Young people getting ready for the Salvos North East Youth Services’ popular pop culture event, Nerdmania, which is returning next month. Photo: Charlie Rock-driguez – Pexels.com BY LERISSE SMITH Trekkies, Whovians and pop culture fans of all stripes are set to descend on Salvos North East Youth Services’ NerdMania next month as the event returns to Shepparton bigger than ever. After a six-year hiatus, 2026 marks the long-awaited return of the popular regional pop culture event on Saturday 29 August, with NerdMania set to deliver a day of entertainment featuring Star Wars, Pokémon, and LEGO events, as well as Cosplay (Costume Play). The event is being presented by The Salvation Army North East Youth Services in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council and VicHealth. “It will be a great opportunity for people of all abilities to come together and celebrate pop culture,” says Jim Gow, Youth Participation Worker at Salvation Army North East Youth Services. “We will be engaging with the local special school as well as mainstream schools, as well as NDIS providers. We have been working towards this outcome for a few years now, so to say that it is finally happening is amazing. “We were asked monthly, if not weekly, when it would come back, with comments such as ‘Oh, I wish that would come back, it was incredible’ and so on, so this announcement will make a lot of people very happy. I’m one of them!” Jim Gow, Youth Participation Worker at Salvation Army North East Youth Services, says this year’s NerdMania will be a great opportunity for people of all abilities to unite and celebrate pop culture. Welcoming community members from all walks of life, the event will be held at the Shepparton Showgrounds’ Multipurpose Pavilion from 10am to 4pm with food trucks on site. With NerdMania back in full swing, the Cosplay community finally has its stage set and the countdown to costumes, creativity and character builds is officially on. Defined as ‘costume play,’ Cosplay sees fans of television shows, animation, cartoons and movies dress as characters they admire. “It is often a very creative outlet that assists neurodiverse people and people who have mental health challenges to funnel their issues into something creative and soothing,” he says. “They produce amazing and creative costumes of all sorts – from the weird to the wonderful!” Beyond the pop culture celebration, a wide range of services supporting young people will also be present on the day. Crucially, young people’s health, both mental and physical, will also feature at the event, with details being finalised. Funding for the event has been secured due to a partnership with the Greater Shepparton City Council and VicHealth. “The partnership will be hugely beneficial for the community,” says Jim. “Without the seed funding provided by the Greater Shepparton City Council and VicHealth, this wouldn’t be happening, make no mistake. This is very much thanks to them, and I feel they recognise the value this event brings to the community and wish to support it.” Nerdmania will be a fun-filled day of entertainment for the local community ranging from young people dressed in colourful costumes to pop culture celebrations and activities of all sorts for families. Photos courtesy of Pexels.com Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Shane Sali, said the council was proud to support the return of NerdMania in 2026. “This event is a great example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships,” he says. “The council is pleased to support its return, building on previous success as a welcoming and positive event for young people across Greater Shepparton.” Funds raised on the day through entry fees and stallholder fees will be banked to ensure the event can remain on the events calendar for years to come. “We are aiming at making this event an annual event that occurs every year,” says Jim. “So, we are hoping for a cost-neutral event at the very least. We know there is strong demand for this family-friendly event, so we think that the community will get around it and support it so it can continue moving forward.” NerdMania is fully supervised and is a drug, alcohol, smoke and vape-free event. Entry will be via prepaid ticket or entry fees on the day. Car parking entry is via Gate 5, with a $2 parking fee going to a local services club. For tickets, email Jim Gow: jim.Gow@salvationarmy.org.au This year’s NerdMania pop culture event is expected to attract large crowds, following the success of previous events (above).

