New Friends

Our Stories

Here at Cottage by the Sea we love making new friends and we are lucky to be able to do so every week with every new person who makes their way into our hearts. The camp we held this week was no different when we partnered up with Tongala Primary School and 35 of their wonderful students and teachers for the first time.

The week started a little different, Ebony and Sean headed to Gisborne to meet 35 excited children and 4 lovely teachers from Tongala primary school. The reason why it was a little different is because none of the children or teachers knew what to expect. It was the first time this school had headed to Cottage by the Sea!

Once we made it back to the Cottage, regained our energy and met all of the camp leaders, staff and kids, it was time for us all to let loose and get down to business. So as usual, we wasted no time squeezing on our wetsuits and parading down to the beach with some buckets, spades and boogey-boards!

We all loved learning about the history and beauty of Queenscliff and walking around surrounding areas like that of Point Lonsdale to make a wish at the lighthouse and watch the fish swim under the pier! At the Barwon Heads Bluff we watched a pod of dolphins whirl past while we counted how many crabs we could fit into one hand and it was so much fun being little monkeys swinging around the low ropes course and helping the staff to feed the seahorses at the Marine Discovery Centre too!

On Wednesday we were greeted with sunny skies and a top of 28 degrees which meant only one thing, wetsuits on and time for a surf. We split into two groups, one having the opportunity to surf in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Not only did the children become professionals in the short time they were in the water, but they even said it was the best thing they have ever done. The smiles were priceless and makes what we do and why we do it worth it.

After a long four days in Queenscliff it was time for one last activity before the long trip home. So we went to the Point Lonsdale pier and lighthouse, which is always one of the children’s favourite activities. It was a great opportunity for them to hang at the beach one last time before heading home to the central Victoria. Once they had made a wish on the old magical light house it was time to have a snack, sing happy birthday to one of the children and jump on the bus home.

It was great to receive such positive feedback from all the teaching staff and their grade 5/6 students who joined us from Tongala Primary this week. We are so glad that you all had as much fun as we did and got to make some awesome memories! We look forward to an ongoing partnership with you and cannot wait to have you all back in two years’ time!