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With gratitude and celebration, we recognise the following officers for reaching a remarkable milestone and receiving their Long Service Order: 40 years Major Jenny Begent Commissioner Julie Campbell Commissioner Mark Campbell Major Ian Channell Lieut-Colonel Robyn Clinch Major Reno Elms Major Christine Pickens 35 years Major Beth Brooks Major Mark Brooks Major Warren Elliott Major Bruce Harmer Major Earle Ivers Major Karen Masters Major Andrew McKeown Major Heather McKeown Major Brendan Nottle Major Sandra Nottle Major Glenda Savage Major Judith Soeters Major Belinda Spicer Major Lynden Spicer Major David Rogerson Major Peter Walker We give thanks to God for their steadfast commitment and faithful service in His name over many years.

From: Pine Rivers Corps (Qld) Session: Keepers of the Covenant Appointment: Corps Officer – Pine Rivers (Qld) Silver Star recipients : Majors Topher Holland and San Holland (parents) This Sunday, Auxiliary-Lieutenants Alli and Liam Holland will be commissioned as Salvation Army officers, with the rank of lieutenant. The Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out ceremony for the couple will be held at Pine Rivers Corps in South East Queensland. They are being commissioned as part of the Keepers of the Covenant  session. The other seven members of this session were commissioned late last year*. This afternoon, we share the testimony of Auxiliary-Lieutenant Liam Holland.   Liam’s testimony First and foremost, I recognise that I am an imperfect man, an imperfect leader, and an imperfect follower of Jesus. Still, I recognise God’s grace and redemptive work in my life every day and knowing this, God continues to use me in ministry for Him. Over the past 18-plus years, I’ve been able to participate, partner and lead in ministry across varied roles. Through challenges, hurts, failures, and celebrations of where God has moved, I’ve experienced significant personal development and spiritual growth. During this time, I have spent more time in His Word, developing a closer, daily walking relationship with God. My ministry experiences and personal faith journey have grounded my understanding of God’s calling. I feel I am becoming more attuned to His leading, not only in my day-to-day walk, but also in the bigger picture of what He is asking of me. Over the last two to three years, I have been stretched in my trust, learning to surrender every part of my life to Him, and each day I discover there is still more to surrender. I’ve always believed that God calls me to serve and make disciples wherever I find myself, the workplace, church teams, community spaces, and my local neighbourhood.  I have sought to follow Him in this, and more recently, I have sensed a shift, a call to step out further in His leading, much like Isaiah’s call to “stretch out your tent, make room, lengthen the ropes, and strengthen the pegs”. As I’ve prayed and considered the reasons why not, I have been drawn to 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” When He calls, He does the work through me as a willing participant. I have felt God say, “Give yourself fully to this. Surrender it all to Me. Step into officership, not as part of your life, but as your life, set apart for My purpose.” This was further confirmed when my wife, Alli, and I realised we had both heard God say, “Step out into this.” So, I hold to the hope we profess (Hebrews 10:23). I pursue officership not out of ambition, but out of obedience, trusting not in my strength, but in His faithfulness. Covenant Day The Hollands will have their Covenant Day tomorrow (Saturday 2pm) at Pine Rivers Corps. “Covenant Day is a sacred occasion when each cadet signs their Officers Covenant before God,” said Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College. “In this moment, cadets are making a sacred agreement with God – they are accepting God’s call on their life, they are accepting a life of sacred service as a minister of the gospel in The Salvation Army.” Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas will officiate at both Covenant Day and the Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out ceremonies over the weekend. *READ MORE: To read last year’s Commissioning reports, click here   and here

The Salvation Army has released a new international positional statement (IPS) reaffirming its strong commitment to religious freedom. Specifically, religious freedom is positioned by The Salvation Army as being a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of healthy, inclusive societies. Approved by The General’s Council in November 2025, the statement emphasises that every person has the right to choose, practise, change and express their religious beliefs without fear of coercion, discrimination or persecution.  Rooted in biblical principles and aligned with international human rights standards, including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the statement highlights religious freedom as essential to human dignity, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. Serving in more than 130 countries, The Salvation Army works across diverse cultural and religious contexts. The statement underscores the movement’s commitment to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting human need without discrimination, and to engaging with people of all faiths with wisdom, humility, compassion and respect. “The Salvation Army believes all people are created in the image of God,” the statement says, “and therefore possess intrinsic and equal value ( Genesis 1:26-27 ). This provides the foundational understanding of human dignity for The Salvation Army that all people should be treated with respect and their dignity upheld without any conditions attached, such as religious beliefs.” The Salvation Army also calls on Salvationists worldwide to learn about religious freedom, pray for those facing persecution, foster interfaith cooperation and advocate for the protection of this vital freedom at local, national and international levels. The full  I nternational Positional Statement on Religious Freedom  is available through The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters. Go to the IHQ website on International Positional Statements here