Ringwood Corps soldier Russell Webb holds the donated copy of the ‘working Bible’ owned over 100 years ago by a Salvationist in Melbourne BY BARRY GITTINS Within families and long-lasting friendships, Bibles and religious books are often passed down through generations. Rare books, by Salvation Army standards, and significant copies of Scriptures also sometimes end up being donated to The Salvation Army Australia Museum for posterity. Ringwood Corps Sergeant-Major Russell Webb recently passed on a New Testament more than 100 years old to the museum’s Melbourne branch. The slim volume was inscribed: James A Smith, Salvation Army, 69 Bourke St, Melbourne. (While a common enough name, this might have belonged to Colonel J.A. Smith OF, who established the Army’s work in Kenya in 1921.) The well-used and obviously well-loved ‘working Bible’ – including sermon notes and asides, pencilled clarifications and underlined verses – was passed down from Russell’s wife Allison’s side of the family. Many typed and handwritten notes are contained in the copy. It took some detective work on their part to establish provenance; at first, they thought it might have come from the library of her father, Bryan Saunders or her grandfather, Len Saunders. In fact, the Bible was in the possession of Len’s second wife, Edna (they were to marry following the death of Len’s first wife in a car accident). As captured in the Army’s first doctrine, Salvationists believe the Scriptures are inspired by God and “they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice”. Russell had preached on the importance of the Bible recently at Ringwood, and he later defined the problem of biblical literacy, or illiteracy for that matter, very simply: “People don’t read it.” The Bible dates back to the early part of the 20th century. “People try and read the Scriptures in a language they don’t understand,” Russell said, “and they get frustrated. We need to find translations and paraphrases that are accessible and accurate – faithful to the original sources – and we need to study where and when they were written, because God can help us understand the Bible through its content, its context and subtext.” We may not know without doubt the identity of the particular Jim Smith who owned this New Testament, nor can we clearly ascertain how it came into the possession of Allison’s family. But we can agree with Russell that reading and abiding in the written word of God brings us closer to following and obeying Jesus, the living Word. Interested in Salvation Army history? Then make a trip to either of The Salvation Army Australia Museum branches in Melbourne or Sydney. Details below. READ MORE: Sydney branch of The Salvation Army Museum officially opened

Registration is now open for the annual Thought Matters Conference, a chance for Salvationists from across Oceania to submit and present papers on a chosen topic. This year’s conference theme is ‘Do not be anxious about anything’, and the event will be held from the 9-11 October 2026 in Auckland, Aotearoa (New Zealand). With abstract submissions having closed, participants and delegates are invited to register here, with in-person and online options both available to book. Thought Matters is organised and facilitated by The Salvation Army South Pacific Theological Forum (SPTF). The SPTF exists to facilitate theological discussion which informs ministry practice. It is currently composed of representatives from the Australia and New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territories. Auxiliary-Lieutenant Renata Davies, Corps Officer at Rockdale (NSW) attended last year’s conference in Melbourne and afterwards admitted she was pleasantly surprised by how much she got out of her first Thought Matters experience. “I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from authentic people who write and present in a way that I understand!” she said. “I believe all Salvationists (and actually, all Christians) would benefit greatly from the many and unique ‘thoughts’ presented at Thought Matters. There is a curiosity to questions, a longing to learn and see from another perspective, and an unspoken agreement to be quick to listen deeply with a truly open mind and heart. This is all with the purpose of knowing and being immersed in God more and more, and sharing the light and love of Jesus with all.” Registration closes on the 30 September. To find out more about the conference and book, see here. Some of the delegates from the 2025 Thought Matters conference in Melbourne. READ MORE: A gathering all Christians would benefit from

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? I am the Corps Officer/Team Member at Stafford Corps in Brisbane. I’m also the local and integrated mission specialist for Queensland, supporting all our local teams. I have a third unofficial role of being the IT and network Audio Visual Champion for Queensland. So, I support the frontline in their technical needs because that speaks to what I used to do prior to being a Salvation Army officer. What I enjoy the most about what I get to do is getting to just interact with people, getting to know our frontline and to be able to work with them, and particularly in my local and integrated role, being able to then support them so as to bring the Kingdom of God nearer to where they are. 2. Away from your appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? Anything that accepts a V8 engine is normally a pretty good start! So, I am a motorsport nut. Prior to children, I raced open-class sprint car. Throughout my AV career, I did quite a bit of work in the supercars and with supercar teams. So, now I follow V8 Supercars and NASCAR and every year I go to Bathurst – I’m one of those tragics who go to the race every year. There’s a group of us who will go and it’s a great time. Anything with a motor is pretty good for me. