Many thanks for your time, expertise and enthusiasm whilst we were at Lorne. You enabled the students at our school to have a positive and enjoyable experience with your engaging and relaxing nature. Your staff, Troy and Wendy, also need to be acknowledged for their efforts and enthusiasm with the students. Your camp is extremely well organised as you not only gave the students a positive experience but also our staff. The students have spent the last few days looking at the digital photos and writing letters and items for our school newsletter. They have all commented on the fantastic time they had and are looking forward to returning next year if possible. We have also had an enormous amount of positive feedback from the student’s parents. It has been a pleasure to work with you and we look forward to confirming our booking for next year.”

Jenny Hamilton – Naranga School

Thanks again for the amazing week. I know the kids enjoyed the experiences and certainly gained valuable skill. Most has never surfed before. By the end of the camp they had developed some level of skill and certainly a greater understanding of the ocean. I imagine that you are left in no doubt as to how much I enjoyed myself. I really do appreciate the chance to slowly develop some surfing techniques. It was an enormous challenge but oh so much fun. Please pass on my thanks to Nicci and Kev (and others whose names the old brain has forgotten). You are fortunate to have such dedicated and capable instructors. I am sure that the main reason for their dedication is your own example and obvious love of surfing and your desire to pass this on to the next generation. Please also thank Rick. It would have been difficult to start in a new kitchen with a hungry hoard to feel but he was well and truly up to the task.”

Ross McGregor

I am writing to express gratitude at your clubs foresight in offering your Outdoor Education camp program to schools. Rossbourne School is a small school for students with a broad range of mild intellectual disabilities. We constantly search for new ways to develop all our students to their full potential. We run an extensive Camps and Outdoor Education program to enhance their learning opportunities. From my broad experience I would like to highlight that this initiative of yours is equal to any I have worked with.

The facilities are ideal and promote a supportive culture in which our students thrived. The activities were well planned, structured and supervised. The catering arrangements were healthy, varied and plentiful. All this complemented your ideal geographical setting and our fortunate run with the weather over the five days of our camp.

The key to the real success of the camp was undoubtedly its management. From the moment we arrived at Lorne, Phil was warm, encouraging and accommodating to all of our needs. He established a wonderful rapport with our students whilst providing expertise and reassurance in a way they all responded to. His warmth and generosity with his time ensured that out students experienced a range of new opportunities for the first time. Phil worked along side our staff and demonstrated leadership, understanding and support. His encouragement to extend our program and learn from beach based activities along with understanding of the surrounding environment showed great insight into the development of young people.

As result of his efforts our students have both a better understanding of the ocean; it’s enjoyment and risks, and an active awareness of surf lifesaving as an interest to pursue and support. Our students and staff arrived home on a natural high and the subsequent feedback from parents and the school has been unprecedented. Phil is a great ambassador for your club.”

Linden Hearn, Principal – Rossbourne School

Just a quick note to officially thank you and your staff for a great camp. I, personally, found the level of commitment and co-operation with us to be fantastic. You all helped to create a very warm, relaxed and easy to handle environment. You removed a great deal of the “camp stress” from our point of view.

The kids were appreciative of the activities and, I believe, ‘sorry to be leaving to go home’. The comments from the students, our greatest critics, have been very positive.

Thank you again on behalf of myself, our staff on camp, and Camperdown College. We will be back next year.”

Graeme Wadley, Year 7/8 Camp Coordinator – Camperdown College