History
The first Edmund Rice Camp was held at Parade College, Bundoora, Victoria in 1981. Since this time the camps have spread to all states of Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa, South America and North America. Below we share the story of our beginnings here in Queensland.
Beginnings in Brisbane...
In January 1991, Br Damien Price (from St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe) and Br John Henry Shepherd (from New Zealand) attended three different Edmund Rice Camps in Victoria, with a view to begin the camps in their own regions.
The future of Edmund Rice Camps in Brisbane depended upon connecting with children who would benefit from the camps, and on engaging quality volunteers to run the camps.
At the time, Sister Rosemary Grundy, a Presentation Sister, was working at a Community Centre at Carole Park. She was very enthusiastic about the proposed camp program, and knew of several children who would benefit greatly from participating. The children for the first camp came from Carole Park and Kingston, and also included some children from the boarding house at St Joseph’s Nudgee College.
Students of St Rita’s, as well as old boys of St Patrick’s and St Laurence’s were approached to act as leaders on the camp. Together the young women and men formed a team of enthusiastic volunteer leaders.
The first Queensland-based Edmund Rice Camp was held at Camp Laurence, Moogerah Dam, during the Easter holidays of 1991, and was a resounding success.
The rest, as they say, is history!
