South New South Wales (SNSW) Big Camp has been forced to end early after a damaging storm swept through the site overnight.
According to SNSW Conference communication coordinator Kyle Morrison, strong winds began impacting the camp around midnight.
“Last night about midnight we started to lose gazebos and tents,” he said.
“The pastoral team mobilised and began evacuating people. All those in tents were moved up to the lodge, to the dining room and kids’ program rooms.”
Mr Morrison said leaders worked through to the early hours of the morning to ensure everyone was safe.
“We got to sleep somewhere between 3 and 5am. We gave everyone free breakfast, and then the whole pastoral team together decided to cancel the remainder of the camp for safety.”
Weather conditions remain a concern. “The wind is picking up here until about 12:30pm today, and then it will settle, but there’s really icy winds coming,” he said.
The main big tent sustained minor damage. Most of the campers have now packed up. One woman sustained facial injuries after tripping over during the evacuation.
Earlier in the day, the Bureau of Meteorology warned of damaging winds affecting elevated parts of the South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains.
The Greater Sydney Conference Big Camp is due to begin at the same site on Monday. Leaders say that the camp will be going ahead with great weather forecast for the week ahead.