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? I’ve just got a new one that I have recently found by Sidewalk Prophets called ‘Father, Let It Be’. It’s all around chasing the will of God and finding what the will of God is in your life: Oh Father, let it be, Father let it be. It has really been talking to me over the last few weeks, probably a little bit to do with just finishing a preaching series on seeking God’s will and saying, God, just tell me. I’m just really getting to enjoying that song at the moment. 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? I’ve got to tell a funny story. In my previous appointment up in Gladstone, I was the leader of the Christian leaders, and we had a whole heap of us, about 30 church pastors, in a room, and I proposed an icebreaker question very similar to this one. The question was: If Jesus were beside you now, what would you ask him? And it was amazing. What really blew me away in the conversation was how many did not know what to say. We are talking a bunch of trained, qualified clergy, and they just did not know what they would say. That’s what got me interested more than anything. So, coming back to the question, I really would like to talk with Apostle Paul. I love the transformation story of Paul from and seeing where he goes in his life, and from a life where he was essentially a persecuted Christian, through to a life where he’s sharing the good news and the gospel message of Jesus – and everything in between. I love that. I would really love to just be able to sit down and talk to him, particularly some of those hard things he’s been through, like times in prison, for example, and being stoned for his beliefs and these types of things, and just say to him, how did you do it? How did you get through when it was so tough? I know we would obviously jump to Jesus in that comment, but it’s a really hard life to live, and he portrayed that so well. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? I tend to be a bit of an outside-the-box thinker, and so I would probably say why not? – and flip the question around. There are so many reasons why people could say no to being an officer. But do you know what? There are so many reasons why you should. So, I think the question for me would be more around, well, why wouldn’t you want to become an officer? Just being able to be simply immersed in God’s Word, being immersed with God’s people, but also having the absolute joy of being able to take somebody on that transformation journey. So, I would simply ask the Salvationist what fulfils their life? Are you happy staying in the mundane and doing it? I ask this because I was the general manager of an AV company and quite happy where I was – but when God calls, God calls. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

The Salvation Army is committed to assisting young people achieve their potential by offering training and educational opportunities. BY LAUREN MARTIN A scholarship program funded by a Salvation Army corporate partner is helping teenagers and young adults connected with Salvo youth programs access educational assistance. The scholarship, sponsored by Toyota Australia, was launched earlier this month. It allows young people, with the help of their Salvation Army youth worker, to apply for assistance with course fees, textbooks and e-learning materials, laptops, tools, uniforms and transport costs for education or training. There are three rounds of applications, with 50 grants of up to $1500 available, and funding above that amount if special circumstances are met. Toyota Australia’s John Pappas (Vice President, National Sales, Marketing & Franchise Operations) said the scholarship is about enabling access and opportunity. “We recognise that many young people accessing Salvation Army services demonstrate capability and commitment to their goals and often while navigating complex circumstances,” John said. “Toyota Australia is committed to helping young people access education and training opportunities. “This scholarship provides practical, timely support to help remove financial barriers and enable continued engagement in education, skills development, and future employment pathways.” Stephanie Wilks says the scholarship is a ‘tangible investment in youth’. Stephanie Wilks, The Salvation Army’s General Manager, Youth and Education, said the support from Toyota Australia is a wonderful recognition of the potential of young people engaging with The Salvation Army’s youth services. “The scholarship provides recognition, encouragement and a tangible investment in their future pathways,” she said. Successful candidates will continue to be supported by their Salvation Army youth worker as they work towards their education and training goals, with the aim of securing employment and building a sustainable future. Across Australia, The Salvation Army supports young people impacted by homelessness, unemployment, alcohol and other drugs, and disadvantage due to inability to access supports, education and services. The Toyota Australia youth education scholarship gives young people connected with the Salvos access to opportunities that would otherwise be out of their reach. For more information on Salvation Army Youth Services, click here

