Jody Quinnell has walked away from the centre that has turned around the lives of many young people in the Ulladulla district.
For more than three years Jody has put her heart and soul into setting up the Ulladulla Youth Centre and running programs to keep local kids entertained and on track.
She has been assisted along the way by outrach worker Mark Ettridge.
But conflict with some members of the management committee forced the district’s innovative and popular youth centre coordinator to resign earlier this month.
Seven months pregnant, Jody told the Times the squabbling among management committee members made her job hard, stressful and led her to make a very difficult decision.
“I could not put the life of my unborn child at risk.
“The decisions being made by some members of the management committee were impacting on my job as well as my personal life.
“I had no choice but to walk away,” she said.
While the alleged reasons for Jody’s resignation cannot be published due to possible legal proceedings, she said the decision to quit was “devastating”, and stressed that she was not dismissed from her position.
“The youth centre was my baby,” she said.
“I set up and fully fitted out the new centre in St Vincent Street.
“Over the past three and a half years we’ve attracted government funding for a range of educational and support programs and run a host of activities for our young people.
“I grew up in this town and I’m passionate about the youth in this area.
“It breaks my heart to have to walk away from the centre.”
Jody said she worked hard to transform the reputation of the Ulladulla Youth Centre from a seedy hang-out where kids came to play pool and smoke cigarettes into a fresh, positive place where young people from all walks of life could learn and be supported.
“We ran so many art and craft, drama, dance and learning activities that really got kids motivated and involved in the community.
“We set up courses to help students that were challenged by the education system and the first group of kids from our TAFE Outreach year 10 equivalent course are about to graduate.
“It was wonderful to see the centre evolve and it was something that I wanted to be involved with for many years to come – even after the birth of my child.
“My parents Lyn and Peter Histon supported me and got involved too – it was more than just a job, the centre became part of my family.
“It took a lot for me to walk away and I’m so sad to have to leave the kids I have become so close to.”
Jody was recently farewelled by the young people she has worked with and said it was “a very sad day”.
The Youth Centre’s outreach worker Mark Ettridge has also resigned and three of the six management committee members have resigned with two walking out of last Thursday’s Annual General Meeting in support of Jody and Mark.
Management committee chairperson Liz O’Connell was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
While the Youth Centre is funded by the Department of Community Services, it is run by a management committee which employs a coordinator and youth workers.
The centre has employed a new outreach worker, who has worked at the centre as a volunteer, and has a temporary replacement for Jody, with the permanent position expected to be advertised soon.
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