Bands, timbrels and donuts – taking the Salvos on the road in Queensland
BY SIMONE WORTHING
The Salvos’ annual mid-year mission trip in Queensland is over for another year, with the regular ‘roadies’ and new volunteers visiting small towns and communities to bless and encourage local populations through band and variety concerts, magic tricks, cinnamon donuts, ice cream and genuine care.
The mission is organised by Majors Mark and Jo Bulow, who are the Rural and Remote Chaplains in Queensland, based out of Dalby.
This year, the mission team visited Wondai, Kingaroy, Kingsthorpe, Laidley and the Lockyer Valley – as well as a few even smaller communities in between – throughout Queensland’s rural south-east.
“We have our ‘roadies’ who come each year, including Majors Bob and Estelle Strong, who do a lot of the organising as well as play in the band,” says Mark, who is also a flying padre for The Salvation Army. “We talk together, work out where to go and make it happen. We’ve been doing this for 14 years now.”
Bob and Estelle plan to continue their involvement and, as Estelle says, “do what we can, while we still can ... We all enjoy it, and Jo and Mark are so great to work with.”
Bob enjoys the response of locals in the rural and remote towns they visit. “We love giving our God-given talent to share in the music we play and sing, the fellowship is great, and the response of people is just terrific,” he says.
Mobile mission
Every year a contingent of regular volunteers, as well as new faces, join the mission trip.
“One volunteer comes from as far south as Victoria; and this year we’ve also had someone from Mt Isa, and others from Taree, Tamworth and Grafton,” says Jo. “Many of them are retired and they just love playing music to the communities as well as getting together and enjoying the fellowship. Some take holidays to drive up and participate.
“Our oldest band member, Don, is 89, and has been part of The Salvation Army all his life.”
The team members travel in their own caravans, with one couple choosing to stay in cabins or motel rooms. They meet all their own expenses.
“We haven’t been back to the same place twice, except when we started off,” says Jo. “Our focus is on the smaller towns.”
Mark explains that most of the communities they visit don’t have live music in their venues. “In Wondai, for example, we did a concert at the local RSL, which was really well attended. We also led a church service in the Uniting Church, as most of these little places don’t have a resident pastor.
“Friday nights we generally do a barbecue and always bring out the trusty donut machine, which has now done many miles. People love them, and the ice cream too.”
Friday night barbecues (left), and Major Mark Bulow’s magic tricks are regular features of the mission in each of the towns they visit.
Connection is key
The variety concerts are deliberately varied, with something for everyone. There is music, singing, magic, bagpipes and even a timbrel ensemble.
Some of the team members had not played the timbrel for 25 years, but under the experienced guidance of retired soldier Christine Creamer, they refreshed their skills and were soon performing smoothly together.
The variety concerts also showcased the breadth of talent within the team, with Kevin Cause leading the band, Trevor Williams leading the singers and Mark performing magic tricks. There were even renditions of songs associated with artists ranging from AC/DC and John Farnham to KISS.
“It’s a bit of a motley crew,” Jo says with a laugh.
The timbrellists performing in Wondai, and worship in Kingaroy.
For the communities, the evenings are an opportunity to come together, have fun and reconnect.
In Wondai, the response was so positive that the team was invited to return for Christmas.
“By the time we left, they had seconded us to come back and do Christmas,” says Mark. “They said it was a great blessing and brought back great memories.”
The mission isn’t limited to concerts. During the trip, the team also visited a nursing home in Laidley and spent time connecting with people in the community.
For Mark, that personal connection is at the heart of the mission. “It’s exciting. That is what ministry is all about,” he says. “It’s the best ministry outside of the church building.
“If you don’t have passion, you can’t do ministry. Passion drives it. Being outside and doing stuff in the community is our passion. We love to bless people. It’s never a burden.”
The team visited Kingsthorpe (left) and Kingaroy communities as part of the trip.
That passion extends beyond Salvation Army communities.
“We ask local bandsmen – Salvos and others – to come along and play with us,” says Mark. “We can minister to them and bless them.”
This year, volunteers included people from Anglican and AOG churches as well as Salvation Army members.
“Come and be a part of us and let’s worship together,” says Mark. “Come and worship Jesus together. That’s what it’s all about.”
For Jo, the volunteers themselves are one of the greatest blessings.
“We couldn’t do it without our volunteers,” she says. “They make a massive investment. They pay their way, give up their time and go through all the training, including police checks and Blue Cards.”
Some volunteers travel long distances, return year after year and even make the journey again at Christmas.
“They go out of their way,” says Mark. “They come up for Christmas because they see the value of our ministry and want to come and bless the people here.”
Music and a community meal in Lockyer Valley.
Better together
For Mark, the mission reflects what can happen when different parts of The Salvation Army work together and use the gifts already present within their communities.
“This is The Salvation Army working well – corps, centres and communities,” he says. “We use our local knowledge. We are better together.”
And the impact can go deeper than a concert or a shared meal.
Jo recalls one man, who was not a Salvation Army member but had developed a connection with the team. After becoming extremely unwell, he was particularly looking forward to their visit.
“When we got to [the town], we went to his house and we all played together with him,” Jo says.
For the team, moments like this capture the heart of their mission: showing up, building relationships and being present in people’s lives.
The annual trip concluded in the Lockyer Valley, where the team presented another variety concert before worshipping with the local corps.
“It’s been a great time of ministry and sharing together and blessing communities,” the team reflected.
And while this year’s journey may be over, thoughts are already turning to the next one.
There are more towns to visit, more people to meet, more music to play – and, no doubt, many more donuts to make.
