History: Wakefield’s YMCA branch

BY ROBYN PARKES

In November 1919, a campaign began in Wakefield to raise £1500 for a YMCA building.

The Directors of the Richmond and Wakefield branches of the Young Men’s Christian Association approached the public with an appeal for funds to build hutments in their respective centres.

Proposed plans had been prepared to provide for a lounge or social hall, a billiard room, classroom, restrooms and a hall to be used as a gymnasium or for entertainments or lectures.

The purpose of YMCA was to provide facilities for the social, moral and spiritual development of boys and young men. Following the war and the appalling losses, it was of the highest importance that the youth of the land were looked after.

Wakefield had acquired a good site, and a building fund was accumulating nicely. In August 1922, the YMCA hall was opened by Brigadier-General Richardson, chief of staff New Zealand Defence Forces, with a crowd of around 420 people attending. Both the General and Mr G. W.W. B. Hughes (YMCA national secretary), joined in congratulating the people of Wakefield on the great efforts they had made.

The evening event brought selections of music played by the Wakefield band and several musical renditions given by members of the community. Although open, the complete original plan for the building had not been fully realised but it was still an imposing building. Once operational, boys attended twice weekly in the gymnasium and were put through some physical work.

Within a few months they were in training for a display and concert that was due to take place in May 1923. In small towns the schools, churches and halls became the social hubs of the community, and the YMCA was in regular demand for many events and activities.

A year after opening, the first general meeting was held with a good focus on the success of the association. Statistics proved its worth with around 300 boys attending classes and training within a five-month period. Socials and concerts were regular events with around 1400 attendees being recorded the first year. The recorded total of people through the building for whatever reason was put at upwards of 7000 over an eight-month period.

Other activities included ping pong, Sunday afternoon sing songs, football matches, hockey, tennis on the YMCA courts, billiards, church rallies, camps, draughts, children’s entertainments, gym classes, elocution and study classes, orchestra practice, flower shows, fetes and picture shows.

It appeared that all was well, but in May 1935, 13 years after being built, the members of the association were requested to attend a meeting where the winding up and sale of the premises was the topic of discussion. By June, tenders were invited for the purchase of the hall building and section.

Concerned citizens queried as to why the public had not been notified as to the sale of the building when it had been built by public subscription and what was to happen to its contents. The reply was that the sale of the building was duly effected and guarantors or creditors claimed the furniture, suggesting that the YMCA may have been in debt.

By January 1936 the sale of all items, even down to the cutlery, was completed and the branch closed.