The Lord’s Project

The shores of Camp Geographe (Geo) have long been home to teenagers learning the ropes, both of sailing and faith in Jesus.

The 5-acre campsite, set amongst shady trees and the crystal clear beach of WA’s Geographe Bay near Busselton, was clearly handpicked by God.

It’s a story the Lord’s been writing long before anyone knew how it would unfold, especially Bevan and Tess Hill, the couple God worked through to set His campsite in motion.

It all started in January 1972, when Bevan (a then WA canoeing camp director) was invited to join the leadership team at the SU sailing camp in NSW.

This experience stirred the question in Bevan’s heart of whether something similar could set sail back in WA.

But where?

The Lord’s answer was waiting on the shores of Geographe Bay, where a few campsite leases already existed, and one of which Bevan and Tess unexpectedly visited just two months later.

Feeling prompted to write to the Busselton Shire Council, Bevan explained his role on the SU Camps Committee and enquired (unofficially) whether any campsite leases remained unallocated.

Sure enough, God turned possibility into provision.

A bulky envelope arrived at the Hills’ residence with a letter that read: “Your application for a campsite has been approved.”

The terms? A 21-year renewable lease for just ten cents a year.

The SU Council took it up and asked Bevan and Tess to gather a team of fellow camp directors, and together they planned the site from scratch.

They envisioned every detail, right down to the grassy banks where they hoped gospel conversations would take place.

On a recent visit to Camp Geo, the Hills shared that vision with the campsite’s manager, Kath Bailey.

She smiled and told them that a leader on a sailing camp had led her to Christ right there, on that very bank.

“The beauty of it all,” Bevan said, “is that while we were the key people helping bring this all about, it was the Lord driving this project.”

For more than 20 years, Bevan and Tess coordinated the development of Camp Geo, and led the annual sailing camp teams, teaching many hundreds of young people to sail, serve, and seek Jesus.