The Crusader Union of Australia (Crusaders or CRU), is a Bible-based, interdenominational, non-profit Christian youth organisation.
CRU is an organisation with three key ministry areas:
CRU Camps, which includes: CRU Holiday Camps, CRU Study Camps and CRU Day Camps
Summit Educational Camps and
Schools Ministry (made up of CRU School Groups and CRU Resources)
CRU's frontline ministries are supported by two campsites (CRU Galston Gorge Camp & Conference Centre and CRU Lake Mac Camp & Conference Centre), and a Training Division.
Crusaders was founded in 1930 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia by the Rev. Dr Howard Guinness,[1] a visionary man keen to strengthen Christian work among school students in independent schools. He saw voluntary groups as a key to achieving this.
The first Crusader Camp was held in 1930. In 1934 CRU was founded in Western Australia. From small beginnings in just four schools, CRU has expanded to serve 185 Independent schools in New South Wales and the ACT.
The Crusader Women's Fellowship, began at Roseville Park in 1939 and has maintained an unbroken record of fellowship, prayer and support for the ministry. The group continues to meet to this day.
The land for the Crusader site at Lake Macquarie NSW was donated by Dr Leslie Parr in the 1940s and in the 1950s Dr Paul White mortgaged his home to buy land at Galston Gorge site for £600. These sites are where the majority of CRU Camps take place.
In 1955 CRU merged with Scripture Union in all states except NSW. During the 1960s CRU became a Registered Company Limited by Guarantee to meet legal requirements. Initially established in Sydney's CBD, the office relocated to Strathfield in 1988, then Eastwood in 1993. The Crusader Union of NSW became the Crusader Union of Australia on 23 May 1990 and the Crusader ‘eagle’ logo was introduced in 1997. The CRU Camp brand was trademarked in 2002 and CRU celebrated its 80th anniversary in September 2010. In 2020 the 'eagle' logo was phased out and replace with the current stylised letters. CRU continues to grow and currently over 2,500 students are reached each week with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.[2]
CRU run many different types of camps, the main ones being:
CRU Holiday Camps
80+ camps are run during the school holidays each year for children in Years 3-12. They are mostly run by volunteer leadership teams, made up predominantly of university students, offering activities including sailing, horse riding, dirt-bike riding, wakeboarding, rock climbing, abseiling, skiing and much more.
CRU Study Camps
18+ Higher School Certificate & IB study camps are run each year for Year 12 students.
CRU Day Camps
Monday to Friday daytime camps (typically 8am – 6pm) are run during the school holidays for children in Years K-12.
Formerly known as Summit Educational Camps. Over 100 school camps are run each year, providing outdoor education to over 7,100 campers and training about 20 ministry trainees, called ‘Summit trainees’.
Six full-time staff and four ministry associates address over 100,000 students each year in 185 independent schools across NSW and the ACT. There are also Christian groups across Australia using CRU Resources in their various ministries. The following schools have internal CRU Groups or Christian groups supported by CRU operating in them:
CRU's ministries are supported by two residential campsites: CRU Galston Gorge Camp & Conference Centre, located in Galston Gorge and CRU Lake Mac Camp & Conference Centre, located in Lake Macquarie with water-based activities and its own sailing fleet.
CRU Galston Gorge Camp & Conference Centre (Galston Gorge Centre, NSW)
CRU Galston Gorge is located 45 minutes from Sydney's CBD in a bushland location. The majority of the CRU Study Camps are run at this location.
CRU Lake Mac Camp & Conference Centre (Lake Mac, NSW)
CRU Lake Mac is suitable for Christian youth camps, church camps or school groups. Located in Lake Macquarie, 60 minutes from Hornsby or Gosford, the newly-renovated campsite can sleep 260 guests in its brand-new ensuite accommodation, and an additional 120 guests in its classic A-frame cabins.
The Crusader Union of Australia (CRU) is governed by a board of 13 members, each bringing a wealth of experience, insight and wisdom to the organisation.
Chairman
Philip Bell, OAM
Deputy chairman
Jennie Ford, BEd. TCert.
Hon. Treasurer
Santino Dimarco, BEc. CA.
Council Members
Alan Barnwell, B.Build (Hons)
Patrick Benn, BSc (Hons), BTh.
Helen Burgess, BA, LLB (Hons), FCIS, FAICD
Victoria Hayman, BID, MA CommManagement
Clare Pendlebury, BComm. CA
Mark Rundle, BA DipEd. BD (Hons). DipMin.
James Ward, MA Business, BA Design
Annette Ware, B Ed, Dip Theology
Tim Wright, PhD, DipEd, BSc(Hons), FACE, MRACI, CChem.
Hon. Solicitor
Mr D.C. Ford, BA. LLM (Hons)
Secretary
Elizabeth White, DipBusAdmin, Cert IV CMin
