News

For our new REEF participants, this camp would focus on team work, as students came to cottage to...

In early March, the Department of Education and Training announced that all school camps were to be postponed until...

The rumbles of change at Cottage by the Sea have become quite loud recently, as refurbishment works stride ahead.

It was a drizzly Thursday morning as camp leaders discussed the day’s program.

Should we stay indoors, or...

This week at Cottage, 8 Mentors participated in a morning of driver education.

The morning started with a...

Cottage by the Sea's historic building is currently undergoing a modern transformation costing in excess of $3 million.

...

This week we welcomed a different camper, one with some extra fur. Bentley the therapy dog attended camp...

In 2020, Cottage by the Sea will begin a three-year commitment to supporting children from Victorian bushfire-affected communities by...

In December 2019, some wonderful people from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) volunteered their time at Cottage by the...

This February, Cottage by the Sea CEO Adam Wake, is participating in a unique jungle marathon event.  Adam is...

This week at cottage by the sea we had 17 children from Yuille Park Community College come visit and...

Another perfect day down at Barwon Heads with one of the lowest tides we have ever seen! The campers...

We had a beautiful day here in Queenscliff, 23 degrees and partly cloudy. A perfect day to be outdoors...

Cottage by the Sea will once again open its doors to communities affected by bushfire.

Bushfires ravaging Victoria...

When we heard of cases where not only a child and her mother, but also her grandmother, have all...

Bus was packed and the surf trailer was attached, we were ready to head down to Ocean Grove for...

It was Tuesday, mid-December and the All Mentorswere on the road to Winnap, a town along the Lower...

Historically, Cottage by the Sea hosted children over Christmas and throughout the summer holidays.  It was an invaluable service...

This week we had a school group from Corio for a 3day camp, who were eager to get...

It was a beautiful morning on Wednesday for our annual Quiksilver Surf Day, unlike last year when we had...

It was the final day of camp. After being challenged while swimming in the ocean, learning about Point Lonsdale...

One of our Mentors spoke at our 129th Annual General Meeting this October ... below is a transcript of...

It was raining when the children arrived at the new park in ocean grove. Eager to test out the...

It has been a long anticipated wait for the Super Duper Fun Park to open in Ocean Grove. This...

What a surprise for our first day of camp!

While exploring the fishing pier in Pt Lonsdale we...

"What’s over there?" "What’s that place called?" These are a couple of the many questions we have heard at Cottage, ...

In 1945, Margaret Carroll (nee Woodman) from Boundary Primary School, North Melbourne stayed at Cottage by the Sea with...

On the 22nd of September Camp Leaders Ebony, Louise, Louis and Sean picked up the new Mentorsfor a...

Thanks to the generous support of APCO, Cottage by the Sea took a group of our younger Mentors...

We had a mission for our rock pool ramble today! The mission was to find as many Sponge Bob...

Competition time! This week we had two fishing charters on the program, thanks to the generous support of Kempe...

“General happiness is a big thing. Overall happiness is the key.” This is a quote from one of the...

This week we experienced some king tides and howling winds down in Queenscliff.

With weather blowing in like...

What a week! Storms forecasted all week from the Bureau of Meteorology. Temperatures as low as 4 degrees. Snow...

In 1951 a new matron, Sister Nora Harper, arrived at Cottage by the Sea from the Ministering Children’s League...

Every weekend the ‘pirate’ Captain Red Beard comes along to Cottage and buries some treasure in our sandpit. Full...

It was a Monday morning as camp leaders Steve and Louise made a 3hour journey to collect 19 excited...

On Monday morning camper Bryce arrived at Cottage with his trusty friend Tigger tucked tightly under his arm.

Adam Wake joins Cottage by the Sea as CEO, after 11years managing the Lions Village Licola Inc (LVL). A...

An opportunity to ski the slopes of Mt Buller comes very rarely for our second year REEF participants. This...

It was the first week of the July school holidays and our 37 Mentors had just returned from the...

In 1940, the Ministering Children’s League (MCL), the founding charity of Cottage by the Sea, held their Jubilee AGM, ...

Eight friendly smiles greeted Cottage by the Sea on Tuesday afternoon as a group of Mentors arrived for Cooking...

On Tuesday afternoon sixteen smiling faces came bounding in through the front doors of the Cottage. Despite the...

Tiwa was surprised at how much food there was on camp. Coming from Congo less than six months ago, ...

Here at Cottage our campers appreciate the generousity of our supporters who give them gifts; knitted items, food, toys, ...

“What was your favourite thing on camp so far?” the Cottage by the Sea camp leader asked a group...

Last week, 20 children the Western English Language School arrived for four days full of new experiences, exposure to...

Recently Year 9 students on our Mentor Programhad the privilege of going on one of our most exciting...

On Tuesday Morning, 20 lucky students from Western English Language School, (WELS) arrived at Cottage by the Sea for...

Through rock climbing children can learn to cope with fear, stress and develop self-resilience, which is exactly what the...

A Convalescent Home called Cottage by the Sea, situated at Queenscliff, was the principal work of the Ministering Children’s...

