When Maitland Police Citizens Boys Club opened its doors on December 12, 1952, the-then mayor MJ Clyde said although it had been costly it would pay big dividends in character building and good citizenship in years to come.
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Alderman Clyde said the club was regarded as one of the great social services to Maitland along with the city library.
The late Herb O’Brien of Horseshoe Bend was the first person to join the club, while a young Jim Berthold of Anzac Street, Maitland was the first person through the doors.
He was keen to play table tennis and reached the semi finals of the A reserve singles in the State championship held in Sydney in 1958.
These fond memories and many more like them are recorded in the book The History of Maitland Police Citizens Youth Club aka The Police Boys Club, by Mick Fairleigh and Paul Doherty.
Their book, compiled after two years research and edited by Dave Sciffer, will be launched in time for the club’s 60th anniversary on December 9 at Maitland Park Bowling Club at 2pm.
In their introduction, they write “what a great time we had at the Police Boys Club.”
“Every Friday night we would be there with our usual gang of the Louth Park mob - Johnny Tiedeman, Mick, Doc, Kerry Sharpe, Eddie Wozniak and Robert Newton.
“You had to be there early to beat the mad rush to the front of the line, for there was always a long line of boys waiting to get in. Sometimes the line of kids used to go from the front door along the pathway to the footpath and almost to High Street.”
One of the club’s most popular activities was the trampoline which had a time limit of three minutes per person and other activities included weekend camps, walking in marathons, table tennis, small bore rifle shooting, basketball, boxing, judo, billiards, chess and draughts, cricket and model aeroplane making.
The growth of the Maitland Police Boys Club was because of the dedication of its first secretary manager Sergeant Vic Moffitt, described as a brilliant organiser and manager, despite not having any experience in that area.
The club’s membership was 653 and attendance numbers were close to 20,000.
Constable Fred Brown became Vic Moffitt’s assistant in 1954 and was also appointed captain/coach of Maitland Pumpkin Pickers rugby league team.
A book signing with the authors will be held at central newsagency in the Heritage Mall on December 15.
Meanwhile, the book is available to purchase at West End, Central, East Maitland (Lawes Street) and Green Hills newsagencies.
Click here to read extracts from The History of Maitland Police Citizens Youth Club aka The Police Boys Club.