The speakers at the symposium (from left, front) Associate Professor Fanang Lum Lahpai, Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, the Reverend Canon Garry Worete Deverell, Mikenzie Ling, Dr Chang-Hua Lin. (Back, from left) Professor Hukato N Shohe, Des Rogers, Nathan Tyson, Reverend Professor Dr Nasili Vaka'uta. Image: Supplied BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE Last week, I was very privileged to attend the inaugural National Indigenous Ecumenical Council in Australia (NIECA) Symposium, held on the lands of the Kaurna people/Adelaide with the theme ‘Holders of Our Knowledge and Keepers of Our Stories’. I was one of two of us from The Salvation Army who attended, the other being Auxiliary-Lieutenant Matt Cairns, Student Support and Higher Education Lecturer at Eva Burrows College. Matt is currently completing a PhD project on decolonisation of The Salvation Army under the supervision of the Salvos’ Reverend Professor Glen O’Brien, and Australian theologian and NIECA Chair Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray. I spent the two days at the symposium listening to perspectives from scholars studying the theologies and storytelling histories of Indigenous peoples across Oceania – from the Pacific, Myanmar, Taiwan and India, as well as, of course, Australia. As a non-Indigenous person with coloniser blood, it feels disingenuous in some ways to report on an event like this from the first person. But the reason I’m writing this from my own experience is that to attempt to present this experience without personalising it is also disingenuous. At the heart of the conference, and as I have reflected since – at the heart of our theologies – is story. The story of our communities, our families, and of us. As we sit and take in knowledge from those of other cultures, we are passing it all through the lenses of what we already believe, and what we treat with suspicion. As I sat and listened, I became innately aware of how much disbelief I held as not just an acceptable response, but a reasonable one. Why would my perspective, largely shaped by scholars of European and Anglo-American descent, which holds no room for creation stories that involve male and female emerging from pumpkins as in the ancestral accounts of the Kachin people of Myanmar, or views waves and oceans as barriers, rather than pathways as many Pacific islander people groups do, be the correct one? Why might we be tempted to view some of these perspectives as absurd or off-base, and our own as inherently reasonable? Both of these perspectives were shared at the conference and later discussed in groups that included those from Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Episcopal, Anglican, Quaker and Uniting church backgrounds, and what was apparent to me was that at an event like this, what we hear of another cultural perspective is simply the tip of the iceberg. It is knowledge, shrunk down to be palatable and comprehensible in a short matter of time, but it speaks to worlds within worlds. How can we, as coloniser Christians, so easily regard ourselves as multicultural, as educated? How, when we truly know so little of another’s experiences? Another failing of non-Indigenous people like myself is to view cultures for whom the past is central to the present and future as somehow stuck, unmoving. In his talk on day two of the symposium, Uncle Reverend Ken Sumner, a Kukabrak Ngarrindjeri man and Uniting Church minister, stated that Indigenous stories were not merely memories of the past. “They are living wisdom,” he said. “They invite us into restoration.” This was echoed by Professor Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, who spoke on Aboriginal matriarchs as story-keepers. She spoke of how Indigenous knowledges were encapsulated in language, songs and stories, visual arts and expressions of art, rituals or ceremonies, and management and use of land, including flora and fauna. “It’s important that non-Indigenous people understand that when we refer to Indigenous knowledges as traditional, it is not confined to the past. It is also the here and now. It continues to shape our understanding today, within contemporary society,” she said. This invitation to restoration and the wisdom of the past is very tangible, and multifaceted. As Reverend Canon Dr Garry Worete Deverell, a trawloolway man from northern lutruwita (Tasmania) said in his presentation titled ‘Theological Conversation on Country’ that this wisdom acquired by Indigenous peoples through their own long experience with living respectfully and sustainably in this land was precisely what was required to address our national crisis with ecological degradation and mass extinctions of species. “It is precisely what is missing in a church theology which focuses only on the ancient far West or Europe or North America,” he said. Garry also challenged those like me, and you – to a truthful kind of living. A kind that is open and transparent about the ways in which we both willingly and unwillingly participate in what he described as “the fundamentally unjust structure of our society and country”. “Insofar as we are able and have the power to do so, we should certainly do what we can to make a better, more just and beautiful world,” he said as part of his conclusion. This was the challenge to all of us in attendance. It was an invitation to work together, alongside one another in fairness and equality towards a future where our cultural faith and beliefs are not seen as better or worse, but complementary. The Salvation Army’s Shirli Congoo, General Manager Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Team is part of the NIECA Wisdom Council. To find out more about NIECA and the Symposium, see here or to follow NIECA on Facebook, see the QR code.

