Melbourne crowd gather to support Salvos' compassionate work
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The Victoria Division’s Red Shield Appeal Luncheon took place on 28 May with a crowd of 450 present.
The event featured some powerful speeches and presentations, world class entertainment and corporate leaders and philanthropists from across Melbourne demonstrating a strong desire to support the work of The Salvation Army.
Master of ceremonies Tony Jones of Channel Nine greeted a full house at the Crown Palladium, introducing special guests including the Honourable Nick Staikos MP, Minister for Housing and Building and Minister for Suburban Rail Loop, Victoria, and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, along with Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and other Salvation Army leaders.
After a Welcome to Country from Uncle Perry Wandin, Divisional Commander Major Mal Davies took to the stage to offer some opening comments and a prayer. He spoke of the pressures facing people in the current economic climate and The Salvation Army's readiness to offer support, quoting Catherine Booth by saying, “There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need”.
Nick Staikos spoke of the highly valued and close working relationship the Housing Department had with The Salvation Army, including providing funding for many building projects, and he also announced a gift of $150,000 to the Red Shield Appeal.
Tony Jones then interviewed Robin Khuda, the founder and CEO of AirTrunk, one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world; Robin is also a director on the board of the Business Council of Australia. Robin spoke of moving to Australia from Bangladesh as a child and knowing economic hardship as well as social disadvantage and discrimination. Having worked hard to pay his way through university, he then started a small IT company which has continued to grow. He spoke of how this initiative reached a point some years ago when they could start giving back, and part of this was his philanthropic support of The Salvation Army.
Robin spoke of the intersection of the corporate and community support worlds, and he encouraged those in the room to give generously to the Red Shield Appeal.
After a superb lunch, with backing music provided by Jerson Trinidad, Anthony Callea performed three songs, speaking warmly of the contribution The Salvation Army makes to the fabric of Australian society. He sang two songs on a theme of love for others and concluded with his well-known rendition of The Prayer.
The stage then belonged to Cameron McDonald for the next 15 minutes, as she delivered a powerful and moving testimony of her life of abuse and trauma before coming to The Salvation Army for assistance and finding “home”.
She concluded by saying, “Practical support matters, but what changes people most profoundly is being treated with dignity and compassion. Every single person I have had the privilege of meeting through the Salvos has done exactly that”. She was thanked with a prolonged and heartfelt round of applause from all in attendance.
Time was then allocated for diners to make a financial contribution to the Red Shield Appeal, most using a QR code to quickly access donation services.
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas followed this by presenting two awards to revered supporters of The Salvation Army. The Others Award was presented to George Andrianopoulos on behalf of AA Holdings, who have supported the Red Shield Appeal with philanthropic gifts for 40 years. The Eva Burrows Award was then presented to Thomas Cameron in recognition of the 45 years of support the George W Vowell Foundation had given The Salvation Army, as well as his 14 years of service chairing the Corporate and Philanthropic Committee.
To close, Chief Secretary Colonel John Chamness spoke of the hope The Salvation Army seeks to provide to those in need. He challenged diners not to leave the room and forget the stories they had heard, but to be challenged by them and seek to continue making a difference.
All images courtesy Bernie Wright Photography.
