A GROUP of 30 young people with disabilities, their carers and volunteers cherished the chance to make new friends and have fun at the Order of Malta’s annual youth camp held on the Gold Coast this year.
After postponing the camp for one year in light of the pandemic, the chance to host it again presented itself.
Order of Malta member Loretta Higgins, who co-hosted the event, said after the postponement and all the uncertainty, once the camp got rolling it was “simply unforgettable”.
“Spending time with our guests, their carers, fellow members and our wonderful volunteers, and seeing the joy which underscored all our activities, truly strengthened my belief that the work of The Order of Malta and our Church is needed and appreciated, possibly more than ever,” she said.
Order of Malta Queensland Hospitaller Danny Higgins said so many of the organising committee were themselves interstate and even when their opportunity to attend in person was lost, they continued their commitment for the benefit of the guests who could attend.
Each camp is designed for young people with physical or intellectual disabilities to join with their personal carers, as well as young volunteers and Order of Malta Members.
Centacare support worker Anthea McCallum said the camp was amazing.
She saw the three young people she supports – Carrissa, Matthew and Kyle – come out of their shell at the camp.
“I honestly don’t think anyone could have had a better week,” she said.
Carrissa, who is 19 years old, said her favourite part of the camp was the chance to meet other people and make new friends.
She held a koala for the first time and got to touch a dolphin at Sea World.
“The dolphin did flips,” she said.
Matthew, 24, said he loved meeting the dolphin too.
Kyle, 21, said he did not want to leave when it finished.
“I don’t want it to end,” he said.
Order of Malta National Hospitaller John Murphy said it was an “experience of a lifetime for the participants, their carers and also for our members and volunteers involved”.
“We had a pair of siblings who had never been apart from their parents in over 20 years, who after battling home sickness for the first couple of days didn’t want to leave their new friends at the camp’s completion,” he said.
“There was also a young man who would rarely communicate verbally but was talking by the end of the camp.
“A carer sent camp photos to a participant’s parents who were amazed to see their reclusive son dancing excitedly with his new friends.”
Four Australian Catholic University students were among the volunteers, including occupational therapy graduand Lisa Nguyen.
Ms Nguyen jumped at the chance to be a volunteer after hearing about the camp from her course co-ordinator.
She was supporting one young person, Shannon, when she felt homesick on the second night.
Shannon had never been separated from her parents before the camp.
“We let her have the time to call her parents and have her time in her room to watch movies,” she said.
When it was time to go out to one of the nice dinners at the camp, she said she wanted to get dressed up for it.
Ms Nguyen helped her put on a nice dress, curl her hair and do her make-up.
“We made her look really pretty,” she said.
Another ACU occupational therapy student who volunteered, Anna Capitelli, said “it’s good to study, but it’s great to have these hands-on experiences and see their smiles”.
Order of Malta member Dymphna Muir said the camp “was a most wonderful experience”.
“I was very proud to have been associated with such a positive camp and congratulate all concerned with helping us achieve it,” she said.
“God is love, and when we’re giving in love, it’s our truer self. Encounters like this are bigger than oneself,” Order of Malta member Caroline Grogan said.
The camp has run for more than 30 years in countries across the world.
Order of Malta Volunteers are dedicated to “Caring for People in Need – Together”. Visit http://orderofmalta.org.au/ for more information or you can register your interest in joining the team at https://form.jotform.co/Orderofmalta/oomvolunteerinfo
