were encouraged to wear fancy dress to run, walk, jog or even dance their way to the finish line. With every person who registered issued a free packet of paint powder to shower family and friends during the run, it was an event set to live up to its name.
PCYC Maranoa Club Manager Trish Brider, said this annual fundraiser is a huge help in facilitating the club’s local free programs and activities for young people.
“We love hosting this annual event for our community,” she said.
“It’s great to see our PCYC club members, our staff and volunteers, as well as young people who are new to PCYC, all having fun and supporting each other.
“We want our PCYC to continue to be a hub of activity for the community – we’ve got a lot of exciting programs on the cards to help create a safe, healthy Maranoa community through youth development.
She encouraged young people across the region to come along, have some fun and to find out more about the activities and programs PCYC has on offer – from basketball, to boxing, to learning to drive, and Emergency Services Cadets – PCYC has programs to support young people no matter where they are in life.
Senex Energy Community Relations Manager, Trevor Robertson said Senex was proud of its ongoing partnership with PCYC Maranoa and was excited to be again supporting the ColourXplosion Fun Run in 2025.
“Run, walk, jog, skip or dance to the finish line,” Trevor said.
“PCYC Maranoa delivers important services to the community, and young people seeking positive connections and support from great mentors.
“As a big part of the Roma community, we are delighted to sponsor what is one of the most popular family events in the region.”
Budding gymnasts from across the region showcased their skills earlier this month, with PCYC Dalby hosting its Regional Gymnastics Carnival that saw 80 gymnasts from PCYCs Dalby, Fernvale and South Burnett participating in an inclusive competition for all levels.
Foundation and Beginner gymnasts all walked away with a participation certificate and medal, and Intermediate and Advanced gymnasts were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze on each apparatus and then received an overall medal depending on their scores.
This carnival was an example of how PCYC Queensland’s Gymnastics program is changing the face of a sport renowned as tough and high-stakes. It’s doing this simply by focusing on joy, health, and personal growth – with a little competitive spirit sprinkled in.
PCYC Dalby’s Club Coordinator Claire Gordon said the Dalby Regional Gymnastic Carnival allows recreational gymnasts the opportunity to have a competition experience without the same stress as an official competition.
“We want people to feel welcome and included, regardless of their skill level,” she said.
“It was absolutely fantastic to see our gymnasts of all levels trying their best and having fun while being able to have a go at a competitive event.
“We want everyone to feel that they belong at a PCYC gymnastics class whether or not they are interested in competing. It is an incredible way for young people to explore the amazing things their body can do, move it in a healthy, fun way, and connect with each other and our awesome coaches.”
2025 is the year of the Fun Squad, the bright, bold new look for PCYC Queensland’s outside school hours services.
As the largest provider of outside school hours services in the state, PCYC Queensland knows what schoolchildren need to bookend their school days and fill their holidays.
Fun fuels minds, friendships, and when activities are fun and engaging, they can increase wellbeing, confidence, and boost curiosity.
“We have experience and research behind us, and children and young people are at the centre of what we do at PCYC Queensland,” said Fun Squad General Manager Bev Book.
“We know what matters to parents is that their children are happy and thriving in a positive, nurturing and inclusive space – and what matter to children is, are we having fun?
“The Fun Squad provides both. We focus on sustainability, friendship, leadership, inclusivity, wellbeing and community spirit.”
PCYC Queensland’s Fun Squad offers activities including pickleball, mindfulness, crafting, cooking, gardening and more, as well as the organisation’s leadership program for 5 to 11-year-olds, Cadet Club.
“Cadet Club is an incredibly popular leadership program which involves children learning about leadership, relationships, and emotional awareness. It also has guest teachers like community members, local Elders, and of course QPS officers – PCYC and QQPS share DNA,” said Bev.
“Our 750-person strong Fun Squad teams are backed by more than1,500 PCYC Queensland support staff, 2,700 volunteers and the Queensland Police Service. We are strong and well-supported.”
Fun Squad branding is bright and bold, to match the ethos of the program, and will be rolled out in all services across the state over the coming weeks.
