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    • Oct 24, 2022
    • 3 min read

A day in the life of ... Majors Michelle and Niall Gibson


Chaplains Majors Michelle and Niall Gibson are frequently in the air, travelling to remote Top End communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Rural and Remote Chaplains can spend up to 300 hours in the air every year.
Chaplains Majors Michelle and Niall Gibson are frequently in the air, travelling to remote Top End communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Rural and Remote Chaplains can spend up to 300 hours in the air every year.


As Rural and Remote Chaplains for The Salvation Army, Majors Michelle and Niall Gibson share the gospel in the Top End of Australia – on foot, by car or by plane! A year into their appointment, Others Online writer Jessica Morris interviewed the Gibsons about their ministry.


Can you give us an overview of your job?

We are Rural and Remote Chaplains, previously called Flying Padres. We fly or drive to visit remote communities and isolated people who

Based in Katherine and covering approximately 1.2 million square kilometres of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, The Salvation Army’s outback flying service in the Top End encompasses over 120 remote cattle stations, communities and small towns. The area stretches west to Broome, south to Tennant Creek and east to the Queensland border.
Based in Katherine and covering approximately 1.2 million square kilometres of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, The Salvation Army’s outback flying service in the Top End encompasses over 120 remote cattle stations, communities and small towns. The area stretches west to Broome, south to Tennant Creek and east to the Queensland border.

live on stations across the Top End of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, taking the Christian message and being a listening ear. We can be someone to talk to in times of crisis and times of celebration. We are available to conduct funerals, weddings and child dedications. Another area of our work is taking Christian Education classes in isolated community schools. You could say that we take the church to the people. We also attend camp drafts, rodeos and other events that station people take part in.