Champs camp

By Monique Ebrington
YARRA VALLEY children piled onto a McKenzies bus with sleeping bags, swimmers, pillows and the local police for the annual Portsea Camp.
In its ninth year, the Portsea Camp is seven days of beach fun as part of a community partnership between police and local schools.
Principals nominate boys and girls for the camp both as a reward and for the benefit particular children will gain from the opportunity.
Coldstream student Ashlea Clausen was excited about attending this year’s camp and her mum Donna said Ashlea hadn’t stopped talking about the camp since she was nominated to go.
“It’s such a great opportunity for the kids and a really wonderful thing for the police, and all the other organisations that fund it, to be doing each year,” Donna said.
As well as a great way to finish off the holidays before she goes into Grade 6 this year, Ashlea says the Portsea Camp was also a great opportunity to make new friends and have fun.
“It is different to school camp because I met other friends and I have a few phone numbers. The people (volunteers) were really nice, you can just talk to them whenever you like,” Ashlea said.
“I had so much fun. The best thing was the giant swing. We saw some dolphins and that was pretty exciting.”
Healesville’s Sergeant Tony Van Gorp attends each camp and says he was pleased by the positive response to the camp, from the 31 campers from across Healesville and the Yarra Valley.
“The kids enjoyed a week of fun activities like swimming, eating and making new friends,” Sgt Van Gorp said.
“Happily a number of the kids didn’t want to go home and stay longer, which speaks for the success of the camp.
“This type of project has good long-term benefits with the partnership created through the interaction with local police.”