On Tuesday, our new Mentors arrived at Cottage by the Sea. A bus from Leopold and a bus from...

One of the first things Tiffany asked when she arrived at Cottagewas: “Will we get to go swimming...

For most children, birthdays are all about parties and cakes and presents! For three-year-old twins Maya and Talitha that’s...

Our new first year REEF participants arrived at Cottage by the Seaon Thursday.  This is the first of...

Restoration and health in the early days of the Cottage (1890-1920)

Cottage by the Sea has a proud...

Seven year old Jed was mid rock pool ramble at Barwon heads Bluff when he spied a crab,

...

After a long journey from Bendigo to the Bellarine Peninsular, 35 sleepy year fives and sixes from Eaglehawk Primary...

 “I love this one!”     “Take a photo of this one!”     “I’m proud of this one.”

These...

Tenon’s experience of his first Take a Break camp at Cottage by the Sea was a real sensory experience.

It was Day 2 of camp and Aurora was slightly hesitant about the adventures ahead. First adventure...

25 years ago, the Cottage wasn’t such a different place … the children were still the heart...

This week at Cottage by the Sea, we were pleased to welcome 28 students from Mahogany Rise Primary...

In one single day our community raised over $71,000 for one of the oldest children’s charities in Geelong. The ...

This week we welcomed 31 students from Thomastown West Primary school in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. The school...

It was the first Take a Break camp of the new year and Cottage by the Seawelcomed 20...

It’s a picturesque day with aqua blue skies, with a puff of fluffy white cumulus clouds here and there. ...

Within hours of arriving at Cottage by the Seathe Grade 2 and 3 Eaglehawk students were touched by...

From the moment we picked up Marley she was super excited about her final REEF campfor 2018. Rain...

“Miss Wright, Miss Wright, can you tell us about camp please?”

“Will there be big bedrooms?”

“Miss...

A brief moment of silence descended on the students from Kerang Primary School as they perched themselves on the...

In 2017, Australia reported a high prevalence of schoolyard worriers. Due to the growth of social media and...

We’re always excited when the school holidays arrive, as it means we can focus on working with our REEF...

It’s alway an enjoyable drive to Ballarat  when we know we are picking up our second year REEFkids! ...

Sunday 23^rd September. Ebony, Louis, Locky and Steve climbed in the Cottagebusses bright and early en route...

We love being part of the Cathy Freeman Horizons Program and the places it takes us. Our most recent...

Historically, people associate the term philanthropy with someone who has excessive amounts of money, looking to put it to...

Each week at Cottage by the Seais unique. There are new challenges, new achievements and most importantly, new...

This week Cottage by the Sea hosted Andrea Downie; Cofounding Director/Facilitator of “Project Thrive.”

The staffand volunteers...

“Hey Kate, can we like live here at the Cottage? Like, seriously, can we? It is just so much...

7am Friday morning. We were greeted with the all to normal sets of tired and weary eyes that come...

So, you own or manage a business and you’ve decided to make a tax-deductible donationjust in time for...

Cottage by the Seahas a proud history with Herne Hill Primary School. Each year a lucky group of...

This week Cottage by The Sea received an array of beautifully hand-crafted and knitted beanies, scarves, teddy bears and...

Ebony and Bill headed off to the Kings Park pick up point and were greeted by 9 smiling faces. 

The end of the financial year is a great time for many businesses and individuals. It’s a time to...

This week we welcomed nine energetic boys from Leopold Primary.  Ebony and Steve had the pleasure of driving just...

It was a beautiful sunny Tuesday morning as we awaited the arrival of forty-five very excited grade 3\4 students...

Early Monday morning, Sean and Nat headed off to the Yarra Valley region to collect eighteen very excited children.

The most beautiful autumn weather provided the perfect start to another exciting camp at Cottage by the Sea.  We...

This camp was a short and sharp weekend, jammed packed with fun.

Bill, Ebony, Nat and Sean headed...

The sun is setting sooner. The mornings becoming frosty. It’s safe to say that Autumn is in full swing...

Our older group of Mentors are all entering their last few years of high-school and working towards their future...

Off to Cottage by the Sea I go for a very rewarding day working in the kitchen as chef...

Our younger Mentors had been enjoying some sunshine and filling up on some delicious chocolate during their Easter break...

Here at Cottage by the Sea we love making new friends and we are lucky to be able to...

Every year we invite kids from a new region to be part of our REEF Program and every year...

It’s one of the biggest drives of the year for our camp leaders, venturing across lengths of Victorian country...

At Cottage by the Sea, we are forever thankful for the help we receive from the community. As a...

It wasn’t long before lunchtime on Tuesday morning when our Cottage staff drove down to the Queenscliff Marina to...

Monday morning blues don’t exist at Cottage by the Sea, in fact every day feels like the weekend with...

The rise of digital technology has changed almost every aspect of everyday society in numerous ways and levels.

...

Our young partnership with Bethany Community Supporthas blossomed and we always look forward to camps with the kids...

It’s not often we will have two Take a Breakcamps in a week, but two one after another...

