Meet PCYC Bulli's award-winning fundraiser

Gina Holland has won the PCYC’s Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year award for her efforts to improve PCYC Bulli with the support of the local community.

Gina is the senior activity officer at the Bulli club, which is one of 66 branches of Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) NSW, the charity empowering young people.

“They're safe there and they meet new friends,” Gina said.

“We show them respect, in turn they will respect us.”

PCYC Bulli provides a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, basketball, boxing, taekwondo, gymnastics, soccer, and more. The club also offers programs aimed at skill development, such as a driver’s course designed to help L-platers.

PCYC relies on fundraising for facility and equipment improvements. In 2023, from March to April, they ran their annual StarJump Challenge, urging participants to do 100 star jumps a day.

Gina helped PCYC Bulli to stage the challenge. The club raised $7000 while Gina raised $3000, mostly on her own. She achieved a similar total in 2022 and helped the club to raise $10,000 in 2021. Her efforts in 2023 stood out among PCYCs statewide, earning her the Peter Gerrie Award, also known as the Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year award.

“I did fundraising at the school many years ago when my kids were there, so it sort of came a little bit natural,” Gina said.

“I'm just the voice, I know I get the award but really it's the community.

“If they don't put their hand in their pocket, then I don't get any awards.”

This isn’t the only recognition Gina's received: she was awarded the Star Award for her work in 2021, the 2022 Star Jump Fundraiser Award, and a lifetime membership with the PCYC.

Gina has lived in Bulli all her life. When she's not working at PCYC, she spends time with her friends or works as a crossing guard 10 minutes away.

Her history with the PCYC Bulli goes back to when she was young, when she regularly attended after school with her friends.

“We used to go there every Friday night, muck around on the trampoline, the basketball court."

In 2002, Gina started volunteering at PCYC Bulli a few hours a week while her kids took part in after-school sports at the centre.

The club offered her a full-time position after recognising her value. Even off-shift, she continues to volunteer her free hours.

Gina handles administrative tasks, including organising basketball competitions, matching players with teams, and ensuring all participants sign in upon entry. She helps to place kids on teams if they can't find one and cleans the facility if needed.

New volunteers at the PCYC perform similar tasks. They will interact with the kids and have the opportunity to learn the value of leadership, providing support to children who really need it.

PCYC Bulli is at 253 Princes Highway, Bulli. To volunteer, check out the club's website or give them a call on (02) 4284 3878 to find out more.