Uncle Gee retired 20 years ago - but he hasn't stopped working

Uncle Gee (centre) surrounded by family at the opening of the Uncle Gee’s Bunbara Youth Centre in Shellharbour on Thursday (13 February). Photo: Zoe Cartwright.

When Gerald Brown – or Uncle Gee, as he’s affectionately known – worked for Australia Post the sight of young people on the street pulled at his heart.

One of a large family, he didn’t think it was right that kids in his community had nowhere to go.

“We often finished work at 9 pm and I’d always see someone on the side of the road, drinking or carrying on,” he said.

“I told my wife when I retired I was going to start a men’s group and do something about it, and I did.”

For more than 20 years now Uncle Gee has brought together Aboriginal men and youth in the Illawarra, offering a feed, a chat and connection that many people are crying out for.

On Thursday (13 February) he was surrounded by friends, family and colleagues to celebrate one of his dreams come to life – Uncle Gee’s Bunbari Cultural Youth Centre in Shellharbour.

The centre will cater for young people who come through Shellharbour Square, with opportunities for entertainment, education and to have a chat.

There will also be opportunities to engage in cultural activities, creative programs and community events.

It was inspired by a program Uncle Gee used to run in Shellharbour.

“Ten or 15 years ago we used to run a cooking program on a Thursday night down here,” Uncle Gee said.

“The kids would often stay until 9 o’clock, but then we lost funding for the program, and there was nothing for those kids to do.

“Gawura Aboriginal Corporation have found some funds for us and now we’re going to run the centre down here five nights a week and late on Thursday.”

Uncle Gee said the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic had also made it tough to encourage people to get out and be involved in their local community.

He hopes the centre will provide a safe space for those connections to begin to build back up again.

His biggest priority is knowing that young people in his community have somewhere to turn when things go wrong.