Giving youth a healthy detour

CRACKING down on crime, particularly youth crime plaguing Cairns, is the entire community’s responsibiiity.

It cannot be left up to the police, lawmakers or teachers to ram the message home that crime on fellow citizens is totally unacceptable.

A lot of the problems stem back to parental responsibility or the lack of and the breakdown of the family unit.

Respect is the key word. Respect for your elders, parents, siblings, neighbours and other residents and their possessions, vehicles and homes as well as their personal space and safety.

Some have written off out-ofcontrol youth, but sporting groups have not and are organising their own way of trying to breach the gap.

Rugby league and rugby union players are to take to the streets next week to provide a powerful message that crime is intolerable.

More than 200 club members will run from Mooroobool to Manunda (two of the city’s troubled suburbs) on February 15 to encourage the disengaged youth to get active, join a code and become part of a team.

The players do not intend to appear like a bunch of angry men pounding the streets to put the fear of God into the youngsters.

Rather they want to reinforce that the community has had enough and are offering a healthy alternative.

As NRL development officer Rob Hodge says: “Diversion has a far greater level of success than incarceration.”

It’s a fantastic initative that deserves the backing of all stakeholders.

We encourage youth to take note and take part.

After all, it’s for your own good. Nick Dalton Deputy editor