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Putting a smile on the faces of children at Christmas is what it's all about. The Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Drive is the oldest annual event of its kind in Australia. Since its inception 46 years ago, the Newcastle toy run has been donating gifts for those who otherwise might miss out on Christmas. The Salvation Army is immensely grateful for the generous support provided by this iconic event and the many thousands of riders who take part. To donate or get help, visit salvationarmy.org.au/christmas

BY LERISSE SMITH The striking new Warrnambool Salvation Army Worship and Community Centre has officially been opened, bringing much excitement to the local community. The development of the contemporary premises in Mortlake Rd, spanning 1320 square metres with its eye-catching wall of glass and angular shaping at the front, captured the attention of local community members who eagerly anticipated its completion. “It’s been exciting for the neighbourhood,” said Major Sally-Anne Allchin, Warrnambool Corps Officer. “We’ve had a lot of people just walking in and marvelling at what they have seen. The builder is to be congratulated on his attention to detail. There has been a lot of interest … it’s a very beautiful spot. Original gum trees are still out the front. On a recent Sunday, while we were having morning tea, we were blessed to watch a koala walk past and climb one of the gum trees. “The worship and community centre is on a main arterial into town, and we just feel really blessed to be in a beautiful facility that’s been purpose-built.” The journey leading up to the official opening by Colonel Winsome Merrett on 18 November has been filled with both sentimentality and a priority of ensuring community members feel welcomed and neighbours’ voices are heard. Six weeks before staff and the congregation moved into the new building, a team of 16 people walked around their extended neighbourhood, praying and dropping postcards into letterboxes to let people know they were coming to the area. The neighbours whose properties backed onto the new premises were personally invited in for a tour and the opportunity to ask any questions about the site. “That was their opportunity to be reassured that we are being common sense about what we’re doing here and that we want them to feel confident about who we are. We want them to feel confident that their future neighbours are going to be safe neighbours as well,” Sally-Anne said. The church’s former location in Lava St for 49 years has not been forgotten, with a stained-glass window from the old building being a special feature in the new one. The decision to move came after the Lava St site was no longer fit for purpose, nor was it user-friendly for anyone with mobility issues or a pram. Initial plans were to renovate. Following costings, it was decided the better option was to relocate. A special church service was held to commemorate the history of the Lava St building before its doors were closed. “Worship was intentionally God-focused,” Sally-Anne said. “[It was] followed by a morning tea where we had a thank-you cake. And while the cake was being cut and handed around, we asked people to share their stories of why they were thankful for their experiences [at Lava St] and to share experiences of their time in the current building. “We then asked people to walk out the doors for the last time; long-standing soldiers of the corps carried out the corps flag and Bible. A prayer was offered by Major Brett [Allchin] before the doors were closed for the last time.” Many people came for that last service to share their happy and fondest memories of times spent at the church and to ensure they were there for the final one. The corps then had different people come for the first service at the new building. “It was a reflection of firstly, curiosity, and secondly, the part that we play either in the lives of people or the potential part that we’re going to play in the lives of people,” Sally-Anne said. “Following years of fundraising, the proceeds from the sale of the Lava St site in April last year, plus a bequest from the Bence brothers and the additional land at the rear of the new site, have meant we have been able to move in with no loan.” The building features not only the church, a large entrance foyer, and multiple rooms of varying sizes and purposes but also office spaces that accommodate Salvos Housing Victoria, homelessness services, and Doorways emergency relief and financial counselling. The corps’ Thrift Shop remains in the middle of the town. “The two brothers bequeathed their will to The Salvation Army Warrnambool building project because their mother was supported and assisted by the local Warrnambool Corps when she was 18 years old,” Brett said. “This assistance so transformed her life that her sons, some 80 years later, gratefully gave all that they had to assist the local mission of the Warrnambool Corps.” The generosity of the brothers’ gift and its impact on the local community cannot be understated. Sally-Anne recalled how community members walked inside the door on the first Sunday service at the new premises that had not been before at church. “We had some folks come that haven’t attended a church for decades, and we don’t even know how they knew that it was our first Sunday,” she said. “There was a family that came who lived in the neighbourhood and had been watching the church build grow, and they came to church on the Sunday. The lady then came with a little boy to playgroup the next morning. There was another lady who lives in the neighbourhood who came in expecting to see the thrift shop here, and it wasn't, but she came and joined us for playgroup as well.” Looking to the future, Sally-Anne said she had a vision for social housing to be built on the new premises through the Victoria Government’s Big Build program, as the land was formerly an indoor tennis centre, and space was available for such a project at the rear of the building. The proposal would be 21 townhouses containing one, two and three-bedroom dwellings for those on the social housing list who met the requirements, assuring a safe neighbourhood for all. The aim would be to provide the occupants a ‘forever home’. “I had this vision not to sell the land to cover costs, but to build social housing and through some processes, Housing Victoria came down, had a look and saw how big the land was that we had,” she said. “There’s such a desperate need. There were people sleeping in cars, at the beach, in tents and caravans who were forced to move on from December 1 due to the influx of holidaymakers [at this time of year].” Community is at the heart of the new site for Sally and Brett as The Salvation Army’s leaders in Warrnambool. “This building was designed to build community,” Brett said. “Built so that people can feel that they are welcome to enter this space. It is as much a community meeting space as it is a place of hope and goodness, offering a practical Christian response to others. Designed with the ability to realise future possibilities in assisting others, and future-proofed with technology.” To watch a video of the official opening, go to the ‘Warrnambool Salvos’ Facebook page and scroll down to the post on 18 November.

