The Crusader Union of Australia

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'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.
 * 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)

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
 * St Andrew's Cathedral School
 * Sydney Grammar School

Northern Suburbs

 * AbbotsleighInfants, Junior and Senior
 * Barker College
 * Berowra Christian Community School
 * Covenant Christian School
 * Knox Grammar School
 * Loquat Valley Anglican Preparatory School
 * Mosman Preparatory School
 * Newington College, Lindfield Preparatory
 * Northern Beaches Christian School
 * Oxford Falls Grammar School
 * Pymble Ladies College
 * Queenwood School for Girls
 * Ravenswood
 * Redlands
 * Roseville College
 * Sydney Church of England Grammar School
 * St Luke's Grammar School
 * Sydney Grammar School, St Ives Preparatory
 * Wenona

Inner West

 * Meriden School
 * MLC School
 * Newington College
 * Wyvern House
 * Northcross Christian School
 * Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney
 * Regent's Park Christian School
 * Trinity Grammar School
 * Trinity Grammar School Preparatory School

Western Suburbs

 * Penrith Anglican College
 * Penrith Christian School
 * Richard Johnson Anglican School
 * St Paul's Grammar School
 * Toongabbie Christian School
 * Tyndale Christian School
 * William Carey Christian School

Eastern Suburbs

 * Claremont College
 * Cranbrook School
 * Kambala
 * St Catherine's School, Waverley
 * Sydney Grammar School, Edgecliff Preparatory

Southern Suburbs

 * Danebank
 * Georges River Grammar School
 * Inaburra School
 * St George Christian School
 * Sutherland Shire Christian School

South Western Suburbs

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

Parramatta and the Hills District

 * Arden Anglican School
 * Arndell Anglican College
 * Northholm Grammar School
 * Norwest Christian College
 * Pacific Hills Christian School
 * Rouse Hill Anglican College
 * Tara Anglican School for Girls
 * The Hills Grammar School
 * The King's School, Parramatta
 * William Clarke College

Central West

 * All Saints College, Batthurst
 * Blue Mountains Grammar School
 * Kinross Wolaroi School
 * The Scots School, Bathurst

Mid North Coast

 * Belmont Christian School
 * Central Coast Grammar School
 * Green Point Christian College
 * Lakes Grammar School
 * Scone Grammar
 * St. Philip's Christian College

Southern Highlands

 * Tudor House School
 * Wollondilly Anglican College

South Coast

 * Illawarra Christian School
 * Nowra Anglican College
 * Shellharbour Anglican College
 * Shoalhaven Anglican School
 * The Illawarra Grammar School

Australian Capital Territory

 * Brindabella Christian College
 * Burgmann Anglican School
 * Canberra Girls' Grammar School
 * Canberra Grammar School
 * Radford College
 * 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

Additional sources

 * The Sydney Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search
 * The Age – Google News Archive Search
 * The Age – Google News Archive Search
 * Schools Provide Great Opportunities For Evangelism