The Salvation Army has released an updated International Positional Statement on the Use of Power, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that power is exercised with love, justice and mutual respect.  The statement recognises that power, whether economic, political, social, spiritual or personal, can shape individuals, communities and institutions for good when used responsibly. At the same time, the movement warns that the misuse of power can lead to manipulation, exploitation and harm, and strongly opposes any use of power that is oppressive, corrupt or that denies essential human rights.  Grounded in Christian teaching, the updated position emphasises that power itself is neither inherently good nor evil; rather, its character is defined by the purposes it serves and the way it is exercised. The statement highlights the example of Jesus, whose leadership demonstrated humility and service: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” ( Mark 10:43 ).  The statement also acknowledges The Salvation Army’s historical influence in society and the importance of exercising that influence with integrity, humility and accountability. It calls for power to be used not as a tool of control, but as a means of empowering others and advancing justice.  Through the updated position, The Salvation Army commits to modelling ethical leadership within its own structures, speaking out against abuses of power and working alongside partners to promote human dignity, accountability and social justice worldwide.  Go to the IHQ website on International Positional Statements 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 ( 9-15 March )   we pray for the Uganda Territory.   Colonels Chatonda and Joyce Theu lead the territory.   This Uganda Territory has 181 officers (146 active, 35 retired); 16 cadets; 99 corps; 37 outposts; 15,337 senior soldiers; 751 adherents; 8,212 junior soldiers; 58 employees.   The work of the region includes: ·  Community centres (1500 people supported with counselling in 2024) ·  Vocational training ·  Modern slavery and human trafficking response Praise points:  ·    We are thankful to God for our territorial thanksgiving, where we increased by 35 per cent compared to 2024. We have hope that we shall continue growing in giving. ·    We praise his name for the Territorial Home League Helping Hand Rally 2025, which was successful in both attendance and giving. ·    The visit General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham 18-24 February 2026. The recent visit of General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham. Prayer Requests: ·    Pray for the physical wellness of both active and retired officers and their families. ·    Pray for financial sustainability; that all activities according to our annual calendar of events may be done successfully. ·    Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit leading to spiritual awakening and growth in the territory. ·    Pray for the Territorial Junior Miss and Young Women Rally 8-9 August 2026 – for creativity and spiritual empowerment. ·    Pray for the Territorial Home League Helping Hand Rally on 5 September 2026. To find out more about the Uganda Territory, click here . To find out more about The Salvation Army’s prayer focus, click here . To download the 2026 prayer schedule, click here .

Salvos Online  continues a new series of unexpected and decidedly prescriptive teachings that General William Booth gave to his soldiers 124 years ago, excerpting the 1902 publication  Letters to Salvationists on Religion for Every Day (volume 1). Over the next few months, we will publish General Booth’s thoughts on everyday topics, including sickness and bereavement, sleep, hygiene, life challenges, poverty, the Bible and the Sabbath, industrial relations, food and drink and more.   “The Army uniform is a preacher. It makes people think about God and Godliness. If it is right for the Salvationist to proclaim Salvation from sin and separation from the world, with his tongue, it cannot be wrong for him to declare it by his dress.” Wearing your heart on your sleeve BY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH Salvation Army co-founder (The article below is the original transcript of how General Booth wrote it, with no editing or alterations by the Salvos Online team.)   My dear comrades, let us discuss clothing.   Man has been described by someone as a clothes-wearing animal. It could not be intended, by that expression, that he is the only animal that wears Clothes, for there are few creatures that walk the earth around him, or dwell in the sea beneath him, that are not as usefully and as becomingly clad as he is – most of them much more so.   Still, he is the only creature on this planet who has any choice in the character of his outer covering, or in the manner of putting it on and taking it off, which things I suppose, taken together, do constitute a Clothes-wearer in the sense that animals generally are not.   