The Salvation Army Australia Annual Report for 2023 has been released and is available to read online. The report commemorates 140 years of The Salvation Army Social Services in Australia and celebrates the impact that The Salvation Army has been able to make. The stories and stats contained in the report emphasise that this impact is made possible due to the dedication of Army personnel and the generosity of the Australian public, corporate partners, donors and supporters. The report also highlights The Salvation Army's response to significantly increased need within the communities it serves across Australia and lives transformed through this work. “The increased need of people highlights the important impact of our mission and ministry in the 2022/23 financial year,” said Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas. “We believe in good, and our aim is to share that goodness in all of our work as we seek to transform Australia, one life at a time, with the love of Jesus.” This report includes financial reports for the Australia Territory during the 2022-23 financial year. The report can be viewed by clicking here or pasting this link into your browser: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us/news-and-stories/publications-and-resources/annual-report-2023/

Salvation Army prison chaplains around Australia regularly visit men’s and women’s prisons to talk with inmates, run multi-faith chapel services and provide encouragement, support and a listening ear. They also regularly deliver copies of Salvos Magazine and, at special times of the year such as Christmas, give out gift hampers, toiletry packs and small gifts. Major Alison Platt is a Salvation Army officer and prison chaplain based in Victoria. Her role includes running Positive Lifestyle Programs in three settings, assisting women preparing for release from prison with vouchers and wraparound support for housing and rehabilitation, sitting with women to watch online funerals of their loved ones, comforting women who miss their children and posting birthday gifts to these children. After chapel services, Alison also sits with the women to play board games, bead necklaces and have deep discussions. They also drink the popular caramel coffee together. “It is a space away from the harshness of jail,” she says. “I find this ministry very rewarding as I can meet women at times when they really need compassion and care. It’s a privilege to listen and to do what I can to help. It’s an opportunity to find a safe space and show the women that they are worthy of love. To help them forgive themselves. To share Jesus’ love with them in a real way.” Alison recently received the letter below from a woman who received a Salvos Christmas gift hamper while she was in prison: Life in jail is harder than you think. It’s not just the lack of freedom, but so much more. Trauma goes on, even when you are an inmate. With so many people there are bound to be issues. There was only one day that changed the whole mood in the jail. The wave of gratitude, happiness and the ripple of excitement could literally be felt when we received our Christmas hampers! Every single inmate received a hamper, and the feeling of being thought about by strangers who took time to put the hampers together, is priceless. We only have access to limited toiletries which are not the best quality. Our sense of smell is fine-tuned as we are not allowed perfume. So, when staff wear perfume or aftershave, we notice it more. Getting handmade soaps which were scented is like winning the lottery. Having freshly washed hair or body wash that leaves a trail of flower scents is amazing. You don’t realise how much joy it brings to us having a calendar, new shampoos, a new toothbrush, a comb or brush, skin care, chocolates, hair ties, socks and all the other items in our hampers. Not every person has supportive family and friends, so getting a Christmas gift such as the hamper is the only thing they get and believe me, it is cherished. There is a memory I will hold forever of an inmate who cried when she got her hamper. I asked her why she was so upset, and she told me her life had been spent in the foster system, youth justice and now adult corrections. This was the first Christmas present she had received in her 19 years. So, please remember that what you are doing for inmates is so important to us and we are so grateful for your time and compassion. It makes us feel a little bit more human in a very harsh environment. So thanks for making us all smile at least for one day.

