Angela (known as Ang) loves fun hair and funky earrings, as bright colours make her happy!
I joined the PCYC Townsville team in November 2024.
During my own fitness journey, I experienced firsthand how much my general health and fitness impacted my daily life and mental health. The healthier I got, the more energy I had and the better my outlook on life. I studied to be a fitness trainer because I wanted to share that experience with others.
Not anything in particular! I am currently just working on improving my overall health.
Discover PCYC Townsville or view the gym timetable.
I have been a member for over two and a half years!
The staff are awesome!! I love the community and the members! The range of equipment is also fantastic.
I am a 71-year-old training for Camino Pilgrimage Walk that is held in Spain! It is 780kms. Last time I was in Spain, I made the 600km mark. I am now heading back to Spain this year to complete the final 180kms. I am also actively training to keep fit and healthy to spend time with my grandchildren.
The leg extension and leg curl machines by far, as they maintain my leg strength, which is important for my training.
Discover PCYC Mount Isa or view the gym timetable.
Kerryn brings no fluff, straight-up support, smart coaching, and a quiet confidence that makes people feel at ease (and actually excited to train).
I joined the PCYC Bayside team in January 2025 but have been training here for a couple of years!
I became a trainer because I know how overwhelming the fitness world can be when you’re just starting out, especially if you’re trying to lose weight and feel confident in your own skin. I love showing people that it doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective, and that strength training can feel empowering (not intimidating).
I recently wrapped up a huge season of bodybuilding competitions, including the Natural Olympia in the US, but right now, my goal is to enjoy training for the love of it and build back up in my off-season.
Winning 3 world titles was incredible, but honestly, helping everyday people go from avoiding mirrors to feeling strong and proud in their bodies, hits harder than any medal.
Discover PCYC Bayside or view the gym timetable.
I have been a member for over a year now!
I love the people, social connections and gaining flexibility.
Right now it’s losing centimetres and gaining flexibility
I love the Activ8 Fit & 50 classes!
I would say squats!
Discover PCYC Pine Rivers or view the gym timetable.
One of PCYC Innisfail’s shining lights is Shaz, a determined teenager whose inspirational journey has transformed adversity into opportunity.
Shaz is always brimming with boundless energy and an infectious smile, finding solace and purpose in PCYC’s Boxing After Dark and Drop In programs during challenging times in her personal life. She’s become a beloved and active participant and is now giving back to the community and becoming a leader herself.
Nervous on her first day of boxing, Shaz said Sgt Mick Maguire’s booming voice kept her in line, but over time Sgt Mick has become a big supporter and mentor to Shaz.
Shaz’s connection with PCYC began early, in Year 5, through PCYC’s Team Up program at Innisfail State School. Her engagement deepened in Year 6 with the Bluelights Blue Edge program, as well as her regular attendance at Boxing After Dark and Drop In sessions. It was during these Drop Ins that her talent and passion for gymnastics truly emerged.
This year marks another significant milestone for Shaz as she proudly joined PCYC’s Youth Leadership Team (YLT). Shaz has chosen to dedicate her volunteer hours towards achieving her Gymnastics Coach qualification. This will no doubt unlock a wealth of future possibilities, promising greater engagement, further education, and employment prospects within PCYC’s gymnastics programs.
Shaz is enjoying training to become a gymnastics coach and extending her abilities.
“My favourite part is teaching the younger kids and truly getting to know their individual personalities,” she said.
Shaz’s story is a powerful reminder that with resilience, the right support, and a place to nurture one’s talents, young people can not only overcome obstacles but also achieve their dreams.
The PCYC Innisfail community couldn’t be prouder of this remarkable young woman and eagerly anticipates all the incredible things she will accomplish.
Shaz recommends other young people Drop In to PCYC.
“Take the leap! You’re guaranteed to meet a lot of new faces and leave with unforgettable memories,” she said.
In National Student Volunteer Week, we are sharing the stories of some of our amazing volunteers:
JOHANNA SINNAMON
Johanna joined PCYC Emergency Services Cadets in January 2024 and has been an integral part of her unit, accumulating the following volunteer hours with ESC:
This Year – 59.25 hours
Lifetime – 104.75hours
Johanna is passionate and dedicated to her community. She has volunteered her time and energy to the following:
Johanna, thank you for you dedication to your community. Your commitment, energy and care inspire others.
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CAPRICE GORRING
Caprice joined Emergency Service Cadets in October 2024 and has accumulated the following volunteer hours with ESC:
This Year – 45.00 hours
Lifetime – 74.50 hours
She attends SES every Tuesday night and undertakes volunteer work and training. She will be going to Roma in September to undertake training in search and rescue and emergency response.
Caprice completed the Kokoda challenge in July this year, hiking 96km and raising funds for the Kokoda Youth Project.
Thank you, Caprice, for your dedication and commitment. We admire the effort you put in and wish you the best of luck in achieving your dream job in fire and rescue.
After two decades of service to children and the Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) sector, Karly Sheppard has built a career grounded in fun, rights and real impact.