Clothes may, from their all but universal use, be considered as an absolute necessity to our race. There are few people, even of those nations counted most barbarous, that do not affect some kind of apparel, however simple and crude it may be. The purposes served by the Clothes-wearing habit are of a very varied character.   To begin with:   Clothes may be regarded as a mark of civilisation. The fact that any tribe, of any race, found in any part of the globe, not wearing Clothes, is considered to be a proof of their savage state, pure and simple. One of the first things by which converts to civilisation express the change that has transpired, whether in the forests of Africa, the jungles of India, or elsewhere, is to get into some form or other of dress.   Indeed, many of these Aborigines measure the height to which they have risen in the scale of civilisation, by the quantity and costliness, to say nothing of the ridiculous fashions, of the Clothes they are able to carry about with them.   Something of the same kind often follows the Salvation of the lowest and most vicious outcasts. One of the immediate results of their coming to Christ is their appearance in decent clothing. It is wonderful, too, how the most degraded can and do fix themselves up within a few hours. Literally, they are soon found, like the man in the Gospel, “Sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in their right mind.”   Clothes safeguard and promote proper feelings of decency. They are essential to modesty and chastity, in the present condition of human life. Of course, Clothes can be so shaped, and so worn, and, alas! they often are, as to have the very opposite effect. The tendency of a good deal of dressing, in these days, is, beyond question, strongly in that direction.   A great many of the fashions that prevail in what is known as ‘society’, are, I think, more suggestive of indecent thoughts and feelings than is the semi-nudity of the native races that range the trackless forests of Darkest Africa, or of the lower castes who dwell in the cities and villages of India.   Whether or not Clothes were worn before the Fall is a controverted question, upon which I will not enter; but if they were not instituted before that event, they became a necessity for the maintenance [of] pure feelings immediately afterwards.   Clothes serve as a protection from the consequences of those changes in the weather , which are so unfavourable to health and vigour. The animals, as a rule, are made for one climate only; hence, one kind of dress, with the little variation required by the succession of the seasons, serves their purpose.   But, having to pass from country to country, man needs many changes of covering. If he is to live, in any reasonable comfort, under the burning suns of the tropics at one time; on the fringes of the North Pole at another; and midway between them both at another, he must be able to change and adapt his outer garments to each.   Clothes are useful for signifying social distinctions. There are differences in the positions, duties, and powers of mankind. Some object to these differences and contend that all men ought to be on one level. But at present it is not so. Indeed, it is just the reverse, and society being constituted with these distinctions, it seems to be very desirable that we should, with the least possible trouble, be able to discover what the position and condition of those around us may be. Clothes are useful for this purpose.   They serve: (a) To mark out the caste or position of individuals. You can form some opinion as to the position, occupation, and general circumstances of those you meet, but do not know, by the Clothes they wear. This is useful, and, while it is often abused, tends to maintain the proper order and distinctions which are necessary for the conduct of business and the relations between the sexes.   (b) Clothes serve to distinguish the servant from his master, the maid from her mistress, one trade from another, and mark out those placed in lawful authority over us. You do not want anyone to instruct you whether a man is a policeman, a soldier, a sailor, or a Salvation Army Officer; and when you go into a Court of Justice, neither friend nor usher is needed to tell you which is the Counsel, or which is the Judge. Their Clothes impart the information. Just so, Clothes mark out the rank of Officers in the Armies and Navies of the world, Officials engaged in State functions, and other persons of distinguished condition.   Salvation Army uniform Salvationists are Clothes-wearers. We are great at Clothes: indeed, we have a style of dress that we call uniform, which, in style and appearance, is all our own. We reckon that this dress saves us from certain serious evils, and serves several very useful purposes.   Uniform is a public witness to our Lord, an avowal of our devotion to His cause, and of our willingness that all the world should know the fact.   It is an open declaration of the renunciation of evil and of our determination to be out and out for God, and to live and die for the Salvation of men.   Uniform makes opportunities for usefulness. By it, men can recognise the Salvationist as the servant and messenger of God, and are often led to converse with him. Army soldiers in full uniform at the turn of the 19th century. If the uniform does occasionally lead those who hate religion to indulge in ridicule, it will, at the same time, afford the wearer an opportunity of proclaiming to them the mercy of God through Jesus Christ. But necessary and useful as the Clothes-wearing habit may be, like other things that are good in themselves, it can be so far abused as to be the means of doing much harm.   