By Andrea Gore
Andrea Gore wrote this reflection from Charnwood during the 2020 COVID-19 closure, when camps had paused and the property was unusually quiet.
The piece captures the feeling of Charnwood in autumn: cool mornings, wood smoke, open space and the sense of being away from everyday routines while still only a few hours from Melbourne.
Andrea reflected on the many groups that had spent time at Charnwood since AusCamp began using the property in 2003. School camps, family gatherings, youth groups, weddings, music weekends and community stays had all helped give the place its character.
The quiet season also made room for practical work. The team used the closure to improve facilities, repair spaces, refresh activity areas and prepare for the day groups could return.
As an archived reflection, the article is less about a current booking offer and more about why Charnwood matters to the people who know it well: it is a place where groups settle in, share routines, make memories and feel connected to the landscape around them.
Andrea Gore
May 2020