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29 December, 2005
Blessed respite for single father of five
WESLEY Mission has given an all-nannies-provided holiday next week to Andrew Wilson, who is caring single-handed for his five children after the tragic death of his wife last month [November 2005].
Andrew had to give up his job as a concreter to care full-time for his children — who are all under the age of five — when his wife died from a pulmonary embolism just after giving birth to baby Jacqueline.
Life has been very tough — but from 3 January [2006] Andrew can take a deep breath and relax for a week at the Vision Valley bushland retreat run by Wesley Mission and watch his five children be looked after by camp counsellors and crèche workers. And no cooking or cleaning!
Andrew was very moved when, last week, he was offered a free place in Operation Hope’s Great Family Getaway, an all-expenses-paid summer holiday camp for disadvantaged families run at Vision Valley, north of Sydney, after his story was made public on Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program.
Vision Valley manager Matt Davidson says more and more single dads are signing up with their families for the Great Family Getaway, taking advantage of workshops ranging from tips on how to raise happy kids to simple menu ideas while trained workers help care for and entertain the children.
Everyone at the summer camps enjoy the Vision Valley facilities such as the swimming pool, canoeing, 200m flying fox, 120m waterslide, abseiling and romping across 35 hectares of bushland. Instructors run daily activities programs for older children, and counselling is also available.
Operation Hope programs for disadvantaged and at-risk children are run throughout the year at Vision Valley, helping kids with low self-esteem to trust others and have belief in themselves. The programs have provided heart-warming success stories, especially when children who have benefited from the programs return later as adults to counsel new generations.
* Vision Valley - 7, Vision Valley Road, Arcadia, phone (02) 9655-1515
For Further Information
Matt Davidson
Centre Manager
Vision Valley(02) 9655-1515 Dinoo Kelleghan
Public Affairs Officer
Wesley Mission(02) 9263 5545
0434 076 644
