Weekend Away 2024

Welcome to Weekend Away 2024. A time for our parish to come together as the people of God to encourage and love one another. 

When: 6pm Friday 26th - Sunday 28th July

Where: Waterlsea Conference Centre, Nowra

Who: All are welcome, young and old and everyone in between. 

Why: To dedicate some time to hang out and have some fun together whilst encouraging each other in our Christian walks.

What: We'll be studying Revelation  and what it means to "Follow God in a godless culture". 

Speaker: Sean Heselhurst, Chaplain at Jervis Bay Navy Base. 

Registration

Please complete the information below filling in the detaills for yourself and any  other campers you are registering. 

The family ticket is for 5 or more people. Families with 3 or 4 people should select the family ticket and put in your family code (your Surname) to get your discount on the family rate.

If you encounter any issues please call, text or email Julia on 0425356243  or juliamirwin@gmail.com 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is Weekend Away happening?: Friday the 26th of July through to Sunday 28th July. Arrive from 6pm on Friday and depart after lunch on Sunday.

We're headed to Youthworks Waterlsea Centre, situated along the picturesque Shoalhaven River near Nowra, just 2 hours south of the Shire.  We have sole use of the centre for the weekend. Its on flat and level ground and is family friendly, accessible to all.

What is our theme?: We'll be exploring the book of Revelation and what it means to "Follow God in a godless culture". 

Who is our Guest Speaker?: Sean Heselhurst is currently the Chaplain at Jervis Bay Navy Base. Before this role he was involved in school and parish ministry. He is married to Linda who grew up at Gymea. 

What can I expect?: We'll begin on Friday night with our first (short) session. We'll have 2 sessions  with our speaker on Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon and we'll finish with our final session on Sunday morning. We'll spend time sharing in discussion groups on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Outside of session time there will be lots of free time and opt in activities to choose from. 

Is there a children's program?: There are many activities planned for the kids both in and out of our formal sessions. More information will be sent to parents prior to the weekend.
 

Why should I come full-time?: We encourage all members to consider staying full-time. One of the benefits of going away together (as opposed to just Saturday) is that you gift yourself more free time to meet others and enjoy developing deeper friendships in a fun and relaxed environment. Weekend Away is more than sitting under God's word and learning together. Our aim is to build a community of God's people in loving friendship and fellowship together, connecting people from all services in our Parish. 

What is the centre like and where will i sleep?: The dining and meeting hall are separate spaces and accommodate over 180 people. All the spaces have great heating, sound and audio technology, and wonderful views of the Shoalhaven river. All bedrooms have an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning/heating, single and double beds, doonas, pillows and blankets.

Click here to see photos of the centre, the grounds, and the bedrooms.

Click here to see the centre map.

Click here to see directions from GAC to Waterslea on google maps. The address is 439 Koloona Dr, West Cambewarra NSW.
 

What do we need to bring?: A list will be emailed to you upon registration. A few things to get you started include warm clothing, sheets, pillowcase and towels (doonas and pillows are provided), toiletries, your bible, and pen. Linen packs can be hired for an additional expense when you register. 

You can also opt in to the art workshop on Saturday evening. Please either byo equipment or add the art workshop ticket to your registration
 

What about meals?: Meals are fully catered from supper on Friday evening through to lunch on Sunday. Please BYO dinner on Friday night or grab a bite with your mates on the way.  If you have  food allergies or special food requirements please let us know when you register so we can ensure you are catered for.

What about COVID-Safety?: Youthworks is a registered Covid-Safe venue and will be operating within the NSW Government guidelines, similar to what you encounter at church each week. The Weekend Away Committee will work with the Youthworks team to ensure there are high standards of hygiene. 

What if I need help with transport?: Please dont let transport stop you from coming to WEA! Waterslea is only accessible by car. Trains are operational from Sutherland to Bombaderry. We can make arrangements to pick you up from the station, but we suggest travelling with friends. If you need to be connected with a ride from the Shire or Bombaderry Station please let us know when registering. We can help connect you with a lift. 

What is the cost and what if it's too much?: We try to keep costs as low as possible but understand Weekend Away is a considerable expense.  We have provided a variety of options and we invite you to talk with Craig or Dave if you would like assistance with the cost. Costs are varied depending on your family. Families of 3 and 4 please use your code (Surname) to access your reduced family rate. 

What are the Registration Options?: There are three ways to enjoy Weekend Away:

Full-Time
Friday Evening to Sunday lunch, including 4 sessions. First meal is supper on Friday and final meal is Sunday lunch. The committee recommends you come full-time in order to enjoy all the aspects of the weekend as a community. 

Part-Time

Saturday morning until Sunday lunch, including 3 sessions.The first meal is morning tea on Saturday and the final meal is Sunday lunch. The committee recommended this for members who have previously visited for the day and would like to try the overnight option. 

Saturday Day Tripper

Saturday morning until Saturday evening, including 2 sessions. The first meal is morning tea and the final meal is supper. Please note the second session is on Saturday afternoon before dinner. 

Sunday Day Tripper

Sunday morning until Sunday afternoon, including 1 session. The first meal is morning tea and the final meal is lunch. 

Family Tickets

The cost of full time and part time family tickets are different for each family based on the make up of your family. Families with 3 or 4 people should use a code (your surname) to get your family's ticket price. Couples and families of 5 or more do not need a code. If your family is coming part time please contact Julia to have your ticket set up with correct details. 

What if I have more questions?: If your question isn't answered here please reach out to a Weekend Away committee member and they will help you! The committee: Margaret and Bruce Merrick, Chris and Julia Harrison, Renae and Ian Bone, Matthew Robson along with Craig and Dave.