News & Articles
Stories From Camp Animal Fun Day
It was the Third day of Melbourne camp and we had a full day of animal activities planned! We ate our bacon and eggs for breakfast, packed our bags and headed off to Southern Cross Station to catch a train to Collingwood. We got off the train and walked for about 10 minutes before arriving […]
Stories From Camp “I can’t do it”
Snow camp is our toughest camp, physically and mentally draining on our Mentors. It builds great character and resilience but provides many challenges. One mentor in particular battled with the mental side of the camp, she physically achieved everything she was asked to do, picking up the technique of skiing easily and pushed herself to […]
Stories From Camp A Wild and Windy Surf
It was our last full day on camp and we wanted to try and get outside as much as we could as the previous few days didn’t allow us to. We had surfing planned in the morning and the weather was wild and windy. However, we knew these children would absolutely love surfing being from […]
News Updates Ever wondered …?
Ever wondered how children are chosen to take part in the amazing Cottage by the Sea programs? Throughout its 130-plus year history, Cottage by the Sea has taken children on referral from those who know the children best. Remaining true to the same mission: to reach those children who need it most, to enhance their […]
Stories From Camp WEED WARRIORS!
Our Grade 6 REEFies were back at Cottage for the second time this year and it was a delight to have them back. It had felt so long since the first program. Both kids and the programs team were excited for the week ahead. The REEF program is all about building resilience, learning new skills […]
Stories From Camp A Wet ‘n’ Wild Week
The heading says is all, welcome to the first week of Winter! It was wild! Rain, hail and strong winds all week for our program participants. We were not able to get out in the ocean once this week. But, we made sure that the children would still have an amazing week to remember. We […]
Stories From Camp Day out on the boat
It was the third day of camp and the Cottage staff had just told us what we were doing for the day, we were going on Sea All Dolphin Swim Charters for a snorkel and swim with hopefully some dolphins and seals. We were so excited! I was anxious because it was going to be […]
News Updates, Our History A legacy to last a lifetime
Charles Adams was just eight years old when he first encountered Cottage by the Sea. He fondly recalls his time there – and he says it saved his life. For this reason, Charles emphasises the importance of Gifts in Wills to ensure the ongoing financial stability of an organisation like the Cottage. In 2012, the […]
Stories From Camp A day full of adventure!
It was the second day of camp and we were already having the best time! The Cottage staff then informed us that we were going swimming at the beach for the morning. Everyone was so excited and could not wait to get into the waves. We first had to line up in height order and […]
Stories From Camp Resilience in the rain!
From the moment we arrived in Sydney it started to rain, we all joked about bringing the rain with the us from Victoria. Even though it was forecasted to rain all week this didn’t phase us. Our biggest day of the camp was spent all outdoors, starting at the Taronga Zoo. The ferry ride across […]
Stories From Camp Surfs up!
It was day 3 of camp and we had been swimming and body boarding the day before, I did not think camp could get any better and that’s when the Cottage staff told us that today we were going surfing! I was so excited but also nervous because I had never been surfing before. The […]
Newsletters 2022 Winter Newsletter
When we welcomed our Mentors back on site for the first time this year, it was time for them to work together to achieve more. This plan of action started from the moment they walked in. They helped by taking the bags off the trailer, setting up beds and in the preparation and serving of […]
Stories From Camp First time away from home!
We arrived at school to a very excited group of grade 2 students. This was their first EVER camp and for most it was their first EVER time away from home. From the moment the children arrived they were literally bursting with excitement, some bursting so much they could only express their excitement by screaming […]
Stories From Camp It’s a multi climb kind of day!
Week 2 of the school holidays we took our older Mentor participants for an offsite mountain climbing camp at Mount Arapiles, a rock formation that rises about 140 metres above the Wimmera plains. While top roping, a few participants were very excited to push themselves though another multi-pitch which they had very little experience in. […]
Stories From Camp Connecting & learning
Camp this week was all about connecting with others and learning new skills. Our Mentors were completing First Aid and Food Handling courses that would help them gain future employment and build important life skills. The group participating in the Food Handling Certificate and were put to the test the very first day after completing […]
Our History Miss Amelia Chinn, Matron 1906-1928
Researched by Jeffrey Ernest Bergmeier a grand-nephew of Matron Miss Amelia Chinn. The family continued to live at Bass with Grandparents Rosetta and Joseph Chinn helping to support the four young children. By 1868 William had met and married Maria Rogers a scholarly mature lady who had never previously married & was by then 57 […]
Stories From Camp What resilience looks like
Recently four of our staff took 22 children on a three-day hike to the Otways. This group of 12 to 13 year olds from suburban Melbourne had never slept in a tent, used a Trangia stove or walked for kilometres, let alone with a full pack on their back. These children needed to show resilience, […]
Stories From Camp Quicksilver Surf Day
The tradition lives on. Every year for the last 13 years, Cottage by the Sea and Quicksilver / Boardriders have partnered up to run a surf day for the children attending Cottage by the Sea. This year’s lucky participants came from one of the communities effected be bushfires in 2019/20, who the Cottage has been […]
