Youth Stop founder heartbroken after vandals wreck youth centre

Youth Stop, founded in March 2023, is designed to give young people a meeting space where, unencumbered by adults, they can learn and experience three things: respect, responsibility and leadership.

It has games, fridges and recreational activities, all designed to allow young people to flourish.

The meeting place is guided by youths but maintained by an adult committee.

“It’s a social experience for the attendees,” Mr Morey said.

However, though popular with kids aged 12 to 17, Youth Stop has been the target of four separate vandalism attacks by the same group of youths.

“In the main, Youth Stop seemed to be working, but sadly, there is a young group of people that have gone on a destructive rampage four times since it opened,” Mr Morey said.

According to Mr Morey, the first attack happened in April 2023, followed by July 2023, October 2023 and January 2024.

The vandalism included walls that had been damaged and equipment that had been thrown about and destroyed.

The damage and the frequency of the attacks have been so great that it has become almost inevitable that Youth Stop will cease to exist.

According to Mr Morey, the incidents have demoralised Youth Stop volunteers.

“Our Youth Op Shop manager, Debbie Johns, and her group of wonderful volunteers have worked extremely hard to provide funding that has enabled the Youth Stop to offer this social benefit opportunity for the youth of postcode 3644,” Mr Morey said.

“They are absolutely heartbroken that this destructive action on internal walls, roof, furniture, games, light fittings and flooring has happened for the fourth time and perpetrated by the same group each time.”

For Mr Morey, the attacks have been crushing.

He is disappointed and frustrated that an excellent opportunity for Cobram youths is slipping by because of the actions of a minority.

He believes the lack of consequences is the reason why the youths involved feel emboldened to continue their attacks.

Mr Morey, though, hasn’t given up, and the Cobram local, who has worked as a mentor for the Cobram youth group and started the Youth Op Shop in 2015, is keen to stress that not all young people are destructive or selfish.

“It’s not every young person, it’s just these few,” he said.

Mr Morey is also keen for people not to judge the youths involved harshly.

“There are troubled souls in every generation, and we do not know their [the youths involved] history or circumstances, but I do hope that these young people seek support that will assist them to reset their course in life,” he said.

As for the future of Youth Stop, Mr Morey said he hoped it would not close.

“The best-case scenario is that this situation can be rectified, and the project can be continued soon,” he said.

Cobram police said they were aware of the situation and were investigating the matter and that anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.