Victoria Tasmania District of the Lutheran Church of Australia

1201 Riversdale Road
Box Hill South VIC 3128
Phone 03 9236 1200

Search Results for: camps

Installation at Tandara Lutheran Camp

On Sunday 16 July, Jade Liebelt was installed by Pastor Hans Peethala (new to Horsham) into a Traineeship at Tandara Lutheran Camp. Her role includes working in a tight-knit team to deliver successful camps, which may be school children and staff, youth groups, Lutheran and other church groups and a variety of community groups.

Trainees become part of the face of Tandara to clients and visitors, and the role involves a variety of jobs, from programming to cleaning, cooking and study. Jade is currently completing a Certificate 3 in Sport and Recreation, and also undertaking the Certificate in Divinity (undergraduate) at ALC.

Jade chose to do the Traineeship at Tandara as it provides a great opportunity to grow as an individual and to get an experience of work-life outside of school. She hopes to grow in her faith and learn many new things during this experience.

Jade’s Traineeship began in January 2023 and will finish in November, 11 months total.

If this has sparked an interest in you, more information on Traineeships at Tandara Lutheran Camp can be found HERE.

Easter Camp 2023

LYV’s Easter Camp returned to an in-person event this year, for the first time since 2019! After a series of online Easter Camps, it was a blessing to see each other face-to-face and spend the Easter weekend in faith and fellowship. About twenty 18-30+ year olds from across Victoria played board games, worshipped together, visited St John’s Ballarat for Easter Sunday, and reflected upon the camp’s theme of “Return, Restore, Rejoice!”.

Camp wasn’t without some COVID hiccups when a cook tested COVID positive two days before camp, but thankfully another volunteer was quickly found, and camp was able to continue with all campers being fed.

All in all, the return to an in-person camp was a blessing of returned fellowship and an opportunity for young adults to reflect on what they have learned and value from the last few years of restricted face-to-face meetings.

Easter Camp relies on volunteer effort to run. If you’d like to be involved with planning, cooking, or in any other way, please reach out to the Easter Camp team by contacting LYV’s Easter Camp Facebook page, or email: eastercamp.lyv@lca.org.au.

2022 Youth Leadership Retreat

Recently YYAM leaders enjoyed a weekend retreat together, playing boardgames and cards, enjoying sand and sunshine at the beach, retail therapy at a local Nursery Cafe (Poppies) and just lounging around reading books and catching up on the year of leadership. Those present also attended a Chapel service on Sunday at St John’s Lutheran Primary School in Newtown.

This year has been the first time in three years that the usual YYAM events such as Christian Life Week Camps could take place face to face so the leadership team have been missing the support and encouragement that comes from being together in the same space.

Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (CYYAM) members Jon Westphal and Kerry Linke and the new YYAM Facilitator Gaylea Fritsch joined the YYAM leaders for a a catch up in the afternoon and a meal on Saturday evening.

Not all the YYAM leaders were able to attend as about half are employed, and others are studying at tertiary level. These dedicated young people voluntarily take annual leave or sacrifice study time to encourage youth and young adults – we give thanks for their service and witness.

Events in the Victorian Tasmanian District

District and National events, Training for Ministry, Camps, Retreats and more can be found under the News and Events tab, then click Coming events.
While you are searching also click the Employment and Volunteer Opportunity tab for positions available

Meet the Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministry

In 2020 the District Youth and Young Adult Ministry was reviewed with recommendations including greater volunteer responsibility and autonomy, and a more regional representation leading to greater regional participation.

The key focus this year was how to support Youth through COVID uncertainty. The COVID 19 lockdowns in 2021 have meant less ‘on ground’ events but some highlights have included:

  • Some SNAS (Sunday night at St Johns) events
  • Online Empower Youth Leadership training day
  • Hybrid Easter Camp (part online part local groups meeting)
  • An online form to hear about the YYAM review
  • CLW Purple in person
  • A fellowship day at Halls Gap  in lieu of CLW Orange

Down the track (when COVID easings allow) our SNAS group in Melbourne will seek to be more involved in metro church communities.

