New Moruya youth program

There’s a new place for 10-17-year-olds to hang out in Moruya on Wednesday afternoons.

Walawaani Garindja – which translates to ‘safe journey to our youth’ in Dhurga Aboriginal language – will be held every Wednesday afternoon at the Gundary Oval clubhouse.

It will be a safe place for all youth to go after school, where they can get a free meal, hang out with their friends, and take part in activities if they want to, such as touch footy, basketball, soccer, Aboriginal cultural activities, and guitar lessons.

Council’s Community Development Officer Jordan Nye said the program was a joint initiative of Far South Coast Police, the Far South Coast PCYC, Campbell Page and Council.

“We all got together and wanted to do something for the older kids around Moruya who had nowhere to go after school,” he said.

“It’s not targeted to any particular group – all kids are welcome to rock up, hang out and do what interests them.”

He said the event was partly in response to there being little for older kids to do around Moruya if they were not involved in sport.

“Moruya doesn’t have a youth café, unlike Batemans Bay and Narooma, so it is a bit of a pilot to see whether it will work and if the kids will come,” he said.

“We’re going to be responsive to what the kids want to do and what they need – whether it be cultural activities, soccer, going to the skate park – you name it, we’ll try and make it happen.

“The weekly program will continue up to the school holidays and if there’s good interest we’ll look at turning it into a summer holiday program as well.”

Walawaani Garindja youth program will be held at the Gundary Oval clubhouse on Campbell Street, Moruya, every Wednesday from 3.30pm-5pm, starting Wednesday 29 August.

It is completely free and no bookings are required. For more information contact Council’s Community Development Officer Jordan Nye on 4474 1289.