Senior Constable Brett Owen, Cranbourne’s youth resource officer, is in the process of setting up a Blue Light Disco in Cranbourne.
By Sarah Schwager
A BLUE Light Disco is set for Cranbourne, with plans under way to have one up and running this year.
Senior Constable Brett Owen, Youth Resource Officer at Cranbourne Police Station, is looking for volunteers to run trial discos before Christmas.
Sen Const Owen took the blue light disco under his wing after months of lobbying from local councillors and the community.
He recently received permission from Berwick/Narre Warren Blue Light Disco to run trial discos in Cranbourne under their banner until they set up their own corporation.
Springfield Ward councillor Michael Farley got involved, using his experience from helping out with a blue light disco in Carrum Downs a few years ago.
“It’s really needed in Cranbourne,” Cr Farley said. “The kids need something to do. We’ve also got such transport problems in that area. We need to do something in the area where the kids are.”
He said the dances also helped give underage teens a bit of direction by allowing them to establish a rapport with police.
“In Carrum Downs the kids got to know the police. They were seeing them in a different light,” he said.
Senior Constable Mark Townsend, who works with the Berwick/Narre Warren Blue Light Disco, said all profits from the disco went back into the community.
The funds are decided on by the blue light disco committee but are normally split between local emergency services and youth-based activities.
Mayfield Ward councillor Steve Beardon said the loss of cinemas in Cranbourne had had a huge impact on the kids.
“Clearly we have got a lot of kids looking for something to do on a Friday or Saturday night,” he said.
Cr Beardon said he had already set aside $500 of his ward funds for the blue light disco, or “dance party” as he wants it to be called.
After a disco is trialed in Cranbourne, Cr Farley said he would look at setting one up in his ward in Narre Warren South.
Sen Const Owen encouraged volunteers from the emergency services, including the fire brigade and SES, and the local community to consider helping out either with the Cranbourne Blue Light or to be part of a Cranbourne Blue Light Disco committee.
Anyone interested can contact Sen Const Owen on 5995 5599.