Leaders from The Salvation Army Australia and the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands territories gathered for the workshop earlier this year. Image: Facebook Earlier this year, The Salvation Army International Development (SAID) Australia partnered with officers and development staff from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory to strengthen their Territorial Community Development Strategy - a roadmap for positive, long-term change. Through open dialogue and a two-day workshop at Territorial Headquarters in Port Moresby, staff and leadership reflected on what’s working, where growth is needed, and how the Army’s mission and values guide community development. One of the wokshops in progress during the two-day event at Territorial Headquarters in Port Moresby. “By working together, we’re aligning efforts around a common goal: Gudpela Sindaun / Gud Stap meaning fullness of life, for communities that the Salvation Army is working in,” the SAID team wrote on their Facebook page. “By equipping, enabling and empowering communities across education, health and social justice, and by listening closely to local voices, communities are better placed to identify their needs, speak out, and lead their own development. “When staff, leadership and partners collaborate with a shared vision, meaningful and lasting community change becomes possible.” To find out more about the work of SAID, see their website here. Southern Africa Leaders’ Gathering Leaders from the Southern Africa Territory. Image: Facebook Leaders from across the Southern Africa Territory met this week for the beginning of The Salvation Army's Territorial Leaders Gathering. In a Facebook post, leaders thanked God and requested prayer for the event. “As territorial leaders gather from across Southern Africa, we give thanks to God for this opportunity to seek His wisdom, strengthen our fellowship, and renew our shared commitment to His mission. May these days be filled with meaningful conversations, Spirit-led discernment, and a fresh vision for the work ahead,” they wrote. “Please keep our leaders in your prayers as they meet, worship, and plan together for the advancement of God’s Kingdom throughout our Territory.” To find out more about the Southern Africa Territory, see here. Response to Ebola outbreak expands Image: The Salvation Army International Headquarters Also in Africa, The Salvation Army is expanding its combined Ebola prevention and response program across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with confirmed cases rising and number of deaths also increasing. With transmission being recorded now in more than 33 health zones, including parts of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The Salvation Army’s response has included supplying protective equipment to 13 TSA health facilities in Kinshasa, and the completion of a prevention project in Kalemie. Training is now also underway for health workers and other key stakeholders in Kinshasa, with community awareness, hygiene and infection-prevention activities being implemented in Bunia and Goma in the DRC and parts of Uganda and the Republic of Congo. Further projects are being developed to provide hygiene facilities, improve infection prevention and increase awareness in communities, schools, churches and health centres. Local leaders are also working alongside Salvation Army teams to share reliable information, challenge misinformation and encourage safer behaviour. To find out more about The Salvation Army's response to the Ebola crisis, see here. World leaders in Europe for festival General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham being interviewed at the ‘meet & celebrate 2026’ festival. Image: The Salvation Army International Headquarters In Europe, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham recently joined almost 1200 officers, soldiers, employees, friends and supporters from the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory for ‘meet & celebrate 2026’, held at Thun-Expo on 27–28 June. The weekend festival, themed ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, brought people of all generations together for worship, teaching, interactive workshops, community activities, games and fellowship. Following months of preparation, around 200 volunteers gave their time to help deliver the event, which followed the territory’s 2022 gathering, ‘Out of the Box’. In a deliberate departure from usual protocol, the General was interviewed on stage by young people, with no member of territorial leadership alongside him. This was a conscious decision by the Swiss organising team to ensure that young people were not only spoken about but actively involved in shaping the event. The entire weekend was also hosted by emcees in their early 20s, marking another significant first for the territory. To read more, see here.

