We still need you! ANNUAL MEMBERS: please add your details here (again)
Earlier today, the President of the St Kilda PCYC Inc. Board published a message from her as well as an open letter from the family of Olive Johnston. Our response is below, but first: if you are an Annual Member (that is, you paid your annual feel in one go), can you please follow this link and add your details? Even if you have already done this, thank you, and can you please do it again.
ANNUAL MEMBERS: please add your details here (again)
Now to the response:
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Dear Members,
It is striking that the President addresses this letter “to members” when, according to communications from the CEO and the Board’s legal counsel, there are just eight individual members after redefining what constitutes a full member. This CEO reiterated this in his media release on 26 September 2025
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We would like to share with you an open letter from Gary Johnston, grandson of our founders Olive and Cuthbert Johnston, written on behalf of the entire Johnston family. The Board fully supports the sentiments expressed in the Johnston family’s letter and shares their belief in continuing the work of Olive and Cuthbert Johnston by assisting young people and empowering them for life.
We welcome Gary's letter of support for retaining the building at 179 Inkerman St.
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We acknowledge and deeply respect the Johnston family’s wish to see the Inkerman Street premises retained. The Board also does not wish to sell the property, however, following the loss of our principal income stream from the national lottery, along with limited and short term government support rather than sustained, recurring funding, the sale unfortunately may be the only viable path to ensure the organisation’s survival and to allow us to continue our youth programs into the future.
If the Board genuinely wished to retain 179 Inkerman Street, it could have accepted the council’s offer to fund repairs and maintenance for the next three years, even if cost estimates were uncertain. It could also have engaged constructively with offers of support from local representatives, consulted members about alternative options, and developed a credible plan to raise additional funds. Most importantly, it could have followed its own governing rules by putting the question of a sale to members.
The loss of the national lottery income stream has been evident since 2022. At that time, the Board was aware of the declining returns and the external factors driving that decline, yet there is no evidence in its financial statements or annual reports of a clear plan to diversify income. A fundamental responsibility of not-for-profit boards is to secure funding, yet the current strategy appears limited in scope. It is unclear which philanthropic organisations, foundations, or community partners have been approached, or whether a dedicated fundraising strategy has been developed.
All not-for-profit organisations must continually raise funds. Major charities like Save the Children and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre sustain operations through annual fundraising drives and active community engagement. Expecting stable, recurring operational income without comparable effort is unrealistic.
St Kilda PCYC already had several recurring revenue sources: gym memberships, program funding from council, and facilities hire. These could have been strengthened through modest increases to membership fees, targeted marketing to grow membership, or campaigns inviting the community to sponsor memberships for others.
Selling 179 Inkerman Street might offer short-term relief, but it does not address long-term sustainability. It risks eroding the community trust and goodwill that are essential for future support from council, government, and donors. Moreover, the proposed plan to become a “peak body” lacks grounding, given the absence of other active PCYC branches in Victoria. Without a local base, it is unclear how such a model could effectively deliver on the organisation’s stated purpose.
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We sincerely hope that members, community representatives, elected members of parliament and local councils who have been galvanised into action by this decision will come forward with constructive ideas that could help us preserve the premises while maintaining the Club’s long-term sustainability. We will have an announcement regarding a proposed roundtable event shortly.
It feels disingenuous for the Board to now call on the community for “constructive ideas.” That opportunity existed months ago, when members and local not-for-profit leaders sought to engage and offer practical support. Instead, community members were met with legal correspondence rather than open dialogue, and genuine offers of collaboration were dismissed.
The current public concern is not only about the fate of the Inkerman Street building. The deeper issue is the Board’s lack of transparency and consultation in making key decisions. Members have been excluded from the process, and the organisation’s membership base has been reduced from hundreds to just a handful — an action that raises serious questions about representation and accountability. The community’s frustration stems from the sense that decisions have been made behind closed doors, without the openness or inclusion that should define a community organisation.
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As a volunteer member of the Board, I would also like to address the recent public attacks directed at Chris Potaris, our CEO, as well as our staff and fellow volunteer Board members. We understand that emotions are high and that many people care deeply about the future of the Club, as do we, however, much of what has been said publicly is obviously designed to gratuitously inflict harm, rather than generate any constructive outcome. The Board condemns these personal attacks in the strongest possible terms.
Being a volunteer does not exempt Board members from their responsibilities to the organisation’s members or to the young people the Club exists to serve. Most community and not-for-profit boards are made up of volunteers — that is the foundation of community governance.
Any personal attacks on the CEO or staff are unacceptable and should be condemned. However, this must not be used to conflate legitimate criticism of decisions or governance with personal hostility. Members have every right to question and challenge actions taken on behalf of the organisation.
If the Board believes that public commentary has been intended to “gratuitously inflict harm,” it should provide specific examples so the community can address them transparently.
A truly constructive outcome would be for members to exercise their right under the constitution to call a Special General Meeting and vote on the composition of the Board. It is concerning that recent actions appear to have made such a process more difficult, limiting members’ ability to hold the Board to account in the manner the rules intend.
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Every member of our team, including Chris, has acted in good faith and with complete commitment to the long-term welfare of the organisation and the young people it serves. The decisions made in recent months have followed careful consideration and have been guided by our shared goal of protecting the Club’s mission for future generations.
Statements of good faith must be supported by evidence. Simply asserting that decisions were made with commitment does not demonstrate good faith.
If careful consideration was truly taken, it should have included consulting those directly affected: the young people attending programs, the members, volunteers, and the broader community who engage with the Club at 179 Inkerman Street. To date, there is no indication that these perspectives were sought or incorporated into the Board’s decision-making process.
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It is also important to confirm that the decision to sell the Inkerman Street facility was made collectively by the Board after an extensive financial and strategic review, with all possible funding avenues explored and exhausted. Chris’s role has been to implement and communicate the decision to members and the community. We stand by him and by our staff, who continue to work tirelessly and professionally under very difficult circumstances. Please treat Chris and the rest of the staff with respect i.e. don’t shoot the messengers.
At the time the decision to sell 179 Inkerman Street was made, the Board included members with professional backgrounds in property and finance. One member who was appointed to the Board at last year’s AGM, had had this finding against him that same month. There is no community representation on the Board.
The last AGM reported that the gym was breaking even. If it is now operating at a loss, clarity is needed on what has changed and what measures have been taken to address the shortfall. Members deserve transparency regarding the CEO’s oversight and the Board’s role in monitoring operational performance.
If the CEO is acting solely under the direction of the Board, it raises questions about governance and accountability. Members may reasonably expect that the Board demonstrates the skills and engagement required to safeguard the Club’s operations and long-term sustainability.
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We ask our community to engage with us constructively and respectfully as we work through this challenging period together. By supporting each other in good faith, we can honour the legacy of Olive and Cuthbert Johnston and ensure that St Kilda PCYC remains a place of safety, belonging, and opportunity for young people well into the future
If not for the community speaking out, the Inkerman Street site would already have been listed for sale and equipment disposed of. Members and supporters have sought meetings with the remaining Board members but have been rebuffed and those responses came through their lawyer - also a former board member.
At this stage, a fundamental question arises: what is motivating the Board’s determination to keep going on this?
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Don't forget: ANNUAL MEMBERS: please add your details here (again)