This is just what has happened; and the material, shape, and general character of Clothes have become sources of temptation to a large part of the human race. Indeed, they can be counted on as among the most fruitful causes of evil with which poor human nature has to battle.   For instance, Clothes may easily become the means of fostering and feeding the pride and vanity of the human heart. Introduced in consequence of the sin of our first parents, and on that account to be regarded as being really marks of disgrace, it is curious to contemplate the extent to which they have come to be gloried in by their posterity. It is not probable that Clothes were originally intended to disfigure or be out of harmony with the human form. On the contrary, it is perfectly natural to suppose the opposite. But that in the present day they should have come to foster the vanity, occupy the time, and involve the foolish expenditure of energy and money that we see around us, is one of the most convincing evidences the human race affords of the fact, that man is, indeed, a fallen creature.   What scandalous waste and misery result, for instance, from the ambitious rage of one set of people to be as finely dressed, or, if possible, more finely dressed, than another! What a mockery and a farce, in the eyes of the Angels, the religion of many professing Christians must appear, when they are seen in their places of worship bedizened with every conceivable form of worldly fashion, ostensibly worshipping the God who has pronounced some of His most biting denunciations upon their adornments!   “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet ... The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers ... The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the veils ...   “And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well-set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.”   The Army uniform saves those who adopt it from all this, while, at the same time, it enables them to make a good and modest appearance at an immeasurably less cost than the fashionable world around them.   The Army uniform is a preacher. It makes people think about God and Godliness. If it is right for the Salvationist to proclaim Salvation from sin and separation from the world, with his tongue, it cannot be wrong for him to declare it by his dress. NEXT WEEK: General William Booth’s thoughts on food and drink. *This series has been compiled by Barry Gittins, The Salvation Army Australia Museum Specialist (Melbourne)

From: Pine Rivers Corps (Qld) Session: Keepers of the Covenant Appointment: Corps Officer – Pine Rivers (Qld) Silver Star recipients : Lyn Hannah (Alli’s mother) This Sunday, Auxiliary-Lieutenants Alli and Liam Holland will be commissioned as Salvation Army officers, with the rank of lieutenant. The Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out ceremony for the couple will be held at Pine Rivers Corps in South East Queensland. They are being commissioned as part of the Keepers of the Covenant session. The other seven members of this session were commissioned late last year*. This morning, we share the testimony of Auxiliary-Lieutenant Alli Holland.   Alli’s testimony Over the past 12 months, I have intentionally stepped out in faith and consistently experienced God’s faithfulness. During this time, my relationship with God has deepened in a profound way. My relationship with Him is like oxygen; essential, life-giving, and woven into every part of who I am, the decisions I make, and how I approach life and ministry. Through Scripture, worship, and community, I have sensed the Holy Spirit actively speaking, leading, and shaping my heart for His Kingdom. Being stretched and challenged has strengthened my faith and clarified God’s calling on my life. Personally, I have grown in confidence and clarity. This God has shown me that my story, experiences, and even vulnerabilities are ways God connects me with others. Nothing is ever wasted, and I love that. So today I am praying the same words William Himes wrote: All that I am, all I can be, All that I have, all that is me, 
Accept and use, Lord, as You would choose, Lord,
Right now, today. Take every passion, every skill,
 Take all my dreams and bend them to Your will;
 My all I give, Lord; for You I’ll live, Lord, 
Come what may.” Throughout this past year, I have sensed God gently speaking to my heart and calling me toward commissioned officership. This call has grown steadily through prayer, Scripture, worship, community, and the affirmation of trusted leaders and friends in my life. As I say yes, I do so, trusting the same God of my life that promised to direct my steps and give me hope and a future when I was 18 years old. What draws me to officership is a desire to serve God wherever He calls, in shepherding, discipling, and walking with people through both brokenness and hope. I feel particularly called to create spaces of belonging, healing, and growth through relational, creative, and Spirit-led ministry. I step forward in faith with humility, teachability, and trust, confident that the God who has been faithful will continue to guide and sustain me as I say ‘yes’ to this next season. The Hollands will have their Covenant Day tomorrow (Saturday 2pm) at Pine Rivers Corps. “Covenant Day is a sacred occasion when each cadet signs their Officers Covenant before God,” said Kylie Herring, Leader of Officer Formation at Eva Burrows College. “In this moment, cadets are making a sacred agreement with God – they are accepting God’s call on their life, they are accepting a life of sacred service as a minister of the gospel in The Salvation Army.” Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas will officiate at both Covenant Day and the Commissioning, Ordination and Sending Out ceremonies over the weekend. *READ MORE: To read last year’s Commissioning reports, click here and here