Action and sportsmanship were reflected in last week's annual Basketball and Netball Carnival, held in Queensland. Carnival photos: Josh Foster BY SIMONE WORTHING More than 300 people representing 28 teams from around the Australia Territory took part in The Salvation Army Interstate Basketball and Netball Carnival on the Gold Coast earlier this month. The carnival has been running since 1971, and is held in a different location each year. The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara hosted this year’s event, which ran from 5-11 July. There were four game days, with Wednesday a rest day, and a presentation night after finals on the Saturday. Teams came from across the five divisions of the territory – NSW/ACT, Queensland, South Australia/Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria. The competition included Men’s A, Men’s B, Women’s, Under 18’s Boys & Under 14’s mixed basketball and Netball A & B. Teams played either 10 or 11 games and finals. Major Ben Johnson, Cairns Corps Officer and host state representative for the carnival, led the Opening Night at Tweed Salvos, just across the NSW-Queensland border from the Gold Coast, on Sunday night 5 July. Guest speaker was Jeremy Kendle, a former Brisbane Bullets NBL player and a committed Christian. Ex-Brisbane Bullets player, Jeremy Kendle, was guest speaker for Opening Night. “Jeremy shared some of his story,” said Ben. “It’s always helpful to have someone with a profile like that who has played professional basketball and shares how their faith engages with and is critical to, their life and career.” Ben shared that, although the carnival is about good competition, that competition is not the end point. “This is about sharing our faith and encouraging people to put their faith in Christ,” he said. “It’s about the conversations you have on the sidelines or when you’re sharing meals together, travelling, and you have an opportunity to deepen relationships and ask the bigger questions of life as well.” Ben and his team also introduced some fun activities for the week – a dance to get the whole carnival involved, and the ‘Cinderella Moment’ competition. “We’ll call out a shoe size and two people will come out, try on the shoe and the first person to tie up the laces, wins the shoes.” Prayer huddles took place before each match at Carnival. Photos Joshua Foster. Teamwork Carnival Coordinator Marj Rava, Youth and Young Adults Secretary (Tasmania) and National Sports Ministry Coordinator, has been coming to the carnival for many years and now coordinates the event and “brings it all together with my team”. “Sport is really important to Australians, and the opportunity to create a community based around like-minded people who love sport is an easy way to gather people,” she said. “This community gives participants the opportunity to meet new people, feel a part of something and be included, valued, loved and accepted. From that, there’s the potential for conversations and an opportunity to share a bit more of who Jesus is and why we do what we do. Teams from across the country played competitively and encouraged each other throughout the matches. “There are people from all around The Salvation Army and across the generations playing in this event – including from corps, a few from Doorways and Fairhaven (Gold Coast Recovery Services) – and this is a great place for people of all abilities, ages and backgrounds to play basketball and netball, build community and friendships, encourage one another and have a good time.” Some of the special moments from Carnival 2026. Devotional times Daily devotions took place each game day at 11:40am. Different people shared their testimonies – including Jan and Haraga, two young women from Papua New Guinea who had completed the Gold Coast Marathon on 4 July as part of The Salvation Army’s Hope and a Future program. Jan (left) and Haraga from Papua New Guinea, part of the Hope and a Future Program, share how faith has impacted them during their lives, and in the recent Gold Coast Marathon. Jacob Browning from Shire Salvos (NSW) spoke on Monday, and the Papua New Guinea team on Tuesday. On Thursday, Marj spoke on encouragement and everyone was asked to take a provided note that said, ‘You are awesome’ and a chocolate and give it to someone from another state. Major David Collinson (right) thanks Major Trevor Nicol for his years of service. The Friday devotion featured an interview with Ella Hobbs (VIC) and a farewell to Major Trevor Nicol. Major David Collinson, Executive Officer, Mission - Salvos Stores, thanked Trevor for his “incredible organising and administration of the NSW/ACT basketball and netball teams and Carnival since 1997. Amazing service over 30 years! Enjoy your retirement, you will be missed.” Major Trevor Nicol (centre) is thanked for his service by the NSW/ACT players. Presentation night Majors Ben and Emma Johnson emceed the carnival’s final celebration and Presentation Night. Major Brett Gallagher, Head of Integrated Mission and Resourcing, assisted with grace and presentations. Finals, Most-Valued Players, Best & Fairest and All-Star teams were also awarded during the evening. The ‘Coaches Award’ introduced at the carnival last year in Wollongong to recognise a coach for their positive attitude, support of their team, and overall character during the week, went to Phoebe Johnson (QLD) for coaching the Under 14’s basketball team. Major Ben Johnson also presented Cairns player, Kal-El Badham, the ‘Lazarus Award’ – “a play on the gospel narrative expressing our love for people and our joy that they made a ‘come-back’ to Carnival,” Ben explained. Last year, after returning from Carnival in Wollongong, Kal-El was taken to hospital after a cardiac arrest. He has undergone treatment for a heart condition and is now planning a professional basketball career. His next step is playing for three months, beginning mid-September, in Phoenix, Arizona with AUS Prep Hoops. Results: Men’s A: SA/NT def QLD Women’s Bball: SA/NT def NSW/ACT (66-30) Men’s B: NA1 def QLD (46-35) Netball A: NA3 def TAS (34-18) Netball B: SA/NT def NA1 (36-19) Under 18 