History
Breakaway was conceived in 1982, when members of the Rotary Club of Wyong on the Central Coast of NSW convened a holiday camp for thirty young people with physical disabilities. This first camp was held at Strathavon Resort at Wyong.
Following the overwhelming success of this camp and the realisation of the compound benefits for young people with disabilities, their carers and for the wider community, Wyong Rotary continued to hold camps each year. For several years these camps were held at Camp Toukley.
The observed need for this style of respite camp was becoming increasingly obvious, as was the need to have a permanent campsite, specifically designed for that purpose. The vision, dedication and hard work of a large number of rotary clubs and the Central Coast community, along with the generous support of Delta Electricity, enabled the establishment of Camp Breakaway at San Remo. The first camp was held there in 1989.
Today Breakaway continues to facilitate camps on those ideally situated, picturesque and quiet 25 acres at San Remo, while holding the vision of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.
Timeline
- 1982 - First camp held at Strathavon Resort, Wyong
- 1989 - Moved to San Remo
- 1993 - Breakaway Lodge opened
- 1994 - Hundreds of firefighters housed at Breakaway during major bushfires
- 1998 - Tomago detainees erect 320 metre fence around Breakaway site
- 2000 - New adventure course opened
- 2001 - Started High Needs Family camps
- 2002 - Year of the Outback camp held in Brewarrina
- 2003 - Introduced Smith-Magenis Syndrome camps
- 2007 - Hundreds of SES volunteers housed at Breakaway due to major floods
- 2007 - Liberty Swing installed and new laundry opened
- 2008 - Started Young Carer & Sibling camps
- 2009 - Introduced Kids Only camps
- 2010 - Jumping Pillow opened
- 2011 - Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Sensory Trail re-opened
