Sunset Over a Marina
ABOUT US CAMP AUTISM WA

16th - 18th May 2025

Mandurah

We couldn’t have asked the weather gods for a more perfect weekend for our second camp of the year. Blue skies adorned Mandurah as our 20 families gathered for another weekend of friendship and frivolities.

As well as the opportunity for our returning families to reconnect, the first evening back together brought on camp activities, with the chance to pot your own peas, and make your own name badges. The badges in particular proved a massive hit, being a crafty chance to not have to remember everyone’s names, especially for our recent new members joining us on camp.

  • A sunset picture over an ocean marina with a large compass built into the pavement in front of the marina
  • A group of families at a camp ground on a sunny afternoon
  • A young boy excited at seeing what toys are in his welcome bag
  • A twilight picture of a Marina
  • A boy and his dad planting peas in a pot
  • Two boys creating name badges as part of a craft activity
  • An orange sunset over a marina full of boats with a swan swimming on the water
  • A Sunset over a marina with lots of boats in silhouette
  • A black swan serenely swimming at dusk with a very orange sky

 

First up on Saturday morning was a visit to one of Mandurah’s best attractions, Amaze Miniature Park. Beautiful Miniature Village scenes, an immaculately manicured hedge maze, mini golf, outdoor games and playgrounds and a stunning lego exhibition might be the headline attractions, but the more you look, the more you see, and there’s a lot to see! It received a big thumbs up from our group.

  • 4 happy boys standing on a lookout with a hedge maze in the background
  • A happy boy riding a pedal cart around a circular track
  • A section of a model railway in a miniature village
  • A family playing badminton with their assistance dog sitting in the foreground
  • A half open arch door leading to a secret garden
  • A parent and child looking at a model version of a monument
  • A miniature version of the Eiffel Tower
  • A Model village with a model coffee shop
  • A beautiful garden with a reflecting sphere in the foreground

 

After lunch at Keith Holmes Reserve overlooking the beautiful Dolphin Quay, it was time for the thrill seekers to have their turn. Higher intensity, quite literally, it was time for indoor rock climbing! Our kids couldn’t wait to start scaling the heights, and it was very impressive to see how naturally some could conquer the walls.

  • A group of families get together for lunch in a park
  • Families having fun at an indoor rock climbing centre
  • A group of kids having fun at an indoor rock climbing centre
  • A family climbing at an indoor rock climbing centre
  • A teenager climbing ona bouldering wall at an indoor rock climbing centre
  • A child climbing an indoor rock climbing wall
  • Ac hild climbing an indoor rock climbing wall
  • Two kids climbing an indoor roick climbing wall
  • A group of kids playing at an indoor rock climbing wall
  • A group of families learning how to safely climb walls at an indoor rock climbing centre
  • A group of families practising indoor rock climbing
  • A view of an indoor rock climbing centre with lost of families taking part
  • 3 kids practising their indoor rock climbing
  • A mum and son climbing walls at an indoor rock climbing centre

 

For our younger members, or those who weren’t quite so comfortable hanging from a rope 10 metres in the air, our families also had the option to take a trip on Big Toot, a tourist train that takes in all of the sights of the beautiful Mandurah Foreshore

  • A tourist train on a sunny day

 

Once again we were joined by everyone’s favourite camp members, the Autism assistance dogs Nyah and Sonic. New to the pack this time round, a third assistance dog, Lita. It’s a testament to these canine companions to see how much of an impact they have on both the kids and the parents. A quick cuddle with one of these doggies can calm a child, or melt away a meltdown. To most, dogs are pets, to our community they can be the most supportive workers anyone could wish for.

  • 3 Autism assistance dogs sitting looking at the camera
  • An assistance dog looking up at a boy in a red cap
  • 2 Assistnace dogs sitting ready for action
  • 3 Autism Assistance dogs sitting on the grass

 

After a day of being out and about, Saturday evening brought a return to camp to regather and relax. After dinner it was birthday cake time for those members who have celebrated their birthday since the last camp, followed by an outdoor movie on the big screen which gave everyone a chance to wind down after a big day, and for parents, the chance to relax and trade stories over a quiet drink or two

  • Families gathering around birthday cakes
  • A group of families watching an outdoor movie at night
  • A group of parents sitting around a picnic table
  • Two mums sharing an evening drink
  • A group of parents sitting around a picnic table

 

Sunday brought on the end of another great camp weekend, and our families started to disperse, each with new memories to cherish, new friends made, and happy hearts.

  • A group of kids swapping collectibles
  • A group picture of families at camp

 

A massive thanks to first time camp hosts Tiff and Cliff, and to Megan and Ben as always providing top notch support. It was a fantastic weekend thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.

Next up for our weekend camps will be a trip to the home of that happiest of animal, the Quokka! Stay tuned for details, and we hope to see as many of you as possible on Rottnest Island

A girl on a swing smiling at the camera giving a peace sign
Two boys sitting on a boat looking through binoculars the wrong way round
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