Nearing years' end. 2012

We are in the last week of school camps for the year and it's time to slow things down a bit, enjoy the quieter times, and get some more renovations done.
Keeping up the finer details has been a priority this year. Flowers, nice things, aesthetics.
Jasmin grew a fantastic Pink Pineapple, we couldn't resist but to make it a table display. Wild, colorful and spiky, a bit like her.

 

There are some beautiful roses blooming now. We are loving the fragrance.

The entire activity staff re-newed their first aid training for another year. Compressions, rescue breaths, hard- fast - don't stop was the main message.

 Troy demonstrated his delicate technique on the baby dummy.

Lots of theory - breaks, bites, fits, attacks, all covered.

 

Two of our activity crew, Rina and Jesse, had their first climbing session at Mt. Coolum.

I think they might get hooked.

 

Rina finds some balance and technique.

 

It's all about strength, flexability and confidence.

 

Jesse gets stuck into some steep stuff.

 

2012 another year down

After knuckling down for another full year of school camps, it was time for the staff to be looked after, if only for one night of the year.
No teetering piles of dishes, no bins to take out, no dawn start.
Just a relaxing night at the Indian Palace at Eumundi.
Here's some of the lovely people who helped us make it through the year.

Nick - Programs

Rina - activities

Aaron - He's a teecha now - activities.

Jesse - activities/maintenance

K2 - activities

Em - activities

Karolina - activities

Wazza - activities

Jazz - office

Manny - kitchen, and his wife Mio

 

Marco - kitchen

Sandra - office

 

 Marco Karen Martha who keep the kitchen moving.

 

 Rina Michy Sandra

Olive

Thanks you to every one of you for another successful year at Maranatha Camp.
Let's do it all again.
John.
Manager - Maranatha.

Summer begins at Maranatha

Summer begins and the storms arrive. The Bangalows are in fruit and the birds are loving it.

If you've stayed at Maranatha then you've met our Kookaburra. He will fight you for your breakfast, or take on a giant moth. No fear.

The old hall "Birra-Wa" is getting a new look. Hardwood timbers, soft colours, and fire engine red for the doors, fire hose and bell.

Here and there take the time to notice the details.

Bai Rui  - Tae Kwon Do are our last big job for the year.

160 fighters, no trouble.

 We are looking forward to seeing you in the New Year.

 Thanks to all our visitors throughout the year, from the staff at Maranatha Recreation camp.

Meet the team - part one

Local boy, Michael Vermeulen is one of the old crew. He started at Maranatha straight after leaving school, and apart from a stint at Uni has been here ever since. Michael heads up the instructor team and we are delighted to have him on full time in 2012.
Adored by kids for his sense of fun and respected by the team for his experience. Also known as Micka.

Yandina girl, Michelle Finnigan another of the same vintage, returned from motherhood and back on activities.

We love having Michy back and so do the kids.

New guy Nick Barnes has been around the camps in the capacity of programs manager for many years and more recently at Maranatha we have grown to depend on his solid performance in all the technical ropes positions.

Great to have you Barnesy, hang around.

We love winter at Maranatha

Summer is great. There's the pool and the river. But winter days are so perfect. I won't lie, it's cold at night but the days are warm and clear. Coffee in the morning sun, hot chocolate by the campfire at night.    

 We still get consistently high praise for the menu and service.

The winter maintenance projects continue. This year we are embracing the old.
Birra-wa hall was built sometime in the 1950's and the latest renovations reveal layers of history.

 The new landing on the hall uses recycled Australian hardwood with beautifully worked detail and the original steel handrails.

The Ping Pong tables get a new look.
Ping Pong endures as a favorite of kids even in the electronic entertainment age.
It's hard to imagine how many thousands of kids have played on these tables.

The kitchen gets more and more fabulous all the time. New equipment, new styling.

The old kitchen door gets a treatment - stripped back, painted, printed, lacquered.

 

The rain earlier in the year has given such a boost to the greenery. everywhere there is new growth.

 

Office makeover 2010

Out with the clutter.
The overhaul is more than skin deep.
We have rewritten all of our risk assesments, proceedures, food safety program, human resources files, in fact almost every aspect of the office has been modernised, to cope with our bussiest year ever, coming up in 2011.
Thanks to Sandra's vision, and all the staff for a huge effort.

New poolside cafe at Maranatha

We have created a new outdoor area over looking the pool.

Our favourite new shadey area for a coffee at breakfast time, while the kids do the cleaning up inside, or a cool place for dinner on a hot night. You are invited.