‘Angels’ over Australia: Flying padres celebrate 80 years in the sky
- kirranicolle
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
Salvationists, dignitaries and beneficiaries of The Salvation Army’s Flying Padre Service gathered in the Northern Territory recently to mark 80 years of the Salvos’ presence in the sky.
Commemorative events, held in Darwin and Katherine, included a private lunch for VIPs, media and guests on Saturday 20 September, then a celebration service at Darwin Corps and an open day at Wally’s Hangar in Katherine over the following two days. Catering was provided by Red Shield Defence Services.
In attendance were former Northern Territory rural and remote chaplains Majors Henry and Sue May (Retired), David Shrimpton, Majors Greg and Julie Howard, as well as current rural and remote chaplains Majors Niall and Michelle Gibson. From Queensland, Majors Natalie and Simon Steele (former Salvation Army helicopter pilot) attended, along with current fixed-wing chaplains Majors Mark and Jo Bulow.
The Saturday event featured speeches and prayers by Territorial Commander and Chair of the Board Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Darwin councillor Brian O’Gallagher MLA, Member for Karama, SA/NT Divisional Commander Major Paul Hateley and Area Officer in the Northern Territory Major Kaye Viney.
The Monday event, held at Wally’s Airstrip in Katherine, was attended by the Honourable Jo Hersey MLA, Member for Katherine.
(From left) Jo Hersey, Major Paul Hateley and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas.
Station owners visited by the rural and remote chaplains also presented at the Saturday event, including Gai and Paul White from Queensland and Moira Lanzarin from the Northern Territory, as well as station owner and Salvationist Bess Hart who spoke through a video presentation on how she and her husband Ted became Salvation Army soldiers through the impact of the flying padres.
“The Salvos have been the ones who’ve been our back-stop,” Bess said.
Station owner Gai White said that Queensland-based Rural and Remote Chaplain Major Mark Bulow ‘never judged’ their situation but instead showed understanding, and was always just a phone call away.
Northern Territory-based station owner Moira Lanzarin also spoke of the impact of flying padres Niall and Michelle Gibson, saying that “angels really do have wings”.
“I speak on behalf of all the families touched by the padres, they are there when you need an ear,” she said.
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas reflected on the events, saying this was an “incredible ministry” with visits from flying padres meaning “the world” to people living in rural and remote parts of the country.
She said hearing the stories from the ministry’s impact was a highlight, with some funny, some sad and others delightful. She said we needed the next generation of pilots to rise up, and sponsors to come forward.
“Getting to remote communities is key and so are our planes,” she said. “Our ‘salt of the earth’ officers have been in the lives of people who live on these properties for 80 years, and this continues from generation to generation. [It’s an] enduring legacy.”
Click through the slideshow below for more images of the 80th anniversary weekend:
