Service, smiles and school holiday fun
Fun times for the community of Tumbarumba.
A group of 36 young people from an Adventist church in Sydney spent the winter school holidays giving back to the community of Tumbarumba through their third STORMCo (Service To Others Really Matters) trip, held from July 5 to 11.
Throughout the week, the team from Mile End Community Church ran a popular kids’ club and offered practical help to local residents through gardening, pruning and general maintenance tasks.
The kids’ club, held at Tumbarumba High School’s Multi-Purpose Centre, attracted record numbers—with 107 children attending the free, structured holiday program. It provided a fun and engaging outlet for families during the break.
Meanwhile, a separate crew visited homes around the town to assist with outdoor jobs. One project included supporting a foster carer with a six-month-old baby.
According to Mitzy Camilo, who served as an administrator for the kids’ club and supported some of the evening team activities, the group was met with “overwhelming generosity and kindness” from the local community.
Local organisations pitched in to support the effort. The Uniting Church provided accommodation for the male team members, the Tumbarumba Motel hosted the female team and allowed use of its conference room, and St Jude’s Anglican Church offered its hall and kitchen as a central base.
With plans already underway to return in 2026, the team has been offered a potential new venue for the growing kids’ club program at the Tumbarumba Sports Academy.
