2026 Perth Easter Reunion
A reflection by Anita Staaden
Excitement about Perth’s 2026 Easter Reunion started last November when Meredith and Dennis Carr said they would love to come. Visiting Ministry and two extra fun people!
Then Kristie, Amelie and Craig Woodward said they would love to be cooks again. Problem two solved, and three extra people!
A non-member friend but recent regular attendee Tim O kicked things off on Thursday night with icebreakers. From the laughter and deep conversations shared, it was clear this was going to be a fun weekend, and it was!
Cyclone Narelle did us a lovely favour by dumping rain on the campground a week earlier, and we woke on Friday to green shoots in the campground and neighbouring pasture with a huge mob of kangaroos grazing in the adjacent farmland.
Meredith led our classes, focussing on “Where will the spirit lead today?” and whilst the jingle was slow to catch on, eventually it became an ear worm that would not go away.
An exciting visitor to camp was an echidna! Meredith spotted it, and we all went to have a look. This was the first echidna we have seen as a group at Serpentine campgrounds. Rob Thompson saw one a couple of years ago, but no one else did. It appears these elusive creatures only manifest to visiting ministry…
We had meaningful worship services led by Meredith, Dennis, Peter Lonsdale, Greg Short and Dione Jacka.
Children’s classes were led by Kristie Woodward, kids craft (painted tiles and foiled Easter egg cards) was led by Anita Staaden, and for the adults, craft was continued work on the Ghost Net REEFormation. At camp this year we made a good start on the bleaching corals. Thanks to everyone who unravelled, cut and stitched rope.
Vienna Staaden organised afternoon recreation, board games which were brought out at every break, and night owls, where participation in board games evolved into deep meaningful discussions. Vienna is also our chief inviter. This year four of her friends attended camp, and one, who has been a regular camper for ten years now, brought his fiancé and her son this year, and they all stayed overnight.
A highlight was Friday night’s Winter Olympics. Teams were organised and named, with bonus points for a Book of Mormon inspiration. A flag was made by each team, a chant composed, and each team used crepe paper streamers to create a “costume”. Anita Staaden had devised ten tricky winter Olympic inspired games. There was no snow, but there was some ice: ice hockey involved a foos ball table that came straight out of the freezer, with a ball made of ice! The team chant was repeated and the flag waved every time a team won an event. We have never seen Ross O’Dea, who has Down’s syndrome, so involved in any activity. He was the most enthusiastic flag bearer and medal recipient ever, and was still talking about the Olympics days afterwards.
Our campfire is always popular, and thanks to Cyclone Narelle fire bans had been lifted, and we could have a real fire this year. In recent years, we had a fake fire projected in the hall and sang in there. The musicians decided this was a better venue, as they could actually see the music, so we sang in the hall with fake fire, then moved outside to toast marshmallows by the real fire.
Sunday morning’s Easter Egg hunt was a big hit as always. The younger adults were just as keen to participate as the children (well almost), and we learned last year not to give the kids a head start. Their agility and enthusiasm was enough of an advantage! The haul of Easter eggs was much more evenly spread as a result.
2026 was the biggest camp we have had for many years, with over 40 participating, including 8 interstate visitors. It was delightful to have Geraldine Berry and Myra Stack as last minute visitors. It was encouraging to have 35 people at Saturday night dinner and 30 at our farewell gathering. Church attendances may be falling, but camp attendance is not. We need to look outside our traditional church buildings and at more community friendly ways to share our message.
Everyone left with a smile on their face and lots of stories to tell. Most indicated they would love to come back next year. Why not join us? Mark it on your calendar now: Easter 2027 – Perth Easter Camp, Serpentine WA.
From Independence to Perth
A reflection by Raymond Drake
I visit my eldest son James every second year. He lives in “Silicon Valley,” which is essentially the city of San Jose in the South San Francisco Bay Area. This year I visited for 4 weeks in January/February. This year I was determined to do my “once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage” to our Temple in Independence, Missouri. I did the usual Temple tour (I was the only tourist), and because I was Community of Christ, Australia, I was invited to see other areas of the Temple, including the room where our Prophet/President and the Council of Twelve meet. I also attended an adult class and worship at Village Heights Branch. I also attended a Sunday afternoon organ recital at the Temple. I found these experiences deeply moving and unexpectedly validating. Being cradle-to-the-grave Community of Christ, I had always envied those who experienced an adult conversion experience. I believe I experienced an epiphany of faith. Being at the Temple and sitting in church with the Saints, I felt an overpowering feeling that I was with my people. I saw a people with a united history and experience like myself. I could see that we are a world church, and so many of the church teachings were divinely inspired and powerful—creating communities of joy, love, happiness, hope, and peace, and affirming the worth of all persons—not just me in Australia, but all over the world. I kept hearing the line in the hymn: “His Saints are lovely in His sight, counts their numbers, knows their names.”
It was in this context that I saw the invitation to attend the Community of Christ Easter Camp at Perth in the beautiful Serpentine National Park. I had heard of some of the members of the Perth congregation all of my life. I decided that it was time to put faces to those names. Also, as bidden in that hymn, I was moved to seek out the Saints and be in their company and shine in their collective loveliness, wisdom, peace, and understanding. And I was so rewarded. Because of the domestic flights, I needed to do all of my travel on the Wednesday before the retreat started. Adrian O’Dea arranged for me to stay at the home of Anita and Ross Staaden overnight before travelling to the retreat. I am a criminal lawyer by background and love to chat, but I found the talk and topics covered during that one evening and one morning with Anita and Ross more stimulating than my whole career before a host of magistrates and judges!!!!! So, I felt I had a retreat even before the real retreat started.
I experienced so much at the Perth Easter Camp. Firstly, it was an affirmation that the Community of Christ is powerful and relevant. My memories of lessons from my youth, including “Living Life Abundantly” and “We Are a Peculiar People,” were refreshed. I enjoyed the ministry of Peter Lonsdale and Dennis and Meredith Carr so much. The wealth of a common background and shared experience was very reassuring to me. I loved sharing all of our meals together and the chest-breaking laughter and merriment we experienced. There were also many testimonies from people who had found the Holy Spirit in different places and in different ways. These experiences help to reassure those who may despair about dwindling numbers and reinforce the understanding that we do not know what the Holy Spirit has in store for us, or how far the seeds we are sowing may take root and prosper. Having shared as a joy-filled community from Thursday night until Sunday morning, we finished our camp with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The camaraderie we shared and the friendships that were formed created an emotion-filled time as we all participated in the blessing and sharing of the emblems.
Finally, I had already registered for the National Gathering, and after meeting the Perth Saints, I have formed the ambition to engage with the Community of Christ everywhere in Australia and to meet my brothers and sisters in Christ in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. I belong to Three Rivers Congregation on the NSW Mid North Coast, and although we are small in numbers, we are strong in the Spirit. The church is pursuing a presence online. In the future, I want to attend Australia Worships Online, and when I wave to 80 pixelated faces that I know on my laptop, I want to see 80 pixelated hands waving back to me. I feel that God has truly blessed me and that He has truly blessed our Community of Christ.
