Cassie Maher
ALTONA North Senior Constable Tony Jenkins knows how to throw a good party.
For the past 10 years, Sen Const Jenkins has volunteered his time, along with other police officers, to organise monthly Blue Light Discos in Altona and Williamstown.
About 500 Hobsons Bay youths attended the drug and alcohol free discos when they began 25 years ago, but now numbers have fallen so dramatically, committee members are on the verge of closing them down.
“Over the last couple of years only 50 to 70 people have been attending the discos,” Sen Const Jenkins said.
“If we are not able to raise our profile and numbers soon, we will be forced to suspend our discos until we are more financially able to sustain them.”
Organisers are unsure why popularity is decreasing.
“We don’t advertise the fact that we are police officers. Kids often seem surprised of our involvement as we attend the events in plain clothes,” Sen Const Jenkins said.
The increasingly popular FReeZA youth events could also be a factor.
“They are State funded and Blue Lights are self-funded,” Sen Const Jenkins said.
“The police do it for the community to try and give something back. It is not our charter to ask for funding, it’s not what we’re about.”
A $6 entry fee funds all entertainment including the DJ, giveaways and hall hire.
Sen Const Jenkins said if 70 people attended the disco, profits would break even.
“Ideally we would like about 150 to come and that way we can give money back to community groups and local youth related projects.”
The next Altona North Blue Light Disco, for 8 to 16 year-olds, will he held at the Altona Meadows Community Centre, Friday 10 March from 7pm to 9.30pm.
Contact Sen Const Jenkins on 9392 3111 for more details.
