Ross with Margie Willers (Elevate Co-founder) at an early Elevate National Camp
Ross Bay was “born very young,”; and laughter will cause your sides to hurt when you spend time with him. Immersed in family and Christian camping from a young age, you would have found Ross as a young boy in Nelson on his family’s home farm; otherwise known now as Teapot Valley Christian Camp. During his Nelson-based childhood, it was not uncommon for him to be around family or other people with different abilities, or who faced challenges that were different from his own life experience. He recalls watching his Aunt sign their church services to those in the congregation who were deaf or hard of hearing.
His father was integral to Christian camping in New Zealand and helped scout land for campsites across the country, eventually taking the Bay family to the North Island. Ross was exposed to the challenges of large camps on farmland when most young people were learning to ride a bike. His current role in supporting the site logistics of Festival One with his fast-thinking engineer-like mind is well depicted in a 1962 story: a young Ross rushed into the bush after some unfortunate events one Easter Camp to retrieve Koromiko leaves to make a tummy-soothing tea for the uncomfortable camp attendees.
The passion for camping, strengths, and leadership capabilities formed in Ross throughout his upbringing is a testimony to the hand of God training him for his impact internationally in helping to create places of fellowship through camping. His testimony and story thus far are echoed in these snippets of his life: pushing a wheelbarrow or pouring concrete as a young boy in the very beginnings of Tōtara Springs Christian Centre, to in time become its director. Ross has continued the Christian camping legacy of the Bay family; his father who was one of three trustees for Tōtara Springs Christian Centre, helped to establish the campsite in 1967.
The mission and passion in Ross’ life were exemplified in the life of his wife-to-be, Gaylene, who was a camp pianist for Tōtara Springs Christian Centre. The two married and made serving in camps a core part of their lives together from 1976. They tackled the “thick and fast” holiday camps together with three camps stacked back-to-back, Tuesday to Thursday, Thursday to Saturday, and on repeat the following Saturday to Tuesday. The pair loved leading others in everything from sports camps to canoe camps.
Papa New Guinea came knocking; in 1984 Gaylene and Ross accepted an offer to bring their campsite, logistical, hospitality, and leadership skills to support talented missionaries who were helping keep airstrips open and focused on practical work. They made the move with their kids aged seven, five, and one; a brave one-way ticket and planting of their family to where they felt held the next chapter. In Papa New Guinea they were put to good use and honed their skills, returning to New Zealand to begin serving at Tōtara Springs on close to a daily basis, completing bible college in 1986 and going full-time with the campsite in 1987.
Di Willis, Ross Bay and Chris Kinman (current Tōtara Springs CEO) at the 40th National Camp Celebration
Gaylene and Ross’ approach to directing Tōtara Springs Christian Centre was hands-on with every camp they hosted. They made being present for their guests their utmost priority, and through their value of hospitality, they connected with Elevate Christian Disability Trust. Working with Di and Hugh on camps each year, the Tōtara team continued to adapt their campsite to suit the accessibility needs of Elevate camps; removing walls in the toilets, adding accessible showers in each new build, ramps to buildings, and fundraising with the local Rotary to install a Hydralift at the pool.
Ross has been an advocate for Elevate Christian Disability Trust and accessibility. He shares a hilarious memory of the early days of camps at Tōtara Springs, where busloads of people would arrive from Auckland and the luggage compartment would be filled with prosthetic limbs, mobility equipment, and pieces of wheelchairs for the long weekend camp. The system for these first camps saw a pile of plastic human appendages and metal gear ready to be claimed by their respective owners…quite the sight.
On behalf of the Elevate Christian Disability Trust community past and present, we acknowledge the longstanding contribution and cornerstone Ross and Gaylee Bay have been to the ministry. Last year Gaylene and Ross faced a huge health challenge supported by prayers from across their communities; Ross miraculously survived an aortic dissection. He is thrilled to be celebrating his and Gaylene’s wedding anniversary this year, and their lives so far together – the best is yet to come! Ross and Gaylene continue to influence and lead in New Zealand Christian camping and festivals, and overseas, specifically in African nations, in four different associations and fifteen countries.
Ross with Siobhán Jansen, Elevate staff member and former Tōtara Springs Staff
By Ella Kirby
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