Celebrating 25 Years of Health Ministry
~ reflecting on the pioneer days ~
Today, Cedarvale is a well-established health retreat with first-class facilities, orchards, staff houses and a large off-the-grid hydro/solar power system. It has capacity to take 6-9 guests each week and train 4-10 trainees per year while supporting a staff team to do so.
But how did this all begin? What was it like during the pioneer phases of this ministry?
We’re taking the opportunity on this 25th anniversary year (2016), to dig back into our past; to revisit Cedarvale in the 1980s and 1990s; to see the miracles God wrought, the hardships of the early years and the men and women whose determination in the face of difficulty kept this vision alive.
To the right, you can see a rendering of one of the earliest Cedarvale logos.
The Cedarvale Story
Over the next couple of months we will be piecing together Cedarvale’s story in a documentary film. This will feature stories and experiences from four of the main staff who opened the health centre in the new year’s eve of 1990. It will also include first-hand footage from guests who’ve been through the health centre and how it changed their life and also testimonies from students who have studied at the school.
Stay tuned for more information on this documentary, and don’t forget to subscribe below!
Beginnings
It all began in the early 1980s, with one man’s vision for health ministry and desire to provide education for youth. Geoff Richardson, founder and donor of the property, oversaw the construction of the main health centre building (then called Warren Lodge), industry shed, and some of the staff houses. He also brought together teams of people to do working bees to clear land, plant fruit trees, and carry out construction on the roads and houses.
In 1989 Geoff, together with Hazel Hon (another of Cedarvale’s pioneers), brought together a core team of staff to start the health retreat. These were Adrian and Michaelle Dorman, Scott Tindall and Angela Kerr. Another of the early pioneers was Bruce Dayble, who worked with Geoff from 1983 and help with much of the construction of the activity centre, industry shed, lodge and staff houses.
What was the vision of this pioneer team? Here it is, in their own words, written in 1990.
“Cedarvale has been donated by Geoff Richardson and is operated by a board of Seventh-day Adventist lay persons. As a non-profit organisation, it operates solely for the purpose of service to humanity through education, physical healing, and spiritual renewal.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. To conduct a work which will be in harmony with, loyal to, and supportive of the fundamental beliefs and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
2. To provide a program for health assessment and recovery based on natural remedies and lifestyle as revealed by the writings of Ellen G. White.
3. To provide a work-study program for the training of lay-persons and particularly the youth. This training program will ephasize the spiritual development of the individual, theoretical and practical training in healthful living, and the acquisition of practical skills for life-time benefit.”
Do You have a Cedarvale Story to Share?
If you've worked at, visited, or have been a guest at Cedarvale, we'd love to hear your story. Contact us below :)