All it took was a tap on the shoulder
- deansimpson7
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
BY LERISSE SMITH
Harrison Mcilroy loves nothing better than a good old yarn.
And for more than four decades, this self-confessed ‘people person’ has turned his gift for conversation into a quiet force for good bringing warmth, humility and kindness to Victorian pub and clubgoers through his work with The Salvation Army’s hotel ministry.
Offering comfort, connection and conversation where it’s often needed most, Harrison became a familiar and welcome face in places others might overlook.
But now, at 86, he has called time on his extraordinary chapter with the ministry, a 45-plus-year journey that began with a simple invitation and a willingness to meet people where they were at in life.
“I have loved it,” he reflected.
“I think it’s just the contact with people. They will talk about different things. Sometimes they will have quite a conversation. Other times it is helping them sort out something, or they want to tell me about something good that has happened. I am always open for conversation. Everyone is different; their circumstances are different. The conversations are too. You never know what people are going to ask you. But people are appreciative of us being there.”
Harrison’s foray into pubs, clubs and everything in between started with a tap on the shoulder.
In late 1978, he arrived from New Zealand with his wife and connected with The Salvation Army in Altona. It was at a Salvos Congress in Melbourne in 1979 that everything changed for Harrison – he became a Christian.
“I asked Jesus to be my Saviour and Lord – and my life changed,” he said. “My desire for alcohol went.”
In 1988, he began a position in Warrnambool with The Salvation Army to work with homeless people, a position he held for 17 years.
He still recalls getting a tap on the shoulder to join the hotel ministry.
Harrison had highlighted to the corps officer at the time (Ian Callandar) that he used to go to the pub and stand at the bar. Ian immediately told Harrison he was the right person as he “spoke the language” and knew the hotel scene.
And just like that, Harrison found himself stepping into a very different kind of calling, one that mixed community outreach, faith and Friday night foot traffic.
Over the years, his quiet presence has touched countless lives – often in ways he may never fully know.
So, what was the ultimate goal of the ministry?
“To try and spread the Word of God,” he emphasised.
“It is basically my testimony of where I came from and where I’ve ended up and that goes across reasonably well. We don’t know the results of that, of course, and whether people make decisions or not (to come to Christ), as we would not hear that in a pub.
“But it’s about connecting with people in the pub, sharing your own personal story and the work of The Salvation Army, too.”
That kind of authenticity became his trademark.
He was not there to judge or convert. He was there to simply connect with others and provide a listening ear whenever needed.
The power of a single conversation
He still recalls the time a woman approached him unexpectedly at a pizza shop while placing an order. He had met her previously in a hotel and at his work, where she sought help to deal with several life issues.
The woman informed him that she wanted to have a chat. Initially unsure as to what was going to be discussed, Harrison was soon moved by her words.
“I remember thinking, ‘What have I done wrong?’” he said. “But when we got together, she said, “I want to thank you.”
The woman then shared with Harrison how, thanks to him, she had woken up to herself. After dealing with some challenging life situations, she had changed the way she was doing things in life, commenting that “life was great.”
Special moments like that reminded Harrison just how powerful a single conversation could be while undertaking his ministry role. Also powerful for Harrison was people’s generosity towards the Salvos over the years.
And Harrison’s tool of the trade? A simple Salvos donation collection bag.
“Because it’s quiet,” he laughs. “I didn’t want to hear the sound of the money when talking with people!”
Unsolicited donations range from small to unexpectedly large amounts. A simple Square electronic payment device became the norm over the years as cash started to fade out.
But not every encounter at the pub was easy.
Some hotel management did not always appreciate the visits from the Salvos. Others were pleased to see them. And not every person welcomed Harrison with open arms.
“I had this once in a pub where a guy came up to me and he was going to threaten me,” he recalled. “He was right in my face and then suddenly he was six feet away. Somebody grabbed him from behind saying “don’t talk to the Salvos like that" and pulled him away.”
Harrison later found out the man had been living in one of The Salvation Army’s homes in East Melbourne as a young child. He came back and apologised a few weeks later, and Harrison never saw him again.
Special recognition
In recognition of Harrison’s hotel ministry service, the Warrnambool Salvos recently awarded Harrison a special certificate for his commitment and devotion to the ministry.
Warrnambool Corps Officer Major Brett Allchin also publicly thanked Harrison for his leadership and how he had made a difference in the lives of others.
“I love the fact that Jesus went to where people were, I love that he didn’t wait until others felt worthy enough or clean enough to come to a place of worship,” Brett said.
“Jesus went where the people who needed his love were. He took the initiative and, in many cases, made the first move. I recognise this spirit in Harrison. He has shown this over the past 45-plus years, as he quietly moved amongst people in his hotel ministry.
“Listening to their stories, speaking words that made a difference to their lives, sharing how Jesus has made a difference to his life. Showing by example that Jesus is real. Harrison just lived out his values in the presence of others, and this was a testimony of the difference that Jesus makes when we trust him.”
