Meet the Officer – Major Cate Shanks

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? 

Currently, I am part of the team at Frankston North Salvos. I began the appointment at the beginning of 2011, so it’s been 14 years! Many things have changed since then! When I first arrived, the appointment was to a traditional congregation worshipping in Frankston North, one of Victoria’s most disadvantaged suburbs.

In my time and with my encouragement, the appointment has evolved into a ministry that specifically works alongside young people in the local community who face unique challenges such as generational unemployment, family violence, drug use, early disengagement from education, and other barriers associated with low socio-economic communities.

What I love most is that I am invited into the lives of individuals and families to come alongside and support, love and encourage people to find hope, love and purpose. My ‘family’ is broad, long and deep, and I love it!

2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? 

I love learning new creative skills from YouTube! So far, I’ve fixed our washing machine, built garden steps, built a retaining wall, learnt crazy paving, and I’m working on my photography skills.

I also love running down to the beach and working out. I have four birth children who keep me very busy along with many non-birth children, who I support and love also!

3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? 

This is a hard question to answer, as so many Christian songs have spoken to me at different times in my life. But I guess when I was first working out what kind of ‘Christian’ I would be, and reading books about the origins of The Salvation Army, Keith Green’s Asleep in Light was such a powerful voice in my formation, I can’t go past it!

4. If you could have a good talk with a biblical character apart from Jesus, who would it be and what would you talk about? 

Definitely Bathsheba. Growing up in an era where everything was seen and interpreted through the lens of privileged white men, I’d love to ask Bathsheba how she felt about being summoned into David’s harem during the execution of her husband. Bathsheba has been interpreted as a seductress, but I have a feeling she has a different story to tell!

5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? 

What an interesting question in 2025, when choices and opportunities abound! I have a degree in Social Work (1999) and Nursing (2009). Friends often say to me, “You could easily get another job that pays a lot better!”

But do you know the Officer’s Covenant?

“To love and serve him supremely all my days, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unloved, and befriend those who have no friends …”

That is my job description! What?!! Is there anything better than that? It still brings me to tears. There is no higher calling. The Salvation Army has supported and released me to do exactly that, and there is nothing better I could devote my life to!

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To watch a video of Major Cate Shanks’ involvement with Frankston North Salvos, click here