General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham encouraged Salvationists across Uganda. BY IHQ COMMUNICATIONS During a six-day visit from 18-23 February 2026, international leaders of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham (World President of Women’s Ministries), brought encouragement and inspiration to Salvationists throughout Uganda. Hosted by Territorial Leaders Colonels Chatonda and Joyce Theu, the trip included a series of gatherings in Kampala and Mbale. Officers, soldiers, young people and community members from across Uganda came together for worship, teaching and fellowship. Encouraging future leaders The visit began with a meeting at the Officers’ Training College, where cadets preparing for ministry were encouraged to remain faithful to God’s calling. Addressing the cadets, the General reminded them: “God continues to call ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for his Kingdom.” Celebrating women in ministry In Mbale, hundreds attended ministry rallies celebrating the life and mission of The Salvation Army in Uganda. A Women’s Ministries rally brought together 400 women, where Commissioner Bronwyn affirmed the important role women play in ministry and community transformation. A highlight of the event was the crowning of the Helping Hand Queen Mother, Ms Nafula Violet of Kampala Corps, who was recognised for her dedication and service. During a time of prayer and commitment, many women came forward to the mercy seat. General Buckingham presents Nafula Violet with her recognition award. Calling men to faithful leadership The Men’s Fellowship gathering drew participants for worship, testimony and teaching. The General challenged men to lead their families and communities with integrity and faith, with a number of men responding at the mercy seat. Young people inspired for mission The younger generation was also central to the visit. An energetic youth rally attended by young people from across the country included worship and an interactive discussion with the international leaders. The General encouraged them to remain bold in their faith and mission. Powerful worship and commitment A highlight of the visit was the Sunday morning meeting, featuring music from the territorial band and testimonies from cadets. Following the General’s message on holy living and dedication to God’s work, many people came forward to the mercy seat. Strengthening mission An officers council attended by active and retired officers brought the visit to a close, with prayer and reflection on the continued growth of the Army’s mission in Uganda. Reflecting on the presence of the international leaders in Uganda, Territorial Commander Colonel Chatonda Theu said it had brought great encouragement to the territory, strengthening unity and renewing commitment to serve God and communities faithfully. For many Salvationists, the visit was a reminder that the mission of The Salvation Army in Uganda is part of a global movement dedicated to sharing the gospel and transforming lives. For more photos from the Uganda visit, click on the arrow below:   For the full version of this story, click here. READ MORE:   Pray for Uganda Territory

Corps Officer Major Kate Young, Lynette Luxford, Molly Young, Corps Officer Major Colin Young, Amy Young, Loretta Colla and Allan Starr. BY LAUREN MARTIN   Fifteen years ago, Loretta Colla’s son noticed an advertisement in the local paper of their town, Orange, in western New South Wales. It was inviting any children wanting to learn a brass instrument to join a free Salvation Army group called ‘Just Brass’. That marked the beginning of the Colla family’s musical journey to Jesus.   “My son was about eight,” remembers Loretta. “He was one of the original kids … he loved it.”   She remembers thinking that everyone at Orange Salvos was just lovely, and that they were doing such a great thing for the kids of the town by teaching them brass instruments.   “My family just got drawn in one by one,” she says. “We were taking the kids to Just Brass, and they looked at my husband, who’s a fairly tall fellow, and said, ‘You’re playing the tuba,’ and he said, ‘Oh, am I?’ So, they started teaching him alongside the kids!   “He’s part of the Salvos’ band now.”   When Loretta’s daughter joined Just Brass (she started on the baritone and then moved on to the euphonium), she told her parents that she’d like to attend Orange Corps on a Sunday for the meeting.   “We were all from a Catholic background,” says Loretta. “So, we just went one Sunday, and it was lovely.”   Next, Loretta’s youngest child started playing the cornet, and now four family members were playing brass.   With the entire family having experienced Just Brass and getting involved in music through The Salvation Army, Loretta started to wonder if it was ‘her turn’.   “I sort of take in the message and the word of God more from the music than the Scripture. I really like the hymns,” she says.   Her husband had become interested in playing in groups and pointed out that to form a quintet, the family would need a tenor-horn player. “So, I decided to take up the tenor horn!” says Loretta.   