Cadet from 1974-76 Soldiers of the Cross session shares her story
- deansimpson7
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
BY CARMEL JACKSON 1974-76 Soldiers of the Cross cadet
One Saturday in about 1956, my mother, three siblings and I were at the Mitcham shops (in Melbourne) with my paternal grandmother, a widow since 1928. Along came one of her best friends, a similar age, and also a widow. She just happened to be the Young People’s Sergeant Major at the local Mitcham Corps.
What a vibrant, energetic and spirit-filled woman she was! She said to my mother, “Do the children go to Sunday School? Send them along to The Salvation Army, we will love them.”
That is all I remember from my Sunday school/corps attendance days, with my officers showing love and kindness up until my training college days.
As my family lived equidistant between Mitcham and Park Orchards, we initially worshipped at Mitcham, but as a ride was available to attend the thriving outpost at Park Orchards, our parents sent us there. At one stage, I believe it was the fastest-growing Sunday school in the Southern Territory, with about 50 children in attendance.
My two sisters and I continued attending there. We joined The Salvation Army Girls Basketball Association team for Mitcham when we were old enough and travelled to Fawkner Park in South Yarra each Saturday in winter to play. I was later asked by a corps officer to coach the Midgets team.
We also went to Mitcham Corps’ youth group when of that age. I also went on to teach Y.P sections. Unfortunately, I never did Young Soldiers or Corps Cadets because of transport issues. Looking back, this was sad.
I had a growing awareness that I should become a Salvation Army officer ... although I was also interested in becoming a nurse or social worker. But I became a candidate for officership at age 16, and enjoyed many Candidates’ Fellowships and get-togethers.
Having been born deaf, I didn’t realise how isolated I was, not having been provided for as a deaf person.
When I joined the Commonwealth Public Service, before going to Salvation Army Training College, it was determined that I would benefit from wearing a hearing aid. So, my entry to college was made much easier as I had been provided with an aid just before entry. Looking back, I should have had two aids, but the Lord answered my prayers.
I guess you experience ups and downs in college, as in life, but there were many blessings in training. Our session 1974-76 was large in number, and we came from most Southern Territory states, with one cadet coming from Indonesia to do his training.
It was an eye-opener after Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. Our session and
others were back from our Christmas break and were put on six-hour shifts to attend the Essenson Airport to book in those who had come on cargo planes etc., to be housed. I even remember going onto the tarmac in the eerie still of the night. Someone had even brought their dog! I’m sure many appreciated the Salvation Army’s help at such a low time in their lives.
Things have changed over the years at college – from one room for a library at 68 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, to the larger library at Eva Burrows College in Ringwood. From typewriters to computers ... and modern technology.
But I look back with fondness on my training college days.
My out-training was spent at the Ballarat West Corps, where I remember a much younger Miriam Gluyas (now the Territorial Commander of Australia) being an attendee. God bless her.
I had a bad car accident on my 25th birthday, on 28.6.1975, with others in the car, and spent two weeks at home in bed recovering. I know the training college staff and others were praying for me, and the Lord specifically told me “to go back and finish your training”.
After being commissioned as a lieutenant, I was appointed to the Bridge Women’s Hostel in Adelaide, but I only served for two months. I was still under an orthopaedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon for ongoing treatment from my accident, and needed a further periods of resting.
After five months’ leave, it was a very hard decision to make to resign from officership.
But, throughout my life, I have endeavoured to serve the Lord in whatever duties he has given me to do.
Although I have attended corps prayers meetings in the past, and not so often now, I now pray at home and whenever the Spirit moves, although my attendance is exceptional. I also send birthday cards to Sunday attendees, as well as the sick.
Senior citizenship brings with it other health challenges, but I find Scripture is beneficial to repeat each day. We need to study God’s Word every day for it to be effective in our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 is one favourite of mine: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
God bless you all.
