Noarlunga Salvationist recognised for musical legacy around the world
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Adelaide Salvationist Ralph Jones was recently awarded a Certificate of Exceptional Service by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas in recognition for several decades of work spent assisting Salvation Army brass bands and musicians across the world.
Ralph was a founding member of Noarlunga Corps in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, and still attends the corps, offering multiple hours a week as an unofficial caretaker. He and his wife Marilyn were previously a part of the Seacombe Gardens Corps and helped to plant the corps in Noarlunga in 1981.
“Ralph is such a hardworking, kind and dedicated member of Noarlunga and we are incredibly blessed to have him,” said Auxiliary-Lieutenant Deb Strapp, Noarlunga Corps Officer.
“He just sees the need, comes in and does what needs to be done and then leaves – although in saying that, if there is a sweet treat around, he’ll be sure to sniff it out! His wife Marilyn is so beautiful too. She is a strength that stands beside him.”
Ralph, an accomplished musician, has undertaken 38 mission trips over 34 years, assisting remote and under-resourced corps to establish bands and musical groups in nine countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Zambia, South Korea, Uganda and Myanmar.
For the past five years, Ralph has been going to Uganda, where he has started three new bands, with plans to add another band later this year. To do this, he has been able to bring 23 instruments into the country.
A lifelong Salvationist, Ralph has managed to build networks through music across the world, including helping launch a band at Puli Corps in Taiwan. This happened after assisting in teaching at a summer camp for children in the town of Puli in 2018.
“In six weeks, with two 45-minute sessions in the morning, 12 children managed to play by the end of the [camp],” he said. “Of those 12, seven are the nucleus of the corps band today.”
Ralph plans to continue travelling to assist with music teams as long as his health allows. The gardening contractor and brass musician also conducts hotel ministry in several suburbs across southern Adelaide; this includes visiting the Willunga RSL every Friday night to chat with veterans about their experiences and connections with The Salvation Army.
He reflects on his service as a Salvationist as a reminder that “what you sow, you reap”.
“Often that has negative connotations,” Ralph said. “However, mine’s going to be those 12 kids that started playing their first tune in Taiwan in 2018. My corps band [in Zambia] started with five people. Now, 20-odd years later, they have grown in number with three of them now playing in the Zambia Territorial Band.
“So, I started from a seed. That’s my legacy.”
(Top left) Ralph at wife Marilyn at award ceremony with Majors Paul and Robyn Lorimer, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and Captains Scott and Natalie Frame at the award ceremony at Adelaide Congress Hall, and a selection of photos from Ralph’s service across the world. Images: Supplied
