Thank you Phil & Anna!

One came from Scotland; the other, Sydney. One had no previous connection with CRU, while the other had attended CRU Camps and her CRU Group as a schoolgirl, and then led on camps while at university. One was on staff for 5.5 years, and the other for over 22 years! But both made a significant contribution to CRU. Sadly CRU is now farewelling both Phil Rawnsley and Anna Burke from our staff team.

Pictured: Phil Rawnsley

Phil first contacted CRU in September 2015 when we advertised for a new Director of CRU Camps to fill Nick Hood’s shoes. Initially, the idea of bringing in someone from outside CRU circles, let alone from a remote country, for a role which linked so strongly with CRU’s volunteers seemed crazy. But initial discussions revealed a man with a passion to see the gospel shared, and a mix of skills well-suited to the role. After several interviews, committed prayer, and a visit to Australia with his wife Lozzie, he was offered the role and accepted, and prepared to emigrate.

In the time that Phil has served with us, we have seen some extraordinary camp seasons. Some have been impacted by bushfires meaning daily tracking of air quality before launching activities. Several have been affected by COVID with numbers reduced, but then others have hit record levels as parents have sought opportunities for their children to benefit from camps in their holidays. And we’ve seen the first use of the new Lake Mac with multiple camps running simultaneously. CRU thanks God for Phil’s work in this area, and we pray for him as he starts a new role with Australian Christian College as HR Manager.

Pictured: Anna Burke

Anna also initially joined CRU’s staff with a holiday camps focus when she was appointed Director of Holiday Camps and Marketing in 1999. Her enthusiasm, insight and drive triggered an increase in camp types and numbers, and in particular an expansion in Study Camps. Her skills and background in marketing equipped her to build networks of communication so that more and more campers booked each season. As CRU’s ministry grew and new opportunities emerged, Anna’s skills became targetted on leading our growing fundraising activities as Director of Marketing and Development. Anna helped lay the foundation for the move to ‘CRU’ and was also responsible for establishing our annual Crusader Business Luncheons and Breakfasts. More recently, when we began to prepare for Lake Mac’s redevelopment, Anna became the CRU Fundraising Director. The Lake Mac campaign successfully raised $26m from individuals, government and private foundation grants, thanks to God’s miraculous provision and the sacrificial generosity of some 600 faithful supporters. Anna has often expressed her love and admiration for CRU’s amazing supporters.

Anna’s enthusiasm to see the gospel shared with school students has been infectious. In each role she has served with diligence and passion. Her work has supported the growth in CRU’s impact as the number of students reached has increased from 20,000 per year to over 100,000 each year. CRU has benefitted from her insight, application and ability over more than two decades. Her contributions as a Divisional Head and member of Senior Management have been enormous. God has gifted her, and she has been faithful in using those gifts to serve others.

Anna has been appointed Director of Community Engagement at Shore School. We pray for her, and her husband Cameron, as they move into this new stage of life, knowing that she will continue to stay connected to CRU. She has commented how much she will miss the CRU staff team; and we know we will miss her!