A DREAM IN ROTARY CAN BE FULFILLED - THE CAMP GETAWAY STORY - Anen Josefsberg Ken Maxfield, who lives in Yea and is a member of The Rotary Club of North Balwyn, and a member of Rotary for forty-five years, spoke to us about the power of Camp Getaway and the way it affects those who come into its orbit.
This campsite is built for people with special needs. When Ken initially advocated for a campsite, he approached District Governor Vance Hilton, who liked the idea and agreed that it should proceed. The Rotary Club of Bendigo had had a campsite since 1948 in Axedale, which they were no longer able to successfully sustain. The campsite was handed over to District 9800, originally called "Camp Milennium". Various changes have been made over time, very significant ones, which have improved many lives. The campsite has been rebuilt to enable it to enrich the lives of those who participate. Some examples include $65,000 worth of tennis and basketball courts, $3000,000 towards a commercial kitchen and cabins built specifically for wheelchair access. Other developments Ken outllined include $3.45 million towards an increase in insurance cover.
When Ken described how Camp Getaway changes people's lives, he described the way the area moves people to continue to return - the Alcoholics Anonymous group which has booked the zone for over eighty people until 2030 for meetings held twice a year. Also, the scrapbooking group which has booked the area for twenty-two years running and finally, on average, Camp Getaway with four to six bookings per year until 2030.
Individuals come to Camp Getaway and are inspired by its accessibility and encouraged to further grow and develop. He described the time when "Shine" used the site to assist children who come from dysfunctional families. The weekend made a real impact in their lives. He also gave a moving account of a motorised wheelchair user who excitedly responded to having a ramp outside his cabin.
Camp Getaway is indeed a dream that has been fulfilled. The story of this campsite, with its upgrades, changes individuals' lives. Ken presented us with the very essence of Rotary International - Service about Self.
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