The big screen has returned to Cowra but not in a way many were expecting.
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Cowra's PCYC has recently purchased an inflatable cinema screen, projector and sound system thanks to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's Tackling Tough Times Together grant program.
Cowra PCYC Manager, Stewart Mead, said he hoped the screen would help Cowra and surrounding regional communities.
"There was a report done by council addressing what was missing in the town and one of the things mentioned was people wanting the cinema to come back," he said.
"That was echoed again at the pizza and pitch night with Steph Cooke where the feedback was about having new release movies in the town.
"The bigger purpose of the screen though is to go to regional communities affected by drought and put on a mainstream movie that improves social connections and gives something interesting to do.
"It's hard to switch off if you've got no rain, so going to a movie allows you to transport yourself to an interesting fun place for a while."
Mr Mead said when the club's green space at Young Road was finished screenings would be held there.
"Our aim to have a pizza oven and popcorn so people can come watch some movies over there on the grass," he said.
"That's mainly for the youth audience but if there's enough popularity we would eventually like to screen movies at the Japanese garden for an older audience."
Mr Mead said he'd also like to have regular screenings in the surrounding areas like Grenfell, Greenthorpe, Woodstock and Canowindra.
With part of the club's plans included a short film festival for the children in those towns.
"Linda Carne is new to the club and has a background as a high school technology and design teacher, she'll be running our digital media and creative arts program," he said.
"As part of our holiday program we'll have a technology day and we will be doing photography and videography to capture stories of interest to the kids and then stream them.
"Then next year we'll be running a short film festival, partnering with the schools of the towns we travel to and create a short film centred around resilience and help-seeking behaviours in young people so that if they aren't feeling that good they can come up with creative ways about getting help.
"That will be done in conjunction with Headspace using online resources from Disney-Pixar about storytelling and we'll be screening online resources from the Black Dog Institute."
Mr Mead said the screen would help the club continue to grow and service the local community.
"Effectively with the purchase of this screen and the opening of the green space we are relaunching the club," he said.
"Table tennis is launching, judo is coming back, boxing is moving up to Binni Creek Road and next term we've got comps for volleyball, futsal, netball and touch football.
"Touch football will be moved over to the rugby grounds which will give us the ability to play more games in the evening when it's cooler and use the lights.
"So we've got quite a few things on," he said.
Mr Mead said the club's use of the screen wouldn't be possible without the help of the local community and thanked Cowra Motorcycles for the donation of a generator to run the screen.
He invited those with suggestions for movies to let the club know on their Facebook page or to Contact PCYC on 6341 2035.
What do you think of the PCYC's new screen? Have your say
