A Brief History of Tiona

 Since 1883, Community of Christ members have gathered annually to attend reunions, or family camp gatherings, in their local areas. 

 The first ever Community of Christ “reunion camp” was in Iowa, USA in 1883. It was a week-long gathering and families slept in tents and cooked for themselves. Soon, reunion camp events spread all over North America. By the 1890s, permanent campgrounds were being bought in places like Maine, California, and Iowa.

 In 1922, the Australia Mission Conference of Community of Christ appointed a committee to acquire a campground for Australia. Subsequently, 80 acres of land was acquired and named ‘Tiona’. 

 The first reunion camp at Tiona went for ten days in the Christmas holidays of 1923, with 250 people attending. Back then, Tiona was remote bushland with no road or services. Bush was cleared under the palms for tents and a jetty was built so a boat could deliver people and supplies (you can still see the pylons in the lake). It wasn’t long before 700 people were attending each annual camp. The Green Cathedral, perhaps the most famous part of Tiona, was built and dedicated in 1940.

 Reunion camps have occurred at Tiona every Christmas holidays since 1923. Over the years, the facilities at Tiona and the camp program have developed and changed with the times. Holiday spots and homes have popped up all around and Tiona is no longer remote. The holiday park is now managed by a lessee and contains a range of camping and accommodation types from budget to premium. And no longer do Community of Christ members and friends solely occupy the holiday park during the camp, but we share the park with other holiday makers. But despite all the changes, the spirit of Tiona Reunion Camp has remained the same since 1923: a time and place to retreat to nature, unite with community, and renew your spirit. 

 Reunion camps continue to be an important missional event in the life of Community of Christ members and friends all over the world. 

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• For more information: TionaReunion@gmail.com

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