Now serving as State Operations Manager for PCYC Queensland’s Fun Squad program, Karly oversees a team of 700 staff and helps deliver care to more than 20,000 children across the state. But her journey began on the floor, and she still holds those early years close.
From program setup to statewide leadership
Karly’s OSHC story began in 2002 when she established the before and after school care program at Hills College in Jimboomba.
“I loved it,” she recalled. “Back then, it was basically a babysitting program. There was very little legislation and things were much looser. But I just loved working with primary school children. That’s never changed.”
In 2009, PCYC Queensland took over the program at Hills College. Karly joined the team and gradually moved through a series of leadership roles, from Area Manager to Regional Manager and now to her current statewide position.
Although she no longer works directly with children every day, she says the broader reach of her work is both powerful and humbling.
“I can influence 700 team members and 20,000 children. It’s amazing to feel like I can make a positive impact in all these lives with the work that I do.”
Child voice at the heart of Fun Squad
Karly played a key role in designing and launching Fun Squad, PCYC Queensland’s refreshed OSHC model. The initiative centres on play, engagement and inclusion, and it was designed with direct input from children.
“Some of the icons and characters the children came up with are now core parts of the Fun Squad branding,” she said. “Of course, all research shows that when children are engaged and having fun, their wellbeing is strengthened and their parents worry less.”
The program includes Before School Fun and After School Fun, both designed to match children’s energy levels and emotional needs at different times of day.
“Before school is more social and flexible. Children come in, they have breakfast, they might want to chill and read a book or draw,” she explained.
“After school is when it becomes more structured. We have a wide number of activities going. You might have up to 200 children coming through the door, and we don’t know what kind of a day they’ve had. We have to cater to all their needs and emotions.”
That flexibility includes providing space for movement, mindfulness, meals and even homework when needed.
Prioritising wellness and belonging
Karly said she’s proud of how far the sector has come in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing, noting the integration of mindfulness, yoga and journaling into many PCYC programs.
“All of our services offer mindfulness or yoga or journaling and have a focus on wellbeing and belonging,” she said.
She is also an ambassador for Children’s Rights Queensland, where she supports children to learn about their rights and responsibilities, a role she describes as both meaningful and educational.
“It has been so wonderful to work with all of these children and find out what matters to them,” she said.
Leading with heart
For Karly, the core of her leadership is simple. It’s about how people feel.
“I am often guided by the great quote from Maya Angelou: ‘People won’t remember what you say or do, but they will remember how you made them feel,’” she said.
“That’s how I try to do my job and live my life.”
National Road Safety Week is here!
PCYC Queensland is on ‘The Road to Zero’ for National Road Safety Week, this week. Thanks to Braking the Cycle – our volunteer-led program helping young people become safe drivers.
DId you know? Since its inception in 2012, Braking the Cycle has delivered 317,730 hours of supervised driving and has assisted almost 6,000 participants to achieve their licence.
Paul, Braking the Cycle Mentor-Driver has been volunteering with PCYC Queensland for more than four years.
“My main motivation for becoming a Braking the Cycle mentor volunteer was two-fold: number one – road safety, and helping young people to learn how to drive, and learn how to drive safe,” he said.
“Unfortunately, as everybody knows, if you get it wrong as a young driver, you don’t necessarily get a second chance and that’s what inspires me.
“I wanted to do my little bit in educating, coaching and helping young people to develop good driving habits, so that not only do they obtain their licence, but when they graduate from the program, they are going to be safe drivers and have a long, happy driver career.”
Shout out this week to Paul and all of our amazing Braking the Cycle Driver Mentor volunteers and program coordinators – We APPRECIATE YOU!
When he’s not running Activ8 Fundamentals or Activ8 Group Training classes, he’s bringing the energy to PCYC Zillmere!
I joined PCYC at the end of 2024 and coming up on 10 months of my role as Gym Officer & Personal Trainer.
My journey in the fitness industry began as one of self-discovery, as I navigated my own weight loss journey and gained the knowledge to transform other people’s lives in the process. This is easily my favourite part of doing what I do, assisting others in achieving goals they didn’t believe were possible.
I am excited to get into MMA training as it’s always been a passion of mine.
My favourite personal achievement was working with a client & friend to achieve her goal of fitting into her mother’s wedding dress for her own wedding. We worked tirelessly across 6 months to achieve this goal and was extremely grateful to help in the process.
Discover PCYC Zillmere or view the club timetable.
I am one of the foundation members of PCYC Maranoa. I was one of the first people to walk through the doors when the centre first opened in 2012!
I absolutely love the space, the facilities, and it feels like home. I enjoy coming to the group fitness classes and appreciate all the programs PCYC Queensland provides for the community, especially its engagement with youth and police to form better connections within the community. I really feel comfortable and safe when working out there.
I am training to walk the Camino de Santiago trail from Portugal to Spain!
I would say the rowing machine. It is perfect for everything. It targets the full body, a great way to get some cardio in, takes pressure off my joints.
Discover PCYC Maranoa or view the club timetable.
