24 October 2024
On Saturday 28 September at 5pm, 16 St Peter’s College boys and 16 Wilderness School girls arrived at the SPSC Boarding House ready to commence one of the most challenging and meaningful service experiences of their lives – the 2024 SONY Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp. The SONY Foundation Camp aims to provide respite for families of children with disability all across Australia, with our camp being the only camp currently run in South Australia. The camp guests arrived on Sunday morning (29 September) and stayed until Tuesday afternoon (1 October).
This year we had 16 children attending the camp, who were looked after 32 Year 11 companions, 12 crew members from Years 10 and 11, 25 teaching/staff members and 18 nursing staff/volunteers from both St Peter’s College and Wilderness School. During the camp, one SPSC student and one Wilderness student worked together to provide 24-hour care for their child living with disability. This provided their families a much-needed break from the fulltime care they usually provide.
Throughout the camp guests were involved in a variety of activities, including swimming in the Burchnall Sports Centre, attending the SONY Blue and White disco, cupcake decorating, canvas painting, pot plant making, ball sports, karaoke, dancing sessions, and a visit from the emergency services department, where guests got to operate the fire hose (and be sprayed with the hose), greet a police dog in training and sit on the police motorbikes. This was all topped off with a farewell party on the final day involving face painting, hairspray, a petting zoo of rescued farm animals and balloon making, where families came to enjoy time with their children and the companions who had taken care of them over the camp.
The experience was a truly meaningful one for our students and they should be immensely proud of the way they upheld themselves during the camp. Some of our companions reflected on their own experiences below:
My experience on SONY camp was challenging but extremely rewarding. It provided us the unique opportunity to step into the roles of these parents and gave us a newfound appreciation for the difficult task that is raising a child with special needs. It was a unique form of service that provided joy to both the children and parents and is a service initiative that I will never forget.
Reuben Foster (Young House)
SONY Camp was an unforgettable experience, filled with meaningful connections and opportunities to support others. A highlight was giving parents a well-deserved break, allowing them time to enjoy themselves, while knowing their children were in safe hands. Supporting these families deepened my understanding of compassion and responsibility, making the experience incredibly rewarding.
Charlie Bruce (Woodcock House).
Participating in the SONY Camp was an incredibly rewarding experience but it came with its challenges. From getting my camper asleep at night to doing the 30,000+ steps each day, every challenge was worth the experience and reward of being able to give his parents some much needed respite.
Oscar Wenk (Howard House).
After the first day of SONY Camp, I was physically and emotionally drained. However, by the end, I realised that even the most frustrating moments helped create a feeling of purpose. Looking back on this experience, I understand that a true sense of identity is formed by pushing through adversity and making a difference in the lives of others.
Anirvan Iyengar (Hawkes House).
Taking part in the SONY Camp was a truly rewarding experience. It was a privilege to be involved and take care of such incredible children while giving their families and carers a well-deserved respite. The genuine laughter, smiles, and bonds we formed are a testament to the impact that small acts of kindness can have on others’ lives.
Archie Braithwaite (Short House).
Participating in the SONY camp was an exceedingly rewarding and unforgettable experience. It was an honour to witness the direct impact I was fortunate enough to provide to both the guests and their families, who received invaluable respite. The camp profoundly enriched my own life with empathy and compassion, and established life-long relationships I will forever cherish.
James Corbin (School & Allen House).
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the staff and parents that were involved in this year’s SONY Foundation camp from both St Peter’s College and Wilderness School, including the staff who volunteered time during the camp to supervise and the parents who volunteered their medical expertise. I would especially like to thank the key staff members involved at Wilderness School – Ben Manifold and Melissa Foster, and Ed Ruediger from St Peter’s College. This camp could not have run without their valuable input in the months leading up to it.
Louise Firth
Sony Camp Coordinator
