30 August 2021

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to inform you about arrangements for Tiona Reunion Camp this year.

Mission Centre leadership and the Tiona Reunion Committee have been carefully considering the risks of holding the camp given the worsening Delta situation in NSW and Victoria. Whilst the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response and the current rates of vaccination give pause for hope that a successful camp could be possible in December, at this point in time there remains a number of serious and highly possible risks that could interrupt the camp at the last minute such as:

• localised lockdowns

• border closures preventing key personnel from attending (the camp director, myself, and at least 3 other key members of staff are from Queensland and Victoria)

• key personnel in isolation due to contact tracing

• a COVID outbreak in camp requiring part or all of the camp to isolate

• infection in unvaccinated children.

Added to these risks is the difficulty of planning a complex event with such great uncertainties and the need for robust contingency planning, mindful that the burden of planning falls largely on volunteers.

For these reasons, we have made the difficult decision that Tiona Reunion Camp will not occur this year in the way that it normally does. Community of Christ will not be providing meals or developing a busy program of activities.

We understand that many of you will still travel to Tiona at Christmastime in your private capacity and there may be many Community of Christ members and friends on the grounds. Depending on the circumstances of the pandemic at that time, it’s possible there will be a few carefully-controlled activities on the grounds for those who are in the area. Such activities would comply with all relevant COVID-safe laws and guidelines applicable at the time and may include favourites such as Sunset Reflections and a Beach Carnival.

Many of you have private accommodation bookings with Tiona Holiday Park for the period of the camp. If you wish to retain your booking, there is nothing you need to do. If you wish to cancel your booking, you should contact Tiona Holiday Park on 02 6554 0291 or email stay@tiona.com.au at your earliest opportunity. The Park has been given notice that the camp has been cancelled and is expecting some cancellations.

If you were notified that you were to receive an accommodation grant, I’m sorry to advise that the grant is no longer available given that the camp is not proceeding in an official or normal way.

We have not made this decision lightly and we understand that many will be disappointed. It saddens us too. We are hopeful, however, that many in our community will still enjoy the blessings of Tiona and community over the Christmas holidays and that those who gather there will renew their spirit and reunite with their faith-community in a COVID-safe way.

We hope to bounce back bigger and better in 2022 for the 99 year anniversary of Tiona Reunion Camp - please start planning to be there!

If you have any questions, you can contact the Tiona Reunion Committee at TionaReunion@gmail.com.

Warm regards,

Ben Smith, President, Community of Christ - Australia Mission Centre