Swan Hill Campus
our story
For many years we have been envisioning a training campus within reach of the population centres of Victoria. After much prayer, investigation and hard work, our Swan Hill campus was launched in January 2007, taking in a group of students from Australia and overseas. After a great year together, we commissioned a group of them as a mission team to Castlemaine, and our 2008 students have now settled in to prepare for their own mission team assignment next year.
During 2007 and 2008, we have hosted some significant events at the Swan Hill Cornerstone Community, including mid-year 'mini-schools' and leadership camps for highschoolers in August. You can read a local newspaper report here.
Swan Hill got it's name from the explorer Major Mitchell who had a motto that the city has taken as it's own: 'With God's help, we will excell'. Our dream is that, with God's help, there will be waves and waves of young leaders who excell in all of life being exported from Swan Hill. And that, like Swan Hill's fruit, they will be sent all over Australia and the world.
What local people are saying:
Mr Gary Tepper, Economic Development Manager for Swan Hill Council
"We are delighted that Cornerstone has seen all that our region has to offer them and we look forward to the benefits that will flow back to the local area. We look forward to working with Cornerstone and will do all we can to support them in their establishment phase."
John Forrest (Federal Member for Mallee and Chief Whip of the Nationals)
"Cornerstone's commitment to a holistic vision of Christian discipleship combines an emphasis upon serious learning, spiritual, communal living and work experience. It concentrates on young people seeking further discipling before proceeding with their preparation for adult life and work. These qualities would be a great asset to the Swan Hill community. I warmly commend the work of Cornerstone..."
Ted Pickering (owner and founder of a large trucking group)
"We understand the concept that they operate under for Christian training and ethics to be a valuable project for this region. The campus, when established, will bring students to this area which can only be beneficial in improving and stabilising good work ethics in the community."
"We have spoken to Martin on a number of occasions about the Cornerstone Christian Community and certainly feel this would be an extremely positive development for our area.
The Cornerstone Christain Community encourages new people to our area by providing a new educational concept and it provides a workforce, which is available for duties as diverse as fruit picking to medical care.
We feel that these are positive steps for our rural community and should be supported."
Michael Adamson (Chairman of the Swan Hill Ministers' Fellowship)
"Cornerstone has for many years trained and equipped young people for effective living. Their unique combination of accredited study and work placement, in a community environment provides a 'whole of life' approach to the eqipping process. This very successful approach will continue to provide quality training for the young people of this community and beyond.
The fellowship is also excited about the opportunity for quality training in the rural setting.... This option will help reverse the flow of youth from the bush to the city."
Colin Mitchell (Board Chairman of the Son Centre Christian School)
"Since relocating to Swan Hill, the work of Cornerstone has been embraced by Church groups of the Swan Hill district and certainly by Son Centre Christian School. We see their involvement in the Swan Hill community as being of significant benefit to the region and beyond."