All of last week, the Year 6s went to a special camp called Cottage by the Sea! They had...

The kids from Yuille Park Community Collegewere given a big surprise on their second day of camp when...

In it’s thirteenth year, the annual fundraising golf day at Flinders Golf Course shows no signs of slowing down. ...

At Cottage by the Sea, we are very lucky to have a strong and ongoing support network in our...

It was what you would call a "full-cottage" on this weeks’ program, with all our staff on-board to help...

January has been a super busy month us at the Cottage but we couldn’t be more pleased to have...

We were back and running camps the first week of 2018 and we couldn’t have been more excited to...

It is 79 years since I first stood here, at the door of Cottage by the Sea in Queenscliff. ...

Wow – what an amazing day! which is our largest public fundraiser each year, raised an amazing $70,000, toppling...

Each year Cottage by the Sea hosts two camps in association with The Mirabel Foundation and their staff and...

Finally, after a long term 4 we were eager to see some familiar faces again when our whole group...

Christmas can leave us feeling a tad greedy after overindulging for days on end. It usually leaves us slightly...

Cottage by the Sea. Non-profit. Non-government funded. A proud charitable history with a future as bright as the smiles...

Finally, some hot weather arrived at our doorstep this week and we were lucky enough to share it with...

I have been busy the past month travelling all over Melbourne collecting wonderful donations to ensure our campers have...

Cottage staff members Troy, Natalie, Mel and Sean were up bright and early on Sunday 5^thNovember in...

This week we were lucky to have a great group of kids from two Colac primary schools. Ebony and...

Our second year REEFies have had a big year of offsite camps, each pushing them to try new things...

On Monday afternoon, Cottage staff took the short drive to Geelong Train Station to meet 14 eager faces – ...

It was great to see some familiar smiling faces around the Cottage recently when our younger group of year 8...

At the end of October, we traveled to Brisbane to meet a group of 14 indigenous grade five...

There’s nothing more exciting than the first official, Cottage offsite camp for our junior REEFies!

The camp begun...

A group of our year 10-12 Mentors took some time out of their school holidays to come and enjoy the...

Can you believe it's that time of the year already? That's right, the time when Cottage by the Sea...

The rise of digital technology has generated many trends that come and go. For charitable organisations, it has bred...

Every two years, Cottage by the Sea works in partnership with St Albans Primary School and their staff to...

After enduring a very long bus ride in the early hours of Tuesday morning, our Cottage staff was pleased...

Cottage by the Sea sprang into spring with the help of 18 students from Werribee and Tottenham WELS (Western English...

Escaping the winter cold was on the cards for Cottage employees Natalie, Jess, Troy and Linton when they were...

Quite often at the Cottage we have children who travel from all over Victoria to participate in our Take-A-Break...

Recently, Cottage staff members Sean, Natalie and Troy were lucky enough to spend 5 days soaking up the Brisbane...

Is there really a better way to finish off the month of July than by spending two full weeks...

Many individuals and businesses make donations largely based on their financial situation at the time to determine the donation...

The week began with the older Mentors meeting the younger Mentors for the first time, but that was no...

Our last Take-A-Break camp for the next few weeks (before we head off to the snow with our REEFies), ...

As our first year REEF group have already experienced the joys and comforts of staying at the Cottage, we...

During the first week of the winter holidays we welcomed all of our Mentors, both young and old, to...

If you’re a contemporary business and reading this, you are most likely becoming increasingly aware of your corporate social...

Cottage by the Sea staff and 25 children from Newcomb Park Primary School celebrated the last week of June...

For the second occasion this year Cottage by the Sea welcomed a small group of Western English Language School...

A shortened work week (due to the Queens Birthday Long Weekend) doesn't stop the workload and fun for the...

Each year, Bethany reaches out to provide its services to more than 6000 individuals and families experiencing hardship within...

Ending the month of May could not have been any better for staff members Jae, Sean, Troy, Foxy and...

It was a very happy hump-day for Cottage as 10 children from Geelong East Primary School joined us for...

This week, our Take a Break program welcomed 19 local Geelong kids from Whittington Primary School into the Cottage. ...

In the first week of May, staff members Natalie and Sean flew to Sydney to spend seven working in...

During the second week of the school holidays, Cottage by the Sea welcomed back a small group of our...

School holidays have just begun for Victorian school students and for Cottage by the Sea that means we are...

This week, Cottage by the Sea welcomed our newest REEF participants who were selected from two separate schools in...

Our second year REEF kids visited us for their second camp this year, where they spent 3 days at...

On Friday, the 10th of March 2017, Queenscliff Golf Club held their first annual fundraising event in co-operation with...

Tuesday morning at the Cottage was a morning like any other. The staff had arrived early to prepare for...

The Western English Language Schools consist of co-educational primary and secondary based learning which operates under the government in...

Recently, eight young boys connected with the Kyabram Integrated Family Service were selected to participate in a four day...

Last week an array of students from, Yuille Park Community College in regional Victoria, stay by the seaside for...

This week we had 24 new friends join us all the way from Mahogany Rise Primary School in Frankston, ...