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.

History

Crusaders was founded in 1930 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia by the Rev. Dr Howard Guinness, 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.

CRU Camps

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.

CRU Educational Camps

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’.

Schools ministry

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:

Sydney City

SCEGGS Darlinghurst , motto_translation = Let Your Light Shine , established = , type = Independent single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school , denomination = Anglicanism , oversight = , educational_authority = New South Wales Departm ...

St Andrew's Cathedral School , motto_translation = The Way of the Cross is the Way of Light , established = , type = Independent school, Independent Mixed-sex education, co-educational comprehensive education, comprehensive and speciali ...

Sydney Grammar School (Praise be to God) , established = , type = Independent, day school , gender = Boys , religious_affiliation = None , slogan = , headmaster = R. B. Malpass , founder = Laurence Hynes Halloran , chairman = ...

Northern Suburbs

Abbotsleigh , motto_translation = Time Flies Faster than a Weaver's Shuttle , established = , type = Independent early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school , denomination = Angl ...

Infants, Junior and Senior *

Barker College , motto_translation = Seek Honour above Rewards , location = Hornsby, Sydney , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = Australia Sydney , pushpin_image ...

* Berowra Christian Community School * Covenant Christian School *

Knox Grammar School , motto_translation = The Manly Thing Is Being Done , established = , founder = John Gilmore, William McIlrath, Robert Gillespie and Andrew Reid , type = Independent, day & boarding ...

Loquat Valley Anglican Preparatory School The loquat (''Eriobotrya japonica'') is a large evergreen shrub or tree, grown commercially for its orange fruit and for its leaves, which are used to make herbal tea. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant. The loquat is in the family R ...

* Mosman Preparatory School *

Newington College , motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge , location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = A ...

, Lindfield Preparatory * Northern Beaches Christian School *

Oxford Falls Grammar School Oxford Falls Grammar School (OFG) is an independent Christian co-educational primary and secondary school, located in Oxford Falls on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school is set on of landscaped grounds and ...

Pymble Ladies College Pymble Ladies' College is an independent, non-selective, day and boarding school for girls, located in Pymble, a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. History and description Pymble Ladies' College was fou ...

Queenwood School for Girls Queenwood School for Girls, often abbreviated as Queenwood, is a multi-campus independent non-denominational Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school for girls, located in the suburb of Mosman, on the Lower North Shore of Sy ...

* Ravenswood * Redlands * Roseville College *

Sydney Church of England Grammar School , motto_translation = , established = , type = Independent single-sex and co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day and boarding school , grades = Early learning ...

St Luke's Grammar School St Luke's Grammar School is a dual campus Independent school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Mixed-sex education, co-educational Primary school, primary and Secondary school, secondary day school, located on the Northern Bea ...

, St Ives Preparatory * Wenona

Inner West

Meriden School , motto_translation = Always faithful , established = , type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school , gender = Girls , denomination = Anglicanism , educational_authority = New South Wales De ...

MLC School , motto_translation = Walk as daughters of the light , established = , type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school , gender = Girls , denomination = Uniting Church , oversight = , educatio ...

Newington College , motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge , location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = A ...

Wyvern House , motto_translation = To Our Faith Add Knowledge , established = , type = Independent single-sex primary day school , denomination = Uniting Church in Australia , gender = Boys , educational_authority = NSW Department of Educat ...

* Northcross Christian School *

Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney (PLC Sydney) is an independent school, independent Presbyterian Church of Australia, Presbyterian Single-sex school, single-sex Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary and Secondary sc ...

* Regent's Park Christian School * Trinity Grammar School *

Trinity Grammar School Preparatory School Trinity Grammar School is a multi-campus Independent school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Single-sex education, single-sex Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary and Secondary school, secondary day scho ...

Western Suburbs

* Penrith Anglican College * Penrith Christian School * Richard Johnson Anglican School *

St Paul's Grammar School , motto_translation = In Christ the future , established = , denomination = Nondenominational Christianity , type = Independent co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day sc ...

* Toongabbie Christian School * Tyndale Christian School * William Carey Christian School

Eastern Suburbs

* Claremont College * Cranbrook School *

Kambala Kambala (or Kambla/Kambula) is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka. Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnat ...

* St Catherine's School, Waverley *

, Edgecliff Preparatory

Southern Suburbs

* Danebank *

Georges River Grammar School , motto_translation = Exalt greatly in God , location = Georges Hall, south-western Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = Australia Sydney , pushpin_image = , pushpin_map ...

Inaburra School Inaburra School, is an independent Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school, located in Bangor, a southern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in 1982, Inaburra caters for students from Kindergarten to Ye ...

* St George Christian School *

Sutherland Shire Christian School Shire Christian School is an Independent school, independent Nondenominational Christianity, non-denominational Christian Mixed-sex education, co-educational Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary and Secondary school, sec ...

South Western Suburbs

Broughton Anglican College Broughton Anglican College is an independent Anglican co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school, located at Menangle Park, an outer suburb of south-western Sydney, near , New South Wales, Australia. The College caters for ...

Macarthur Anglican School Below is list of the 62 Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican schools in the state of New South Wales. See also {{Portal, New South Wales, Christianity, Schools * List of non-government schools in New South Wales * Anglican education in Au ...

* Thomas Hassall Anglican College * St Peter's Anglican Primary School

Parramatta and the Hills District

Arden Anglican School Arden Anglican School is an independent Anglican co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school located in Beecroft and Epping, neighbouring suburbs on the North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established in ...

