While most Australians were getting ready to greet Father Christmas, CYM members were making their annual trip through the Black Spur Mountain to their campground «Karpaty». This years summer camp came at the crossroads of a number of milestones: the end of a millennium and the start of celebrations for 50 years of CYM in Melbourne and Australia. Despite the rain and foreboding clouds, the young camp staff continued to provide a varied and exciting program where campers enjoyed lessons in bush survival, theatre, sports, games, and arts and crafts. Ukrainian language and culture were also emphasized, especially in singing sessions, which on fine days were conducted by the lake «Lyman» and accompanied by kookaburras and crickets.
«Karpaty» cooks love to break the stereotype that camp food is bad and their performance at this camp only added to their fine track record. Not only did this leave our canteen out of business, but also our sports coordinator with a formidable job. Apart from morning exercises and afternoon sport, strange sounds of "kia!" were often heard from the hall, where on investigation, one found yunatstvo heavily engrossed in Taebo, under the direction of a couple of druzhynnytsi.
In keeping with CYM-Melbourne tradition, the whole camp was involved in preparing the camp "Sviat Vechir", where the birth of Christ was celebrated within the environs of our CYM family by sharing a special Christmas meal and singing carols.
The final evening of camp saw two dryzhynnyk DJ's rocking the campsite, while sumeniata, molodshe yunatstvo, starshe yunatstvo and dryzhynnyky danced the night away.
A wall mural completed during the camp titled "Friendship" will be a lasting reminder of the atmosphere of the last camp of the millennium, but one could also add teamwork, family, and most of all a great hope for the future.
Congratulations go to all involved for a wonderful effort!
