Camp Wyuna October 2010
A weekend away for the Strathewen Community at YMCA Camp ‘Wyuna', 15-17 October 2010
A huge thank you to Marnie Wadsworth and her assistants together with the catering staff at Camp Wyuna. What a wonderful weekend they organized for us all, again our most sincere thanks.
Friday finally arrived. This was the day we had been anticipating for weeks and rain, rain and yet more rain. The bus was due to pick us all up at the Strathewen Community Centre at 4.00pm and leaving no later than 4.30pm. Adain our driver had quite a job ahead of him to get our luggage and all of us aboard the bus during such a deluge. May I say his driving ability both here and the other places we made him go to was beyond reproach.
We arrived at Wyuna camp around 7.45pm. We were allotted our accommodation, which was not at all camp like but very comfortable and modern. We were then invited to the dining, multipurpose area for a BBQ meal with lots of side salads, fruit salad and ice cream, and lots of tea, coffee, Milo and cordial for the younger children.
The evening was our own so we socialised with others, some played table tennis, some cards, some chess, others just relaxed and chatted with each other, then off to bed.
As the weather had kindly cancelled most of the activities planned, emergency activities were then swung into place. By the way while some of us rugged up and hit the beaches for a stroll someone sent a message that it was snowing on Beale Avenue. A couple of kids could not resist a swim. It was the beach after all! Young people's activities were organized. Trivia games were played with a few adults thrown in for good measure and a little fun. A dress up competition then went into full swing with the most brilliant and imaginative designer/wardrobe assistants. Then onto the catwalk we went to strut our stuff and to perform for the judges.
After lunch our gallant bus driver took us to several wineries. There was wonderful scenery as we travelled along. We also did a quick stop to an olive grove owned by some friends of one of our community members. A quick phone call by her and she had organized an olive oil tasting for us.
Then back to the camp for another scrumptious meal of roast meat and vegies with sticky date pudding to follow. More socializing took place while the young ones were taken off to watch DVD's.
The music started and so did a card game called Frustration. It sure was! I do not know where everyone came from, but we ended up using three decks of cards. We all had fun and got very frustrated as the game implies.
Those of us still awake joined the musicians and sang our hearts out. We did not know all the words, the key seemed to be changing all the time, but we sang and played into the night.
The following day, we were taken on a tour of the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse that was very interesting. Also some of our group went on the steam train. We had lunch then set off for the journey home and wouldn't you know it, another freeway holdup.
We all had a great time, thanks to the generosity of a very special donor - Mercers Restaurant in Eltham together with some very caring and enthusiastic people.
Mary Avola