Despite a difficult year and several cancelled or adjusted events CYYAM have continued to meet around every seven weeks via Zoom discussing matters such as

  • Victorian Child Safe Standards (reviewed annually)
  • Planning and running CLW Camps and the Easter Camp
  • Professional Standards requirements
  • Grant applications
  • Empower Leadership training day

The current Council for Youth and Young Adult Ministry consists of Michael ‘Mog’ Benbow (Treasurer, interim Chair), Jon Westphal (CMS rep), Bianca Hearne, Alex ‘Mushy’ Muschamp, Rachel Kreymborg (CLW rep), Kerry Linke (YYAM Coordinator). This group of enthusiastic volunteers are supported by two pastors who serve as Spiritual Advisors, Pastor Levi Graham and Lucas Matuschka and District Pastor for Congregational Support Pastor Brett Kennett serving as a consultant

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting YYAM Camping Ministry

Camps always need your support, and you can offer this in many ways!

Contact Kerry kerry.linke@lca.org.au if you would like to find out more details about partnering with us, such as:

  • prayer
  • coming on camp
  • financial sponsorship of campers or resources!
  • providing resources eg stationery, magazines, music equipment
  • providing transport
  • supporting and encouraging participation in your home congregation.

04 November District eVoices

This fortnight’s edition of District eVoices contains a devotional message from Pr Milton Fritsch, member of DCC and pastor to St John’s Geelong, plus an article on the award winning Martin Luther Homes.

We also include an update on recent Pastors Calls, information on grants available to Not for Profits, cooperation between District Camps and District Aged Care centers, a promotion for Steen Olsen’s book Jacob’s Ladder.

As usual the District Prayer list is inlcuded plus links to the eNews of the departments and agencies of the LCA.

Read more HERE

Araluen – ready to welcome you when regional Victoria reopens

The Hall and kitchen expansion at Araluen Lutheran Camp at Anglesea is now completed following final technology work.  There are  now two halls with four meeting rooms – all with good sound deadening and air-conditioning.

So when your part of Victoria reopens, consider holding a reconnecting retreat for your Parish in the peaceful camp settings at Anglesea or Halls Gap – group sizes from 35 people are welcome, and camps are catered.

Recently (prior to Lockdown 6) our camp managers were able to have a planning meeting with some of their team.  Pictured in the rebuilt #1 hall at Araluen having breakfast (1.5 metres apart) are:

(left to right) Christiana Henke – incoming Manager at Tandara, Daniel Wiltshire – LCA IT Manager, Darren Linke – incoming Manager Araluen, Chris Fitzgerald Araluen Team member, Steve Burger – retiring Araluen Manager.

Contact numbers are:

  • Araluen at Anglesea  5263 3337
  • Tandara at Halls Gap 5356 4253

Tandara Intern Laura Wuttke reflects on 2020

Praise be to God, encouragement from my parents and mentor led me to camping ministry and Tandara Lutheran Camp and I couldn’t be more thankful and grateful for all that this year has taught me. I have really enjoyed my time at Tandara this year. Highlights have included leading ‘high ropes’ activities and preparing meals and serving  campers. It has also been enjoyable to spend time in fellowship with staff on walks in the Grampians. I have been able to spend several weeks in Anglesea at Araluen the Lutheran camp. I have really grown to love all of the staff at both camps who have welcomed me, made me laugh, and have kept me busy learning new things during these unprecedented times.

This year I have experienced and learned from the struggles that come with not being able to see my family that I love so dearly for a long period of time, and the challenges of studying and working full-time but I wouldn’t have this year any other way. God has worked in me, starting out with no friends in different state and has given me courage to make new friends, build my confidence and strength on the hard days and at the low points in order to make the most of each day and every experience.

God has certainly been a constant encouraging presence for me, along with the support of my parents, helping me through every day. I certainly couldn’t imagine being without either. From this intern year, I have learnt so much to take with me into the years to come, and my hope is to be become a primary school teacher in the not too distant future.
One of my favorite bible verses which I have been able to reflect on for the year is written in Isaiah.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
Laura Wuttke, Tandara Lutheran Camp Intern 2020