DISCOS AND MOVIE NIGHTS
For many people the phrase ‘Blue Light’ is still synonymous with the Blue Light Discos that were extremely popular during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Discos will forever be a part of Blue Light’s repertoire of activities on offer to young people. Though Blue Light has evolved to offer an in depth range of early intervention and primary prevention programs, we will never forget how it all started.
Blue Light discos offer young people a safe, police-supervised space to socialise, completely free from drugs, alcohol and violence. More than just a fun night out, they help fill the gap that boredom can leave, a gap that too often leads to anti-social behaviour or crime. For young people in rural and remote parts of Queensland, discos were often the only entertainment option available to under-18s, and in some communities, they still are. It’s not uncommon these days to see parents dropping their kids off at a disco they once attended themselves as children, a real testament to how long Blue Light has been part of community life. With fully portable equipment, Blue Light can bring a disco to life anywhere. While older teens have drifted away with the rise of social media, discos remain a firm favourite among younger teens and primary-aged kids.
These photos (right) were taken at a Blue Light disco on Warraber Island, one of the most remote communities we service in the Torres Strait — 2,195km north of Brisbane and just 100km from Papua New Guinea. Reaching the island means police travel by boat, carrying all the disco gear ashore by tender. With a population of only around 250, it’s no surprise the photos show almost every child from Warraber there on the night. It’s a great example of how these events let police connect with young people and be seen as trusted, positive role models in their community.
Movie nights were introduced to give young people another way to enjoy safe, affordable entertainment, following the same principles as our discos: police-supervised and free from drugs and alcohol. Rather than hitting the dance floor, young people settle in with friends to watch the latest films. With portable screens and projectors becoming more accessible, more Blue Light branches are bringing movie nights into their calendar of community events.
