Event & Function Testimonials
Mr Tony Beacroft
Mission and Identity Director | St Edward's College Gosford
"The staff and students of St Edward,s College Gosford always cherish the peace and tranquility of a few days at Winbourne. With open fields and fresh air you can't help but be more relaxed and meditative. When it is time to work the modern facilities and work spaces cater for a diverse range of activities. The food is great and the friendly staff make sure that any time spent at Winbourne is hassle free. We have been visiting for many years and hope to for many more."
Claire Lawler
Deputy National Leader | L’Arche Australia
"L’Arche Australia has been welcomed to the Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre at Winbourne over the past years for either our retreats or formation programs. We are always warmly welcomed and rooms are ready when we arrive for our stay. The centre caters for all our dietary needs and the catering staff are very friendly. The surroundings are quiet and peaceful which creates opportunities of reflection and silence.
L’Arche continues to be deeply grateful for the ongoing support of the Centre and we always look forward to returning to this beautiful environment."
Mark Sattler
R.E.C. | St. Columba's Catholic College Springwood
"Any time spent at Winbourne is 'kairos', a favorable time, an escape into a reality far more present than the chronological race in which we're normally mired. For the last fifteen years we've been taking successive Year 12 Retreat groups into the healing, challenging, transforming opportunity that Winbourne offers. So many of those young women and men readily attest that this is the experience that's been personally pivotal as they move from school to adult life."
Rev. Nigel Hawken
Chaplain | Chaplains Department | Westmead Hospital
"Winbourne has been a regular and special spiritual home of retreat and refreshment for a number of my chaplain and minister colleagues and I, enabling God’s peace to be experienced within and around me in such pleasant surroundings and wonderful facilities with enjoyable meals and great service by Winbourne staff."
Jenny Washington
Manager, Clinical Pastoral Education Centre | St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney
"We have been coming to Winbourne for quite a number of years and have continued to find a warm, welcoming place for our group to work. The rural setting is such a wonderful conducive space for reflection, learning and for the replenishing of our spirits. Each time we come we seem to discover something new, the Winbourne team are to be congratulated for their ability to not only think of ways to update and improve their facilities but their ability to implement these. A highlight for us are the delicious meals that are always served on time by the warm and friendly team. Thanks to all the team who assist us from the time of our booking all the way through making our weekends such a success."
Br Aengus Kavanagh
Patrick Brothers
"For many years I have been involved in coordinating and leading programs for school leaders and staff reflection days at Winbourne Centre. The rural setting, the facilities. and the services offered make the Centre an ideal venue for such events. Program evaluations invariably give the venue top ratings."
Anne Burcher
"Having stayed at many of the camp sites and Conference Centres around Sydney I feel I have “come home”. Windborne suits my ladies perfectly. Food, accommodation, good work area, and easy relationship with staff members, are the 4 things I require for a perfect Scrapbooking camp and Windborne supply all of these perfectly. The bonuses are the quiet surroundings and lovely views to the bush. I highly recommend this Conference Centre. You will not be disappointed."
Michael D. Walsh
Spirituality Consultant for Edmund Rice Education Australia
"Over thirteen years I have facilitated programmes here at the Edmund Rice Retreat and Conference Centre at “Winbourne”, Mulgoa for students and for school staffs. Not only have a great many participants indicated to me their appreciation of the facilities, meals and the obliging service of staff but they invariably comment on the wonderful rural setting and atmosphere so conducive to peace, relaxation and reflection, all of which I too have experienced."
D.Campbell
"I have been hosting Scrapbooking Retreat Weekends bi annually at Winbourne since 2010. The venue provides the perfect atmosphere for rest, reflection and preserving precious memories to pass on to our families. We always come away with renewed energy for our busy lives. The staff at Winbourne are welcoming and hospitable. They do all they can to make our stay pleasurable and meet our needs, which makes my role as coordinator easy."
Anneke Pike
Executive Officer | Edmund Rice Camps NSW
"Edmund Rice Camps NSW uses Winbourne as a venue for our holidays camps many times each year. Our group size can range from 20 – 80+ children and volunteers, with a range of dietary needs, sleep arrangements, and other specific requirements. The staff always go out of their way to make sure we are having the best experience while staying at Winbourne, that our requests are all managed, and all with friendly and personal service. The facilities at Winbourne couldn’t suit us better – a perfectly kept oval, plenty of indoor space, bushwalks, animals, wonderful meals, and plenty of spectacular views and opportunities for the children to reconnect with nature. We certainly wouldn’t have the success we do with our Camps if it wasn’t for Winbourne and the staff, and I would not hesitate to recommend this to others as a venue for their next event, conference, camp, retreat, or function."