The public is invited to a special free event at Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park on Saturday, September 13, from 11am.
Unlike the story of the lost sheep, the church / camp bell was removed in November 2014 and found in March 2025. Now after nine years it has been returned, restored and will be officially tolled on September 13.
There will be guided tours of the park at 11am and 1.15pm and everyone is invited to join in the special dedication at 11.45am followed by a free sausage sizzle.
This is a great opportunity to have a look around the park and help share this joyous occasion.
The Lake Tyers Camp and Caravan Park site was purchased by the Methodist Church in 1954 and in 1971 the Methodist Church and “Parsonage” were relocated to Lake Tyers, the Church as the Chapel and Parsonage as the manager’s residence.
The bell was mounted on wheels and was used for emergency evacuation and to acknowledge mealtimes at camps. It was always a target for campers to ring when an opportunity arose whether it was mealtime or not.
At the November 2014 committee meeting it was reported that the bell had disappeared and in March this year it was found and returned to the park. It has been cleaned up and is now mounted at the front of the chapel with the ringing mechanism located inside the Chapel to deter enthusiastic bell ringers.
