20 years of service, friendship and community
Arianna Chen (Skittles the clown) is a hit with the kids.
The STORMCo team from Kellyville Seventh-day Adventist Church (Sydney, NSW) recently returned to Nyngan for their 20th visit, celebrating two decades of service, friendship and meaningful community engagement.
STORMCo, which stands for Service To Others Really Matters, is a short-term, adventure-based service program that focuses on building relationships and supporting communities. Since 2005, the Kellyville Adventist Church-led initiative has run free school holiday kids’ clubs in Nyngan, growing to a team of 68 volunteers—55 of whom are teenagers—many returning year after year.
Reflecting on the milestone, STORMCo team leader Roshelle Fraser shared, “We’ve had an amazing time connecting with the town of Nyngan for our 20-year anniversary. We love coming back each year to run our morning kids’ club for 5-12 year-olds and to help facilitate the Nyngan youth program in the afternoons. We feel a deep connection to this community. Seeing familiar faces year after year is incredibly special, and the ongoing support we receive from local families means so much to us.”
To mark the occasion, a community barbecue was held on April 13 at O’Reilly Park. Among those in attendance was the Bogan Shire Mayor Glen Neill, who was presented with a special commemorative certificate in recognition of the community’s support and shared journey with STORMCo over the years.
Mr Neill congratulated the STORMCo volunteers for their years of service. It was a “big commitment to spend time in Nyngan but it was great to see these young people taking the opportunity to help others and I hope that our youth here get the same message”, he said.
The celebration was a lively, family-friendly affair, featuring a jumping castle, face painting, balloon animals and games. “We’re always excited to reconnect with old friends and welcome new ones—especially during such a significant celebration,” Mrs Fraser said.
Each volunteer contributes both their time and resources, covering their own expenses with a $160 contribution. Most of the volunteers come from Kellyville Adventist Church and Hills Adventist College.
Karen Tyler, a teacher and craft coordinator with STORMCo for the past two years, said, “I love STORMCo because it gives me the chance to make a difference in children’s lives. Craft time, games and kids’ club create memories that last. Seeing the joy and excitement on their faces is so inspiring. It reminds me how powerful kindness and teamwork can be.”
