By Garry Sanossian
In a beautiful stone house nestled among five acres of gardens and bushland in Tapitallee, New South Wales, Dr Carol and Tammy Preston have created Hope’s View Retreat, a sanctuary where people can step away from the busy-ness of life to reconnect with God.
What makes this ministry unique is not just its peaceful setting or spiritual focus, it’s the mother-daughter partnership behind it, a relationship that brings balancing strengths to create something neither could accomplish alone.
For over two decades, Dr Carol Preston had a vision of creating a retreat space where people could “sit in silence and reflect and pray and listen for God.” She shared that, as a psychologist who witnessed many people suffering from burnout and trauma, she recognised the profound healing that can come through stillness and spiritual connection.
With Carol’s life path taking a different direction, she eventually made peace with letting go of her vision. “I’d really thought that it was too late for that to happen,” Carol reflected.
But a year ago, during a simple family meal, everything changed. After Carol’s husband passed away, she had come across an ad for a property that reminded her of her old vision. Over lunch with her daughter Tammy, she decided to share about it. “Tammy said, ‘Well, you know what? What if you didn’t have to do it on your own and we did it together?’” Carol recalled.
For Tammy, who was going through significant life changes of her own, the idea offered a fresh start.
“God’s really been challenging me to start again, to let go of my past situation and be able to start anew,” she said.
What began as a casual conversation quickly gained momentum. Both women sold their homes and, together, bought a property in scenic Tapitallee. By April last year, Hope’s View Retreat was born and the mother-daughter team had moved in and begun their ministry together.
Pastor Jono Prince, from NewDay Church, reflected on his time as an attendee of Hope’s View Retreat. Now eager to return with his team for a second time, he gives insight on how Tammy and Carol manage the space: “The atmosphere felt harmonious, with the mother-daughter team creating a welcoming environment. They were attentive to our needs while also giving us the space to feel comfortable and independent.
“The location provided the perfect balance of seclusion and accessibility, fostering focus and reflection,” he explained. “You feel like you’re completely away from civilization, giving you the peace and quiet to reflect, without being hours from everything.”
Cheryl Clendinning, who has also visited Hope’s View Retreat, described her experience as deeply refreshing. “The whole environment is very peaceful, but also very colourful and with lots of birds, which I loved,” she shared.
She also noted the special dynamic between Carol and Tammy. “They obviously have a wonderful relationship, which I got to see during the day. Just to watch their interaction was great. It’s very welcoming, very inclusive.” The retreat provided Cheryl with much-needed renewing as well. “Everything just felt so fresh with the environment and the air.”
What makes Carol and Tammy’s partnership effective is how their unique personalities and gifts complement each other. “Mum’s the introvert, silent, reflective and patient. I’m the extrovert. I make things happen and create new ideas,” Tammy shared.
“Mum’s always been my best friend and my spiritual director and I feel very blessed.”
Drawing on her years of ministry experience, Tammy says she focuses on “creating environments where people can enter in and feel safe and led and yet have space for themselves and for their voice, and for them to hear God.”
This ministry has also taught Tammy to embrace silence rather than fear it. “The silence was the places where I sat with my mind and remembered the things that hurt me, the things that I felt like I lost,” she said.
“And I’ve found that God has met me in those spaces and said, ‘It’s okay to be in those spaces, and I’m going to meet you there.’”
As Hope’s View Retreat approaches its first anniversary, Carol and Tammy remain open to wherever God leads their ministry.
“We’re open to whatever ways that God might want to use this place,” Carol said.
Tammy hopes that Hope’s View Retreat continues to be a place where people will find new beginnings just as she and Carol have. “At a time when we both faced difficult changes in our lives, God has given us both a sense of hope with this place,” she said.
Hope’s View Retreat is open to the public and hosts a variety of retreats. You can find out more by visiting their website at hopesviewretreat.org
Read more stories from churches of Christ in NSW & ACT HERE
