History
Easter youth camps became a feature event among the young people of the Methodist
Church on Eyre Peninsula during the 1950’s, with live-in camps held at Arno Bay and Yallunda Flat show grounds whilst billeting at Tumby Bay and Cummins.
A permanent camp was only a dream.
In April 1961 a letter from the Tumby Bay Youth Fellowship to the Tumby Bay Church Council requested the matter of a permanent campsite be investigated.
Hamilton’s Beach, south of Tumby Bay, seemed the most favoured spot. Tom Hamilton, the owner, was receptive to the idea.
The decision to build a campsite was formally made on April 24th, 1961. The campsite began to take shape on August 15th, when the first working bee took place. The foundations for a cement block building 80 feet x 28 feet, with jarrah floor, were poured on March 19th, 1962. On October 27th, 1962 the opening of Thuruna Campsite took place. Accommodation was in tents.
Two 10 feet x 16 feet wood and iron shower and change rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls, was constructed. In 1964 a builder was employed to build the walls of the two dormitories with volunteers completing the roofing and flooring. In 1971 a verandah with cement floor was added on the sea side of the building. The area between the dormitories, now the games room, was first enclosed and roofed in 1972.
In July 1974 Thuruna received a school building from the Tumby Bay Area School, which had become redundant. This was placed at the rear of the camp as accommodation. Solid construction ablution blocks, in 1978, with tiled walls and floors with new gas hot water services made the new buildings just wonderful compared to the structures they replaced.
The kitchen was extensively modernized in 1982. The electric stoves were all that remained. The servery bench was given a laminex top, two island units complete with cupboard and drawers added all round for storage of cutlery, crockery and to facilitate more convenient food preparation.
October 1987 Thuruna celebrated 25 years of operation.
The School Building in 1992
Attention turned to the cottage in 1988, having received hardi-plank cladding in 1983, for major internal renovation. A paved pathway from the main building and the cottage and paving between the main building and the ablution occurred.
The acquisition of further land, in 1990, from the District Council of Tumby Bay to be added to the existing title was a long process. The land was given but the survey, transfer costs and paperwork were very drawn out. In the end Thuruna had sufficient area for an outdoor campfire and sea frontage to re-site the cottage.
During 1991 the electric stoves were replaced by two industrial gas stoves.
30th Birthday Celebration in 1992
The 30th birthday celebration was the main focus of attention for 1992. A conscious decision was made not to look at the past but to look to the future, for the development of Thuruna over the next 10 years.
As a result of this a master building plan was adopted for the future development of the main building. 1995-96 saw major renovations of what is now called the complex with a new roof-line, games room floor lifted, improved natural lighting but most importantly the whole complex under one roof. In 1998 the new ablutions were commissioned and the old male and female ablutions demolished.
L-R: Robert Lawrie, Ric Mansell,
Kym
Shepherd
& Peter Prime.
Complex upgrade
in 1995.
Ric Mansell was our long-serving chairman of Thuruna as our 40th birthday loomed in October 2002. As a licensed builder Ric had been instrumental in overseeing the transformation. Eyre Presbytery Chairman Robin Glover unveiled a plaque outlining the 10 year upgrade of the complex. Also in 2002 the cottage was moved to its present beach front location and extensive renovations began in September 2003. The cottage had a master bedroom and bathroom facilities added plus a verandah decking. For the first time this building had become fully self-contained.
March 28th 2004 was the official opening and naming of Hamilton Cottage, by Tom Hamilton, the donor of the land.
The facility has grown by means of volunteer labour and hire fees being re-invested into the camp facility.
Reshaping the Complex in 1995
Moving the School Building in 2002
Thuruna Committee Members in 2004
In front of Hamilton Cottage.