Newsboys more than old boys' club

COME rail, hail or shine, Bob Urquhart stood outside the Melbourne Town Hall and sold The Age. It was 1946 and he was just 12.

As one of seven children and with no father at home, he found the income handy, but the thing he thrived on was the social group connected with

it, the Newsboys Club.

Sixty-two years later, Mr Urquhart, 74, of Doncaster, is still a member of what has evolved into the philanthropic Newsboys Foundation. He was

at the Spiegeltent, outside the Victorian Arts Centre, yesterday to celebrate the foundation's 115th birthday.

The foundation has allocated more than $9 million in grants since the start of its charity focus — funding young people to reach their potential — in

1974.

But it had had a positive effect on Mr Urquhart long before then. "My young life was around the Newsboys Club," he said. The club's headquarters

at 109 Little Collins Street had a swimming pool, gyms, a library and a canteen. Members could do woodwork, play basketball or see a dentist.

The club was the basis of lifelong friendships, and even helped inspire his career. At 40 he changed his occupation from factory worker to

looking after problem and disadvantaged children.

A recent Newsboys Foundation grant recipient, Westside Circus, performed at yesterday's annual meeting. The circus aims to build confidence

and resilience among disadvantaged and at-risk young people.

Chrisian Music News Source