Boys: NA1 def NA2 (75-36) Under 14 Mixed: SA/NT def NSW/ACT (85-29) For more images from Carnival 2026, click on the arrow below. More info: For more information and team photos from the carnival, click here For more photos and videos, check out the Instagram account at @Salvos_BNCarnival Personal impressions Nyssa (TAS): “I just love seeing everyone playing together and it’s been so much fun to support the opposing team and other teams as well. It’s sportsmanship. The camaraderie is just lovely. It’s so good to come around everyone and give people a great experience.” Major Nicole Snead (Hobart Corps Officer): “I just love coming and seeing everyone working and playing together across the generations, families. I love playing with my daughter.” Jackie Soper (Shire Salvos, NSA): I'm here because I just love sports and I love building friendships, relationships, and through sport is a great way to do it. We all cheer each other on no matter what, and that’s really important. It’s a safe place for everyone to be themselves, to play and the competition is good, and fair. It’s a great environment and a great place to bring friends from outside church.” Major Emma Johnson (Corps Officer, Cairns): “I loved the people, I loved the game, it’s just been an awesome, awesome experience.” Carnival quotes On presentation night, several participants answered the question, ‘What did you love about carnival this year?’ “Hanging out with our friends and meeting new people.” “I liked making it to the grand final and having fun versing South Australia.” “I loved how, even though we were very competitive, it was bigger than just a game. We were all very friendly and the competition was very good.” “I loved actually being a fan more than a player. We got to watch our state play and just getting behind them and cheering them on was just the best.” Our favourite bit was the friendship circle at the end when you all went ‘hooray, hooray, hooray’.” “I would say cheering on the other teams.” “I just really liked playing with the Tribe girls during netball. The environment on the court was just immaculate and second to none. It was such a great vibe playing with them and their improvement over the time and the connection we made with them; there was just a whole carnival vibe.” “Catching up with old friends and chanting and dancing on the court.” “I liked it because it was good! People, fun, the vibe of the whole thing, and it wasn’t just people ball hogging the whole time. It was people giving the ball to everyone. I loved carnival.” “I really loved getting to see familiar faces that I’ve seen in previous years and just getting back on the court.”

Glenorchy Corps Officers Majors Cherie and Chris Clarke (back right) and other Salvo personnel with Glenorchy City Council Deputy Mayor Russell Yaxley (back left), Member for Elwick Bec Thomas (front centre) and TOMRA Cleanaway General Manager Corey Wingard (far right) at the launch. BY LAUREN MARTIN The Salvation Army has been selected as Tasmania’s Recycle Rewards charity partner, with a goal of raising $10,000 through community recycling of containers and cans. The Recycle Rewards ‘No Family Deserves to Go Hungry’ campaign, in partnership with scheme operator TOMRA Cleanaway and scheme coordinator TasRecycle, was launched on 29 June. Tasmanians are encouraged to donate their empty bottles and cans to The Salvation Army by selecting ‘donate’ when they recycle at a container refund location. “We’re proud to be part of a program that not only reduces litter and benefits the environment, but also strengthens our ability to support individuals and families doing it tough,” said Amelia Natoli, The Salvation Army’s External Communications Manager in Tasmania. Under Recycle Rewards, Tasmanians can receive a 10-cent refund for each eligible container returned, or donate their refund directly to one of many registered charities and community groups. The Salvation Army hosted a free community barbecue as part of its “No Family Deserves to Go Hungry” campaign launch in Glenorchy, Tasmania. The Salvation Army is the partner charity until 4 October and aims to raise $10,000 through the scheme. At the launch event, Glenorchy Corps Officers Majors Chris and Cherie Clarke joined others to host a free community barbecue to encourage community members to get involved and participate, earning themselves a fun prize or two along the way. The event was supported by Glenorchy City Council, SEED and TOMRA Cleanaway. TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley said the campaign is an easy way to make a real difference in the lives of Tasmanians doing it tough. “Whether it’s a single container or a bag full of bottles, cans and cartons, every donation helps The Salvation Army raise important funds for the Red Shield Appeal,” he said. “It’s a great example of how small actions can add up to make a real difference for both our communities and our environment.” For regular updates on the campaign, go to The Salvation Army Tasmania Facebook page here. Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the launch event:

Meet Ron, an early riser and Salvation Army soldier and chaplain who has spent over 12 years greeting commuters every Friday morning at Central Station in Brisbane. What began as a daunting task facing crowds of thousands each morning has grown into a source of genuine connection. Through this street ministry, Ron has built rapport with people from all walks of life. He believes he is where the Lord wants him to be.

