The annual Celebrating Easter Festival at Rawson was first held in 2015. It was initiated by Pastor Sylvia Fraser who was concerned that “Easter was being lost as a special and sacred time for all Christians… With that in mind we felt led by God to create an event where Christians of all ages, from all denominations can come together to celebrate … the source of hope and the heart and message of Easter”. She was energetically supported by Andrea Camier, who wanted to see the 40-acre Camier family property ‘Mountain Rivers Tourist Park’ used in promoting Christian community-building activities.
A cross-denominational committee was formed and a not-for-profit organisation established, with the assistance of acclaimed country and western musicians David and Merrilyn Carter, youth organisation ESA Country Ministries headed by Dave Maxwell, and Ron Camier’s 4WD adventure tour business ‘Mountain-Top Experience’. From 2016 to 2019, pastors and rock musicians David and Rosanna Palmer were key facilitators of worship, music and workshops. Following Sylvia’s ‘retirement’ in 2018, leadership was taken over by Pastor Glenda Noordam, with a team of helpers from Moe New Life Christian Centre.
For the first two years, daytime activities were based at Bell’s Stadium in Rawson, then centralised at Mountain Rivers Tourist Park where accommodation is located. Meeting and catering facilities there were expanded in response to festival needs. Initially the aim was to hold a small, Gippsland-based event modelled on the famous ‘Belgrave Heights Convention’, featuring guest speakers, music and a variety of learning workshops, but adding some outdoor adventure activities focussed on attracting families, and particularly youth. The vision behind this was to provide for families where some want to be involved in church at Easter, while others want to go away for a fun holiday. Celebrating Easter aimed to provide both! So outdoor activities included revitalising the ‘Gippsland Billy Cart Derby’, plus four-wheel drive tours, wide games and a huge Sunday night bonfire.
After five annual festivals, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted and cancelled everything for four years. Sadly, Andrea passed away in 2017, but her vision lives on.
With the facilitation and enthusiastic support of Sally-Ann Henderson (SU Field Development Manager Eastern Victoria) a new leadership team was formed, including Anne and Ron Camier who attended an SU Family Camp at Coolamatong (SU farm camp, Gippsland Lakes) in January 2024. Since a camp format did not appear to be feasible, with most church people having Easter commitments elsewhere, a simple SUFM (aka ‘beach mission’) format was proposed. Family fun activities, which are free, are planned to be available at 11am and 2pm daily. These activities are open to campers in the Walhalla, Erica and Rawson areas, as well as locals and families from the nearby Latrobe Valley. Promotion is via social media and hand-distribution of printed flyers at the start of the Easter holidays. Only the team of leaders will be on site throughout, based at the motel at MRTP, Rawson.