Despite heavy rain, around 200 former campers, families and community leaders came together to celebrate Camp Manyung’s 100 year birthday on Sunday, 16 November.
The seaside camp at Sunnyside Rd, Mount Eliza, is the longest-running residential camp in the state and continues to attract 14,500 campers each year.
Ninety-five-year-old Ian Rose, a member of the YMCA volunteer working group in the 1940s and a regular camper with his family in the 70’s, marvelled at how much the camp had changed.
YMCA Victoria CEO Carolyn Morris was joined by the previous Y CEO Peter Burns, Local Member and former Y Victorian Youth Parliamentarian Chris Crewther, and Victorian Government representative David Strickland to reflect on the past and share hopes for more camp transformations into the future.
Camp Manyung Manager Jim Boyle explained the beauty of the camp is not only its environment, but its universal design features.
“This means everyone, regardless of ability, age, background or culture can participate fully.”
Jim shared his vision for re-imagining the self-contained Regatta House building to be a leading-edge accessible accommodation centre within the camp. This total rebuild and purpose-built facility will need significant philanthropic support to enable the Y to deliver better fit-for-purpose accessibility needs.
After cutting the cake, a break in the rain enabled tours of the campsite. The tour included a look at the heritage listed bunk houses that were designed by Eric Nicholls and his associate Walter Burley-Griffin and built by YMCA volunteers during the Depression.
While some campers took flight on the flying fox, the others returned for a delicious camp-style afternoon tea in the Dining Hall, with local musician Mietta playing acoustic guitar as the sun returned.
For more information on Camp Manyung, to book a camp or get involved in supporting the redevelopment project, contact: campmanyung@ymca.org.au
