Grace is riding the waves of life
Nine-year old Grace’s world flipped upside down when her Dad’s health plummeted. She was caught in the tension of being anxious about what was happening at home, and not knowing who to talk to about her struggles.
“At Burnett Heads State School the beach is our backyard. Each term we invite four to six at-risk students between Grades 1 – 6 to learn how to surf. The program is called “Stoked at the Oaks” and it’s pretty unique. It gives us the chance to talk about courage and trust and trying new things, as a lot of the students haven’t surfed before,” says Chappy Tanya.
“Grace joined ‘Stoked at the Oaks’ last year, and she was thrilled. With all that’s going on in her home life, she was quite worried a lot of the time. She’d look towards the window everytime an ambulance went past the school, checking if it would turn towards her house.”
“Down at the beach, Grace had the best time. Getting to go down to the water twice a week made her really excited to come to school.”
Grace’s mum, Tamara says Chappy’s learn-to-surf program was a ray of hope in a dark time for her family.
“I’m a mum of two (about to be three!) and also my husband’s carer. Watching Grace go to school, with her dad in and out of hospital, has been really hard. She’d find it hard to talk to anyone about what was going on – but then this surfing program came up,” recalls Tamara.
“Grace started to shine. She got her bubbly spirit back, and she knew it was okay to go and have fun. Every time she came back from surfing, you’d see a difference. She was a lot less tense – she was happy.”
“As a mum, it was so good to know your child has someone she could confide in at school. Grace really needed Chappy – our family would be lost without her.”
Chappy Tanya and colleague Bruce, got the idea for the program after watching a documentary about U.S. soldiers who had taken up surfing to recover from post-traumatic- stress-disorders (PTSD).
They realised this program could be a great way to restore joy to students who are facing difficult circumstances.
Thanks to your generosity, a young girl went from feeling scared and alone, to feeling empowered and surrounded. Thank you for being part of the village that supports our young people.
More blog Posts
Mentoring Matters: 5 keys to help your teens thrive
24 September 2020Close your eyes for a minute and think back to your…
Read MoreWhy do I celebrate NAIDOC Week?
7 November 2020As a non-Indigenous Australian man, I confess to being a little…
Read More‘Crazy’ Hair Supporting Food Bank at Moe South Street in Victoria
10 March 2022A lot of local families, including some at our school, have…
Read MoreSUPA Summa Fun at Mannum (River Mission) in South Australia
15 March 2022What an exciting time for mission in Mannum. In this current…
Read MoreYou’re helping Jade find her sunshine again
5 April 2022Over the past year, Chappy Nancy has been co-running a lunchtime…
Read MoreYoung people discover life at Camp Odyssey
19 April 2022Your support for SU Australia is giving children and young people…
Read MoreShowing God’s love to children with disabilities
26 April 2022During the pandemic, a passionate team of volunteers at Calvary Church…
Read MoreHow your support made a splash in Lily’s life
28 April 2022Chappy Angus loves being the school chaplain at Lee Street State…
Read MoreMeet Joe Mullins – the 102-year-old SU Supporter
17 May 2022In 1937, a young seventeen-year-old by the name of Joe Mullins…
Read MoreLizzie finds her answers in the Bible on camp
23 May 2022Across Australia your support is helping young people like Lizzie discover…
Read MoreIsabelle discovers a different story – a story of God’s love
7 June 2022Across Australia your support is creating opportunities to partner with and…
Read MoreEquipping generations to carry the lamp of God’s love
15 June 2022When Ruth’s mum first became an SU ministry volunteer, little did…
Read MoreCelebrating YOU – our amazing supporters
21 June 2022Dawn's spare change makes a big difference In 2007, Dawn…
Read MoreInnovation and connection in the Bush
21 June 2022Across Australia your support is helping to bring creative ideas to…
Read MoreTyson dips his toes into the waters of faith
6 July 2022Your support for SU is giving children and young people opportunities…
Read MoreJosiah’s career change to work for Eternity
6 July 2022Why would you leave a profession you loved and found great…
Read MoreLiam discovers God’s love through LEGO
6 July 2022Children and families enjoyed rubbing shoulders with a TV star at…
Read MoreFun, fellowship and faith at Melrose
6 July 2022More than 100 campers and leaders enjoyed an amazing weekend of…
Read MoreYour support turned Marie’s life around
6 July 2022SU Australia Beach Missions are not just events that happen over…
Read MoreEquipping local churches in Darwin
6 July 2022At SU Australia, we are passionate about training and equipping Christian…
Read MoreHostility becomes curiosity at Turner Family Festival Mission
6 July 2022Championing Bible engagement goes to the very core of who SU…
Read MoreKeeping the faith
6 July 2022For many young people who come from Christian homes, entering university…
Read MoreScripture transforms Evie’s anger to hope
26 July 2022SU Australia school ministry programs are many and varied. From school…
Read MoreYou helped Jess discover Jesus at Merry Beach
28 July 2022At SU, we love seeing our volunteer leaders equipped and trained…
Read MoreEaster Campers Know Jesus
3 August 2022Despite the looming threat of COVID, Easter Camp returned for the…
Read MoreChaplain and church connect for family in need
10 August 2022Two weeks before the end of the 2021 school year, Shyamala,…
Read MoreEveryone belongs at Champions’ Club
16 August 2022Your support for SU Australia creates opportunities to partner with and…
Read MoreYou helped Jamie and Tom overcome!