Principal of Waterford State School Danielle Young said Fun Squad was like a home away from home for many of the school’s students.
“Having Waterford Fun Squad as part of our school community is amazing,” she said.
“Our students love heading to Fun Squad after school and I know our staff and parents are relieved of some of their stresses knowing that our Waterford Warriors are safe and sound and having an awesome time.”
If the future of our communities rests with these young people, it is in good hands.
During the intensity of ex-Cyclone Alfred across South East Queensland over the past week, three of PCYC Queensland’s Emergency Services Cadet Units were activated to volunteer alongside their local SES Units and assist with filling sandbags for the community.
PCYC’s amazing Adult Leaders mobilised a workforce of Cadets to do the jobs that would usually be done by skilled SES volunteers, leaving the SES to tackle the big jobs of tarping roofs and dealing with emergencies in the lead up to this major weather event.
Our Somerset Unit was activated with the Local Cadet Coordinator at the helm, as well as Sergeant TJ Baker lending a hand.
What a wonderful contribution our young people are making to their communities – to say that we are proud of them, and of the Adult Leaders who are making this happen, is a huge understatement!
About PCYC’s Emergency Services Cadets
The Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) program is delivered in partnership with PCYC Queensland and Queensland’s Emergency Services, thanks to the support of Queensland Police Services (QPS) and Queensland Fire Department (QFD).
The ESC program is offered to young people aged 12 to 17 and usually operates out of an Emergency Service facility (such as a local SES headquarters or Rural Fire Service station). The Cadet ‘Unit’ is managed under the leadership and guidance of volunteer Adult Leaders with mentoring and activities from Emergency Services personnel.
The aim of the program is to provide young people with a safe, fun and inclusive environment that offers them practical life skills and leadership opportunities. Cadets are provided with a uniform and participation is free, we just ask Cadets to supply their own black boots. The program runs concurrently with the school year and a Cadet Unit will usually meet once a week during the school term. There are 25 ESC Unit locations across Queensland where Cadets are encouraged to explore a career in the Emergency Services, either as a volunteer or in a paid role.
For more information about your local Emergency Services Cadets program contact PCYC Somerset.
This week was unforgettable for many of the remarkable young people who participate in PCYC programs.
From Sunday through to Thursday, the NRL HOGs tour roared into five PCYCs – South Burnett, Goondiwindi, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Toowoomba. Each morning, NRL stars including Brad “Freddy” Fittler and Greg Inglis joined our young people for team-building activities and program sessions— and what a fantastic experience it was for everyone.
The engagement was outstanding and the young footy fans were given an experience they’ll always treasure. The success of the tour is a direct result of the hard work and dedication put in by our program staff, QPS partners and the youth participation teams. Coordinating such a huge effort takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work, and I’m very proud of the efforts of everyone at the clubs who made it all come together. I’m also appreciative of the time and effort the NRL put into these visits, and the genuine connection and engagement with young people which was visible to all who were there.
This week highlighted the strength of our partnerships and the impact we can have when we work together. I look forward to seeing this collaboration continue to grow in the future.
Thank you again to all involved for making this week a huge success!
The young people, who are engaged with PCYC Queensland’s youth programs, participated in team-building activities with NRL representatives including founder Brad Fittler along with mentors from PCYC and Queensland Police Service (QPS).
The HOGs Tour, now in its 14th year, is touring Queensland for only the second time, stopping at regional areas and championing the importance of rugby league and sport as a positive force in regional communities.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said the NRL HOGs team spending the morning at PCYC Toowoomba was a fantastic opportunity for the young people in the area.
“We are really excited for the team at PCYC Queensland to be working with our QPS partners and the NRL on this HOGs Tour, which really celebrates young leaders in Queensland communities,” he said.
“The young leaders involved are integral parts of their communities, they are very involved with PCYC and they truly embody the best of Queensland’s young people.”
Brad said the HOGS tour was a great experience for all involved.
“The NRL HOGS National Tour is all about connecting with and celebrating regional communities who are the fabric of our great game,” Fittler said.
“They register to play, watch our NRL & NRLW stars, and contribute so much to Rugby League. This tour is our opportunity to give back to them.
