ACA News
ACA Inducts New Life Member - Brendan Smith

The Australian Camps Association has two types of awards.

The first, the Southern Cross Award, is made to a member of the camping industry, not necessarily an ACA or other association member, who has rendered strong and significant service to camping over a long period of time (usually not less than ten years).

ACA Board Members will elect Southern Cross Award Recipients.

There are currently six people who have received the Southern Cross Award:

• Bill Bowker (dec)
• Jenney Beales
• Don McDowall
• Colin Kneebone (dec).
• Grant McCance 
• David Strickland

In addition, the ACA on occasion awards Life Membership, awarded for contributions to the camp sector over and beyond a person’s work responsibilities. There are currently eleven people who have received Life Membership:

• Tom Slater
• Jenny Bowker
• Trevor Mildenhall
• Andrew McGuckian
• Brian Kross 
• Nina Arnott 
• Gale Orford (dec)
• Bill Oakleigh
• Bill Harback
• Nigel Anderson
• Julie Parr.

At the ACA National Conference in April 2021, the Board of the Australian Camps Association was pleased to award Brendan Smith with Life Membership of the Association. Brendan was nominated by Bec Fox from Queensland.

Bec says:
"I believe that Brendan Smith is very worthy of being a recognised individual who have both a lengthy membership of the Association and who have made a significant personal contribution to the wider camping sector and deserves being recognised through the awarding of ACA Life Membership. A few significant contributions, services and successes Brendan has displayed are not limited to the following:

• 35 years as an outdoor educator
• Been an executive leader or senior leader for various companies including the Outdoor Activities Group / Outdoor Education Group and YMCA, including the National Director of Education Resources for Camps in OEG.
• Joint founder of the Murrundindi Training Institute for training outdoor leaders
• Founding member Outdoor Youth Programs Research Alliance (OYPRA)
• Founding member of the Understanding and Preventing Led Outdoor
• Accident Data Systems (UPLOADS) project.
• International Camping Fellowship Country Ambassador (Australia)
• International Camp Directors Course (ICDC) trainer since inception – one of six Australian Lead Trainers
• ICDC trainer/ambassador in China
• ACA Board member 10+ years
• ACA International and Accreditation Portfolios"

The award was presented by ACA President, Pam Kappelides.

The award reads: Australian Camps Association
Life Member Award 2021 presented to
Brendan Smith for longstanding membership
with the Association along with significant personal contribution to the Australian Camps sector.

Brendan accepting his award at the 2021
ACA National Conference

Brendan (center) with ICDC trainers at the
inaugural Australian ICDC in 2009.