For Loretta, becoming a soldier wasn’t a big step. She was already deeply involved in corps life, not just in the band but also through volunteering and helping out with SAL Connect, The Salvation Army’s emergency support service for community members struggling to get by. Becoming a soldier at Orange Corps was the natural next step after years of feeling loved and appreciated as a corps member.   On the day of her enrolment, Loretta remembers feeling a sense of pride. “I just felt really proud that I had gone through that journey and could be part of The Salvation Army,” she says.   For fellow soldier Allan Starr, soldiership at Orange Corps was a natural step once he learned about the traditions and origins of The Salvation Army after joining the corps about a year ago.   “My view is if you go to a place, you commit to a place, so it was just a natural step to go with the tradition and procedures that I’d inherited and to become a soldier.”   He says joining The Salvation Army has enabled him to serve God in a way he feels called to, and he enjoys helping out at the corps and on Sundays.   “Interestingly, my mum was brought up in The Salvation Army by her parents, and I have a book from 1926 when my grandfather was gifted a book by the Salvos … so I’ve come full circle in a sense!”   Others who were enrolled at Orange Corps in February were Lynette Luxford, Molly Young and Amy Young.   Adherents enrolled at Forbes/Parkes Corps Forbes/Parkes Corps enrolled four new adherents on 15 February (from left) Corps Leader Wendy Broome with new adherents Rex Taylor, Rachel Taylor, Lyn Simmonds and Barry White; and Corps Leader Judy Brown. At nearby Forbes/Parkes Corps, Corp Leaders Wendy Broome and Judy Brown were thrilled to enrol four adherents – Rex Taylor, Rachel Taylor, Lyn Simmonds and Barry White – on Sunday 15 February.   Wendy Broome said the meeting was centred on discipleship as the corps launched ‘The Way’ initiative, the Australia Territory’s spiritual focus for the years ahead.   “To add to the special day, we were thrilled to enrol four new adherents to our corps family. These people have been attending and active in the corps for a few months and asked to become official members. We praise God ... that is now eight new adherents in eight months. Exciting!

Auxiliary-Lieutenant Sandra Mortimer from Katherine Corps offering breakfast at an evacuation centre in the Top End region of Australia. Image: Facebook BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE With significant flooding in the Northern Territory and now wet weather and flooding extending into parts of Queensland, The Salvation Army has been responding to the needs of emergency crews and evacuees. The Salvation Army is active at two evacuation centres in Darwin, with Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) volunteers from Queensland and Western Australia having been deployed to the Top End region to assist. SAES volunteers Heather, Kris, Angela and Julie from WA, who have flown to Darwin to assist teams on the ground. Image: Facebook In Katherine, 12 staff and volunteers from Katherine Corps, including Rural and Remote Chaplains Majors Niall and Michelle Gibson and personnel from Social Mission, are coordinating food and refreshments at two evacuation centres, with a third, which is specific to evacuees with medical needs, being coordinated separately. Katherine Corps Officer Auxiliary-Lieutenant Sandra Mortimer says multiple teams from the Katherine site will be deployed to the two evacuation centres until Friday. Sandra said there was a great collaborative effort across multiple organisations, churches and community groups. She said community members were also very cooperative and were going “out of their way” to assist neighbours in need. Sandra said the work the corps normally did to assist those sleeping rough, known as “long-grass sleepers” was continuing as at-risk community members had been moved into shelter centres where TSA was present. “We've been able to see our community and hang out with our community a bit while we've been serving the food that's been provided,” Sandra said. Sandra said many of the Salvos' own volunteers and staff had had their own homes inundated, with members of the corps isolated, having spent days without power. She said many in the community were very pleased to see familiar faces from The Salvation Army assisting. She said the past few nights, food had been flown in from Darwin. “The mood has been very, very cooperative,” Sandra said. “People coming from all different organisations ending up trying to make teas and coffee together and refrigerate, serve and store food.” Another evacuation centre has been activated in Bundaberg, Queensland, with SAES volunteers from the local corps assisting the local community with food and refreshments.   While water levels in Katherine are again on the rise with further rainfall, in Bundaberg, about 200 additional residents evacuated overnight as homes and businesses were inundated. Images supplied from Darwin Corps, Katherine Corps and Bundaberg Corps.

To read the Brian’s Promoted to Glory notice and appointment history, click here

The Salvation Army’s Third Place in Subiaco (Perth, WA) offers a safe place for those doing it tough. The Assertive Outreach Team and Subiaco Engagement and Assessment Team partner with the local council and other service providers to offer assistance to everyone who enters the door, bringing hope to those in the community who are experiencing homelessness.