1. What is your current appointment, and what do you find most satisfying about it? My husband, Ashley, and I serve as Corps Officers at Brisbane City Temple (BCT). What I love most is seeing what God is doing in people’s lives – the beauty of seeing so many active in ministry, coming to us with fresh ideas of doing ministry in the city, corps people sharing their faith and praying with those in the community, and using their gifts to serve others. It’s also been a joy to see young people, including some with no Salvation Army background, finding a place to belong at BCT, embracing the band, songsters, and being so welcomed and encouraged by the wider corps family. I love the people; I love seeing traditional expressions of worship used in new ways, and I count it a privilege to have a front-row seat to God at work in this place. And the great cafés nearby are a nice bonus! 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? When I’m not at the corps, you’ll usually find me at home relaxing, maybe with a book, writing, drawing, or dreaming up ideas that may or may not be practical! I’ve written a couple of short stories and would love to write a novel one day. I also enjoy a good TV binge. My genres of choice are Hallmark movies, especially Christmas movies, and crime dramas such as Criminal Minds, NCIS, Bones and Midsomer Murders. I’m not entirely sure what that combination says about me! I love anything old – antiques, old houses (we had an old house in Sydney that we renovated before we became officers), history, and discovering the stories behind them. My favourite authors are Jane Austen and Daphne du Maurier, which probably explains a lot. I also love travelling, but my favourite thing is spending time with my family. When we’re all together, it’s wonderfully chaotic, full of laughter, and usually quite loud. Combine family and travel, and you’ve pretty much described my happy place. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? A favourite Christian song of mine for quite some time has been ‘There Will Be God’ by Joy Webb. I love the way it speaks into the world we’re living in right now – the pain, the doubt, the loneliness and the confusion. I think every one of us has experienced those things at some point. The message is beautifully simple: no matter what is happening in your life, no matter what is happening in the world, there will be hope, there will be love, there will be God. What greater message could we share? I also love the drama in the music. It somehow reaches down deep and gives voice to those emotions and the intensity of them. For me, the music and lyrics work together beautifully, creating space for the Holy Spirit to move. It’s a song that reminds me that God is present, God is at work, and God can always be trusted. 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? It was a very close race between Peter, Abigail and Barnabas, but Barnabas just won by a nose! I’d love to sit down with him over a chai latte and hear his stories of the early church. But more than that, I’d love to know how he became so good at seeing potential in people that others missed. He seemed to recognise what God could do in someone’s life before they could see it themselves. I’d love to learn how to become more like that. Barnabas reminds me that some of the most important ministry isn’t done in the spotlight. Often, it’s simply walking alongside people, encouraging them, believing in them, and helping them become all that God intends them to be. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? If God is calling you to officership, then my advice would be simple: do it. It won’t always be easy. There have certainly been some very tough seasons, but I can honestly say I have never regretted following God’s call. Don’t go into officership because of what you think you can do. Go because of what God can do in and through you. Time and again, I’ve found that He provides, He sustains, He places the right people around you, and He teaches you what it means to depend on Him. For me, being in the centre of God’s will is the best place to be, whether the season is difficult or joy-filled. There is nothing else I can imagine doing. So, if He’s calling you, trust Him and say yes. More information on Salvation Army officership can be found here.

Each week through 2026, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for the same territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (13-20 July) we pray for The Salvation Army in the India Northern Territory. Cadets of the India Northern Territory. This territory has 501 officers (395 active, 106 retired); 17 cadets; 3 Envoys; 172 corps; 59,740 senior soldiers; 2142 adherents; 3865 junior soldiers; 250 employees Commissioners Vanlalfela Chawnghlut and Khupchawng Ropari lead the territory. The work of the USA Territory includes: · Education · Health services · Food services · Support for elderly people. Praise points: · We praise God for the success of the Cadets’ Commissioning and Ordination ‘Keepers of the Covenant’ Session 2024–2026. · We praise God for the successful Home League rallies held throughout the territory. The India Northern Territory has almost 60,000 soldiers. Prayer Requests: · May the Lord grant wisdom, discernment, strength, good health and peace to our territorial leadership so that they may lead his people according to his will. · Pray for the Territorial Commander, Commissioner Vanlalfela, and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, Commissioner Ropari’s Retirement and Farewell service on 26 July 2026, as they prepare to retire on 31 July 2026. · Pray for the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) retention. · Pray for the new session ‘Rescued’ 2026-2028, beginning in June. · Pray for the 17 new cadets (8 couples and 1 single). · Pray for the Training College staff. · Pray for the good health of both retired and active officers. · Pray for new leadership: Territorial Commander Colonel Abraham Lincoln Mudda, and Territorial President of Women’s Ministries Colonel Mudda Mercy Manjula. And also for Lieut-Colonel Robert Masih and Lieut-Colonel Sunita Robert as they take up their responsibilities from 1 August 2026. · Pray for the spiritual growth of our people. To find out more about the India Northern Territory, click here. To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, and to download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here.