BY DEAN SIMPSON It’s 7am, and a familiar squawk is heard from the back door. It’s Sebastian. He wants breakfast. Sebastian is a wild red and green king parrot. Over the past three years, he has become a persistent yet entertaining member of our family. It all started on Christmas Day 2021, when my teenage son, Jayden, noticed a young king parrot sitting on the fence while we ate Christmas lunch on our back deck. Jayden breeds birds – mainly budgies, finches and quails – and has several aviaries in our backyard, so it was no surprise that he noticed the parrot. The next day, Boxing Day, the parrot was there again. And the next. A ritual began, with the parrot arriving each morning, sitting on the fence and watching Jayden tend to his aviaries. Jayden, an extremely patient lad, was determined to befriend this inquisitive parrot and started calling him Sebastian. I was sceptical at first because Sebastian, although curious, was very timid and flew off if anyone walked towards him. But my son persisted. He would gently talk to Sebastian and began offering him sunflower seeds out of the palm of his hand. It was common to see Jayden standing near the fence for up to 30 minutes with his arms outstretched. Over time, Sebastian got braver and would inch closer until, one day, it happened. Sebastian bravely shuffled close enough to strain his neck and grab a few seeds from Jayden before flying off. It was around Christmas time two years ago that Sebastian started flying straight down to Jayden, sitting on his hand and devouring the seeds. Jayden’s patience over those first 12 months had been rewarded. Fast forward to this Christmas season, and Sebastian now trusts every member of our family. We look forward to his morning visits at the back door when he announces himself with a hearty “Raaawk!” or a shrill whistle. And sometimes, at other times of the day, he’ll ‘drop by’ for a chat – even sitting on my laptop while I work on the back deck. Until recently, I thought Sebastian was getting the best deal with his daily handful of sunflower seeds. But it dawned on me that Sebastian has also impacted our family in a positive way. In the hurly-burly of daily life and its busyness, especially at this time of year with all the distractions and challenges of the festive season, Sebastian, one of God’s beautiful creations, has taught us a lesson in slowing down and enjoying the simple things in life as we spend time with him, feed him seed and enjoy his quirky mannerisms. In the Bible, the Psalmist says, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7). Our God is a patient God and wants to produce patience in us to slow us down and show us how to trust in him. It’s amazing how a little bird has epitomised that Bible verse. Patience and stillness were required to form a trusting bond with Sebastian, and the rewards came. We call him the ‘Christmas gift’ that keeps on giving. When he turns up, we are forced to stop what we’re doing and spend some time with him before he flies off again. This Christmas season, let me encourage you to take time to be still, breathe and dwell on the simple things in life. And in these moments, may there be time to dwell on God’s ‘Christmas gift’ to humanity – Jesus.