Arndell Anglican College Arndell Anglican College is an independent Anglican co-educational primary and secondary day school located in the Sydney suburb of Oakville, New South Wales, Australia. The college includes students from Prep to Year 12. History Arndell A ...

Northholm Grammar School Northholm Grammar School is an independent Anglican co-educational primary and secondary day school, located in Arcadia. The school was established in 1983 and is situated on 10 hectares. It currently serves students from Kindergarten to Year ...

* Norwest Christian College *

Pacific Hills Christian School The Pacific Hills Christian School is an independent, non-denominational Christian, co-educational, early learning, primary, and secondary day school, located in the suburb of Dural, in the Hills District of Sydney, New South Wales, Austra ...

* Rouse Hill Anglican College *

Tara Anglican School for Girls Tara Anglican School for Girls (commonly referred to as Tara) is an independent Anglican single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day and boarding school for girls, located in North Parramatta, a western suburb of Sydney, New South ...

The Hills Grammar School The Hills Grammar School (commonly referred to as Hills Grammar) is an independent nonsectarian co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school, located in Kenthurst, a suburb in the Hills district of Sydney, New South Wales ...

The King's School, Parramatta The King's School is an Education in Australia#Non-government schools, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican, Pre-school education, early learning, primary school, primary and secondary school, secondary day and boarding school, boardi ...

The King's School -Christian Leadership
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William Clarke College William Clarke College is an independent, P-12, co-educational Anglican College located in Kellyville in Sydney's north west (Hills District), Australia. History Local church congregations wanted to establish an independent, affordable, c ...

Central West

* All Saints College, Batthurst *

Blue Mountains Grammar School , motto_translation = Through Effort To Higher Achievement , established = , type = Independent comprehensive co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school , denomination = Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican ...

Kinross Wolaroi School Kinross Wolaroi School is an Independent school, independent Uniting Church of Australia, Uniting Church Mixed-sex education, co-educational Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary, and Secondary school, secondary Day school, ...

The Scots School, Bathurst Scots All Saints College is a multi-campus independent Presbyterian Church co-educational early learning, primary, and secondary day and boarding school, with two campuses in Bathurst New South Wales, Australia. Formed in 2019 through a merge ...

Mid North Coast

* Belmont Christian School *

Central Coast Grammar School , motto_translation = Life and Knowledge , location = Erina Heights, Central Coast, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = Australia New Sout ...

Green Point Christian College Green Point Christian College is an independent non-denominational Christian co-educational primary and secondary day school, located in Green Point, New South Wales on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The school provides a re ...

* Lakes Grammar School * Scone Grammar *

St. Philip's Christian College St Philip's Christian College is a multi-campus Independent school, independent Nondenominational Christianity, non-denominational Christian Mixed-sex education, co-educational Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primary and Se ...

Southern Highlands

Tudor House School Tudor House School is a private, day and boarding, preparatory school for boys and girls at Moss Vale, New South Wales, Australia. The school is Australia's only preparatory boarding school. It became co-educational in 2017. Tudor House has ...

Wollondilly Anglican College Wollondilly Anglican College is a Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 co-educational private school operated by The Anglican Schools Corporation. Located in the Wollondilly Shire, the College services families and communities from areas such as the ...

South Coast

Illawarra Christian School Illawarra Christian School (ICS) is a co-educational Christian parent-controlled school in Cordeaux Heights, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia that was established in 1982 and it offers from Preschool to Year 12 education. It began its P ...

Nowra Anglican College The Nowra Anglican College, (abbreviated as NAC), is an independent Anglican co-educational early learning, primary, and secondary day school, located on the corner of West Bunbera Street and the Princes Highway, in Bomaderry in the Sout ...

Shellharbour Anglican College Shellharbour Anglican College is a co-educational Anglican school operated by the Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation. It opened in 2004 and accommodates pupils from Preschool to Year 12. The college operates in new, mostly permanent buildings ...

* Shoalhaven Anglican School *

The Illawarra Grammar School , motto_translation = From Strength to Strength , location = 10–12 Western Avenue, Mangerton, Wollongong, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map ...

Australian Capital Territory

Brindabella Christian College The Brindabella Christian College (BCC) is a private non-denominational Christian co-educational early learning, primary and secondary day school, located in the Canberra suburbs of Charnwood and Lyneham, in the Australian Capital Territo ...

* Burgmann Anglican School *

Canberra Girls' Grammar School , motto_translation = To the young, anything is possible , established = 1926 , type = Independent, day and boarding , gender = Co-educational – Early Learning to Yr 3Girls – Yrs ...

Canberra Grammar School , motto_translation = For God, for Church, for Country , city = Red Hill , state = Australian Capital Territory , country = Australia , coordinates = , type ...

Radford College Radford College is an independent school, Anglican, coeducational day school, located in Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Founded in 1984, the college is named after Bishop Lewis Bostock Radford. It has a non-selective enrolm ...

* Trinity Christian School

Campsites

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.

Training

CRU is a Registered Training Organisation (NTIS No. 90717) offering training in ‘Apply First Aid’ (formerly Senior First Aid).

Crusader Council

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

References

Wambuah# kelvin. (2020),the crusader union of Australia, Longhorn publishers

Additional sources

The Sydney Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search

The Age – Google News Archive Search

The Age – Google News Archive Search

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crusader Union of Australia Christian organizations established in 1930 Youth organizations established in 1930 Christian organisations based in Australia Christian youth organizations 1930 establishments in Australia Youth organisations based in Australia