The old St Clement’s community hall/tennis clubhouse is being transformed into Zac’s Place, an outreach centre which is unashamedly Christian in ethos and completely committed to extending a hand to local people in need.

The initiative is derived from a model in Swansea, Wales, where a church for ragamuffins was founded by the European president of the God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, Sean Stillman.

Glenn Stewart, president of the Southern NSW chapter of God’s Squad, and his wife Ros have spent some time in the UK learning the tricks of the trade and growing their passion.

They have applied this experience to establish Zac’s Place in Yass, which they define as being “all about community”.

God’s Squad, which primarily exists to minister among the biker fraternity as a relevant and accepted expression of the Christian Church, has been working in the Yass Valley for about eight years. Mr Stewart said the nondenominational group has identified a need here but is also willing to be flexible in the service it will offer the community.

The doors of Zac’s Place will be open to everyone - men, women, young adults and the elderly. You don’t have to be a member of a motorcycle club or a church to find solace at the facility, which will act as a ‘drop-in centre’.

“We want to offer whatever is needed. There is a lot of great work being done here and a lot of support already being offered so we don’t want to double up,” Mr Stewart said.

“Zac’s Place is for everyone and everyone is welcome – come as you are is our motto.” Mr Stewart has bent over backwards to overcome the negative stereotype often associated with motorcycle clubs.

“We’ve gone out of our way to be a positive part of Yass,” he said.

“A few in our group live here and we’ve gone out to meet the neighbours and explain what we’re doing and they have all been very happy.