Annual skate comp the wheel deal for Bli Bli youth

Skate parks are not usually the typical breeding ground for respect and manners, but one local skate park is raising the bar when it comes to stamping out bullying and anti-social behaviour amongst youth.

Yesterday, 80 young people aged from 4 to 16 donned their helmets and hit the ramp for the third annual Bli Bli Skate Competition, an initiative of the Bli Bli Neigbhourhood Watch designed to teach kids respect.

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie said the popular event was helping improve young people’s attitudes to sharing community space as well as providing an important outlet for their energy.

“Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch Area Coordinator and President Edith Blanck and her team of volunteers are to be credited for hosting not only a popular social competition for local youth, but one which goes a step further, helping create more positive behaviours and attitudes amongst the regular users of the skate park,” Mr Purdie said.

Mr Purdie said the event was one of four hosted by the Bli Bli Neighbourhood Watch every year, all of which encourage community participation.

From their popular Fun Run Walk, which raises money for domestic violence victims, to Turning of the Screws, and this year’s new event, Dogs on Patrol, the active group are committed to supporting the local community, Mr Purdie said.

According to Mrs Blanck, the small but active group, whose primary objective is to minimise opportunistic crime, had re-invested nearly $35,000 back into the local community in recent years through fundraising initiatives and events like the skate competition.

Mrs Blanck said much of the success of the annual Skate competition was due to the partnerships with Dave Fisher and his team from Skate-Aid Australia, the support of QPS and Cr Robinson, along with sponsors, Whites Supa IGA Bli Bli, Parklakes II, Council  and Boardstore.

“The Bli Bli community is growing at such a fast rate, and it’s important that we team up with other local businesses and groups to provide opportunities for local participation and involvement,” Mrs Blanck said.

“Over the past few years we’ve seen around 30% growth in all of our annual events, which I think in large part is due to the fact that locals recognise and appreciate what we are trying to achieve, and are keen to help spread our message.

“But we are always looking for more members to help us continue down that path,” Mrs Blanck said.