“We ride into town, invite all the juniors out on the field for a community clinic and provide them dinner.
“We visit local businesses in each town, including PCYC Clubs and Westpac branches, connecting with the entire community. I can’t thank our amazing partner Westpac for making this happen again in 2025.”
There’s just something about pickleball.
The fast-paced, easy-to-learn game has swept the world in recent years, attracting players who might find traditional court sports less accessible or challenging to get into.
That’s probably why it’s the perfect sport for Fun Squad, PCYC’s outside school hours programs with services right across Queensland – all of whom are – or soon will be – embracing pickleball.
“Over the past year, pickleball has spread across all our services and it’s easy to see why. Seriously Fun is our motto – and pickleball certainly ticks that box,” said Fun Squad General Manager, Bev Book.
“We find that children of all ages just love it, it appeals to all of them and it’s a great way for them to keep active.
“Our teams love it too – and play it frequently which is resulting in stronger teams working together to achieve our mission of safe and healthy communities.”
Kylie Morris, Fun Squad Gilston Service Manager, says the sport combines fun, fitness and lots of interpersonal skills, too.
“It’s a game that children of all ages have been able to play and understand, and it supports their development, leadership skills, cooperation and encourages positive sportsmanship,” she said.
“We have a strong focus on happy and healthy children that come to us to have fun, and this is all evident when they play pickleball.”
At Mother Teresa Fun Squad, pickleball is a relatively new addition, being introduced in December. It’s clear it is there to stay!
“Our children are really enjoying pickleball and all the fun that it brings,” said Service Manager Kayla McGee.
“We have seen a boost in morale amongst our children and team members, and things like sportsmanship, social skills and confidence are increasing.”
So successful has the rollout of pickleball at Fun Squad services been that more and more PCYC Queensland clubs are also offering pickleball to their members.
TWENTY-FIVE young men from across Queensland enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience on Monday, when they spent the afternoon with the Kangaroos: participating in team building activities, learning more about their idols, and simply talking.
The event was thanks to a collaboration with the Kangaroos, PCYC Queensland and Queensland Police Service (QPS), designed to foster mentorship, build relationships and inspire. The boys were selected through their involvement with PCYC’s youth development programs and for their potential as young leaders.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said this was an important event for the team as well as the young men.
“This sort of thing is really important for us, because these young fans are what it’s all about,” he said.
“The players know who they represent – and that’s these boys and their communities. It’s a privilege to spend time with impressive young people like this and see what the Kangaroos jersey really means to them.
“The team had a great time with the kids and gained as much as they gave. One of the most powerful things about sport is the connections it creates—that’s what it’s all about.”
The 25 young people were selected from five PCYCs across the state – Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Deception Bay, Palm Island and Rockhampton – due to their commitment to their communities and strength of character. They were accompanied by their club’s Youth and Community Program Manager, QPS officers who run PCYC’s youth development programs.
PCYC Queensland CEO Phil Schultz said all of the young people had been recognised for their involvement in their communities, and being role models to younger children.
“They, like all young men, really benefit from having meaningful interactions with positive role models, and spending time with footy legends they’ve only seen before on TV is something they will always remember,” he said.
“We are really grateful to the Kangaroos for today, and for the positive impact they will have on these young people.
“Through all of our programs, we know the lasting benefits of this kind of mentoring and skill building – learning about discipline, dedication and hard work can broaden perspectives and give them a sense of possibility that they will take home with them.”
QPS Community Safety Group Superintendent Rob Fleischer said QPS is committed to working with partners to take initiative in the early intervention and engagement space, to help change the lives of young people.
“There’s no doubt that these young men will head home and be the talk of the town, sharing their experience of mentorship with some of their footy idols,” Superintendent Fleischer said.
“An experience like this can change the trajectory of a young person’s life, simply by boosting confidence, self-reflection and provoking motivation to be the best individual they can be for their community.
“I can’t thank PCYC and the Kangaroos enough for working with us to make this day happen, it’s partnerships like this which have a real impact, and I know we all felt a sense of pride watching that play out in real time during this event.”
