TV and radio personalities help launch 2026 Red Shield Appeal
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
BY LAUREN MARTIN
The Salvation Army has officially launched its 2026 Red Shield Appeal, with a line-up of prominent media personalities backing the work that goes on ‘behind the shield’.
There has to be something special going on to bring together the likes of Joe Hilderbrand, Sonia Kruger, Ben Fordham, Natalie Barr and Beau Ryan into the same room for the same cause.
This week, that room was at The Salvation Army’s Territorial Headquarters in Sydney, and that cause was the organisation’s 62nd Red Shield Appeal.
“I’m just incredibly proud of you guys and what you do, and how you help the wider community in need,” said television presenter Sonia Kruger. “Australians put their faith in that shield,” added Channel 7 Sunrise host Natalie Barr.
For former NRL player and now TV and radio presenter Beau Ryan, the cause is personal: “The Salvation Army and the Smith Family looked after my wife and her mum – her mum was a single mum with three kids … so, we made a commitment to give every bit of time that we could and money to help out The Salvation Army.
“There is a lot of hurt and despair out there in the world, but if you put your hand out, someone from the Salvos will grab it.”
In assisting with the launch of the 2026 Red Shield Appeal, which aims to raise $41 million by 30 June to enable The Salvation Army to continue its vital work, the celebrities committed to supporting, promoting and continuing their work as ambassadors for the Salvos.
“You don’t have to look too far to find examples of how the changing face of those in need has changed over a relatively short space of time,” said radio host Ben Fordham.
He said that ever since he was a kid, his father instilled in the family the importance of supporting The Salvation Army, which he says the Australian public – “the mob” – has made up their minds to love, for good reason: “The ‘mob’ loves the Salvos and that’s why we want to raise $40-plus million this Red Shield Appeal.”
At the launch, The Salvation Army released its annual survey of people who had reached out to the organisation for support. It found that 9 out of 10 parents were going without food so their children could eat, and 22 per cent of those surveyed said their children had gone without food for an entire day.
Major Bruce Harmer said the cost-of-living crisis is now entrenched and pushing families to breaking point.
“It is truly heartbreaking to think that our community’s most innocent and vulnerable, our children, are the ones bearing the brunt of the relentless cost-of-living crisis Australia once again finds itself in,” he said.
“No parent should have to make the impossible decision of choosing between feeding their child or taking them to the doctor, but we are seeing this crisis amongst more and more families across the country.”