1 September 2022God’s glory was again on full display as campers and leaders…
Read MoreVolunteers get creative to bless Eyre kids
6 September 2022After two years of COVID cancellations - and the threat of…
Read MoreFun for the whole family at Beach Mission
22 September 2022Chilled summer nights. Relaxing by the beach. Serving the surrounding community…
Read MoreThree keys we should give our young women
8 October 2022When I was about 13 or 14 my dad came to…
Read MoreHere’s what’s happening across SU Global
24 October 2022As we celebrate SU's upcoming Global Week of Prayer from November…
Read MoreSmall moments matter @ DCYPHER
1 November 2022In a world where young people face so much pressure to…
Read MoreSU interns Jaz and Eve grow skills and build community
1 November 2022Each year, SU welcomes dozens of interns into our Camp Coolamatong…
Read MoreUnifying young Christians at SYG
1 November 2022After two years of cancellations, State Youth Games (SYG) returned this…
Read MoreSUPA ministries in Yorke are multiplying
1 November 2022Thanks to your prayers and support, our SUPA events across South…
Read MoreAimee discovered life through SRE
1 November 2022More than a decade ago, Aimee’s life changed forever thanks to…
Read MoreSRE builds foundations that last a lifetime
1 November 2022Lisa has been working as a Special Religious Education (SRE) teacher…
Read MoreChace sees God’s love in action on camp
1 November 2022If actions speak louder than words, then for Chace, a Grade…
Read MoreChurch collab that’s ‘Out of this World’
1 November 2022Earlier this year, SU partnered with St Peter’s Weston to hold…
Read MoreYou are empowering young Christians
1 November 2022In 2020, our SU Australia team in Western Australia launched Junior…
Read MoreThe heart & soul of WA’s SU bookshop
1 November 2022A tribute to Dulcie Lampard by Jan Thompson When Dulcie Lampard,…
Read MoreWhy I was wrong about Family Camp
1 November 2022As I ran from shop to shop gathering last-minute supplies and…
Read MoreTraining equips Kodan to follow his calling
1 November 2022Hundreds of chaplains and youth workers are showing God’s love to…
Read MoreIsla experiences Jesus at camp
1 November 2022Performing Arts Camp had a record number of campers this year,…
Read MoreNo hiding from God’s love at SUPA and Beyond
1 November 2022Laser tag, scavenger hunts, building mini catapults, playing footy and eating…
Read MoreYou’re helping Levi empower tomorrow’s young men
1 November 2022Embedded into SU’s DNA is a passion for equipping and supporting…
Read MoreNadia encounters Jesus at SUPA Club
1 November 2022After COVID lockdowns at the end of last year, tightened restrictions…
Read MoreJake discovers life through mateship, mud and mission
1 November 2022For many young Australians, their childhood is filled with memories of…
Read MoreSU Coola interns serve community in the NT
1 November 2022SU Australia’s vision is to reach every child, young person, and…
Read MoreSerena’s beliefs shaken in Augusta
1 November 2022Your support continues to give children, young people and their families…
Read MoreGod softens the hardest hearts at Camp v Wild
1 November 2022Zach* and Shane’s* week at this year’s Camp vs Wild didn’t…
Read MoreLions, tigers and bible stories – oh my!
2 November 2022It was a blessing to see young people in the Hobart…
Read MoreYou equipped Ashley to LEAD
2 November 2022As a pastor’s kid, Ashley has seen Christian leadership in action.…
Read MoreChaplaincy is back at Brindabella
2 November 2022The average Australian child spends 1,300 hours a year at school.…
Read MoreYour support is connecting dads with their sons
2 November 2022Modern life’s hectic pace often means dads and sons are robbed…
Read MoreStephanie’s story
8 November 2022Everyone has a story. For Stephanie, hers has been one of…
Read MoreEvangeline’s story
8 November 2022Everyone has a story. For Evangeline, her story is one of…
Read MoreLiving in two worlds: my reflections on Australia Day
19 January 2023When a close friend asks me in a whispered voice... "What…
Read MoreWithout you, there is no SU
30 January 2023Volunteers are the heartbeat of SU Australia ministries, and we are…
Read MoreRadical hospitality
16 March 2023Seeking genuine connections in our fast-paced society often feels like a…
Read More