Camp shows what life should be about
Wed 09 August 2006
Gabby Flavell, Journalism
The camp is held every year for a week on the Gold Coast during Queensland's June school holidays and is completely charity funded.
The funding, which in 2005 cost approximately $A100,000, averaging at approximately $A8000 per camper for the week as well as other expenses, allows the teenagers to visit theme parks such as Dreamworld, take joy flights in light aircrafts and ride Harley Davidson motorbikes to mention but a few activities.
The camp was originally established in Tasmania in 1993 and by 1995 the charity had been setup in Queensland, with the first camp taking place in January 1996.
Since then TAC-Q has had over 200 campers, some of which have returned several years in a row. It has also seen 150 voluntary carers over the years helping out for the week.
Narissa Wilson, 19, started attending the camp when she was 13 years old and now recruits carers for the camp as well as being a leader and mentor to the other teenagers. She also helps in co-ordinating some of the activities, which are often kept as a surprise for the campers.
The 2005 camp saw visits from Broncos players, a Queensland rugby league team, and New Zealand band Evermore, who played a private gig for the camp.
Narissa said that the camp had given her the chance to experience things she never thought were possible.
"TAC-Q has provided me with opportunities that I had never even imagined were possible,” Narissa said. “The biggest experience I have gained from TAC-Q is that of being given the gift to be mischievous like every other teenager.”
“Being able to go on rides at Dreamworld like everyone else is the most amazing feeling, " she said.
These are the camp’s intentions. It aims to inspire and motivate the teenagers into seeing life differently with the hope that by the time they leave they know they can do anything they set their minds to.
The camp gives teenagers a chance to form friendships with other people who have disabilities as well as with the carers.
The camp also gives the carers a chance to see life differently as many of the carers who take part often have no prior experience in personal care of another person. The campers are each assigned a personal carer who stays with them throughout the week.
Kylie Howe, 20, first went on the camp in 2004 as a carer and loved the experience. She said the days were extremely busy with late nights and early starts but everyone had a great time.
"I learnt a lot about myself and my capabilities," Kylie said. "It's quite a humbling experience because you realise how much you take for granted and I learnt so much from being around so many amazing personalities."
The camp is supported by many sponsors including several local Gold Coast businesses and associations, which gives the camp a strong community feel.
The campers are transported to the different activities by a convoy of Gold Coast taxies that keep the same drivers throughout the week, so even a relationship is built between them as well. This group of taxi drivers also take a percentage out of every taxi fare, donating it back to TAC-Q.
TAC-Q's survival relies on donations of the money and time it receives but in return the achievements that TAC-Q helps many teenagers attain shows that nothing is unattainable and everyone has the ability to succeed if they put they're minds to it.
Image(s) designed by Erica Hahn, TACQ camper