BY LAUREN MARTIN If you’re doing any baking this festive season, you might like to consider throwing Major Cathryn Williamson’s new cookbook into the mix. One of The Salvation Army’s best-known bakers, Cathryn has released a new cookbook – Special Occasion Treats. This book is the fourth in her successful ‘2 Thumbs Up’ series, the first three being Brilliant Biscuits, Sensational Slices and Cakes Loaves and Muffins. Proceeds from Special Occasion Treats will go towards The Salvation Army’s ‘Making it Happen’ women’s ministry fundraising appeal, as well as the work of The Salvation Army with Ukrainian children. Cathryn, the Corps Officer at Grafton/Maclean in northern NSW with her husband Mark, said putting together this newest edition had taken her longer than the other three books combined. “There was COVID, and a bit of a lack of motivation,” she admitted, explaining that other factors like illness in the family and her need to have foot surgery also meant an extended break out of the kitchen. But now that the book has finally been released, Cathryn says she can’t rule out doing another; however, the next edition may be aimed at a younger audience. “The next one might be a kids’ cooking book to go along with the Kids in the Kitchen program. And it will have little Bible devotionals along with the recipes,” she said. Cathryn developed the Kids in the Kitchen program in 2017 when she was the corps officer at Cowra (NSW). It is now a program many corps across the territory use in their children’s ministry and outreach to local communities. Cathryn said it was a family affair making Special Occasion Treats. Her mother contributed the Hot Cross Buns recipe (“because I’m not mucking around with yeast!” laughed Cathryn), and her father designed and printed the book. The book contains detailed recipes and some quick, easy treats – like the Christmas Nougat in which you simply melt white chocolate melts in the microwave, add marshmallows and then stir through nuts and cranberries. “Probably the most involved is the Burger Cupcake – it looks like a burger,” said Cathryn. “The Portuguese Egg Tarts were difficult. I tried so many different variations to get one that would work. We have had Portuguese tarts in Macau, so we were very picky in wanting to get it right.” Copies are $10. To order, email Cathryn at: two.thumbs.up@hotmail.com

BY LAUREN MARTIN The Salvation Army in the Hunter region is celebrating 35 years of partnering with Newcastle Permanent to make Christmas wishes come true for local families who are ‘doing it tough’. The Newcastle Permanent toy drive has donated tens of thousands of toys over the past 35 years, with locals dropping toys to their branches across the Hunter and regional NSW. This year heralds a new chapter, with Greater Bank joining as a collection point for the toy drive following the merger of the two banks under the banner of NGM Group in March 2023, which will help assist more families across NSW and into south-east Queensland. Linda Stanborough is a Broker Business Development Manager for the Group, who has been involved for many years with this drive and has supported The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal since she was a kid. “I remember picking out toys when I was little and the feeling it gave me to know that I could make someone else happy, and I’ve continued this with my own family,” she said. “When the opportunity came up to volunteer through work, I jumped at the chance to make more of a difference.” She says she loves sorting through all the donations into age ranges and packing them up for delivery to the Salvos. “I love Christmas and the magical feel it has, especially for children, and it’s heartbreaking to think that a child may believe they are not special or deserving of a gift from Santa. It wouldn’t feel like Christmas to me without dedicating some time to helping out, and I love that my workplace encourages this.” NGM Group’s Manager of Partnerships and Community Engagement, Kirsten Lyndon, says the Salvos do great work all year round, which is visible in the community, so it made sense to partner with the organisation when the appeal started all those decades ago. “We’re a customer-owned organisation, so it’s very important to us that we give back to the communities that support us,” Kirsten said. “When we first partnered with the Salvos in 1989 it was a really positive experience, and we could see the good that was being done, so we’ve never looked back!” The Salvation Army will this year distribute tens of thousands of food hampers and more than half a million donated gifts to families in need of assistance. Corporate and Community toy and food drives are an integral part of the mission to bring Christmas cheer to all Australian families.

A little over 17 years ago, I commenced an appointment as editor of ‘Warcry’, an appointment I happily held for the next five years. For those new to the Army, ‘Warcry’ was the weekly periodical that preceded the current ‘Salvos Magazine’. As editor, I received many letters from readers, some encouraging, some thankful and some offering personal testimonies or suggestions for articles. Alternatively, I also received letters that were highly critical of our content or our movement, letters that were very attacking or accusatory, and letters that were downright odd or confusing. I thought I might share a sample of these latter ones with you; by way of reference, I’ll just use the first name of the writers and won’t reveal locations. Max was a regular correspondent. He would write a short letter pointing out some fault in society and then asking God to “withhold rain on our continent” until the problem was remedied. Nothing like a bit of divine blackmail to get Australians moving in the right direction. He sent me one letter referring to the number of crimes happening on pathways where people would walk or bikes would be ridden. Max suggested that citizen groups could be set up to catch these criminals and that “capital punishment (a public flogging) be used in spite of age, creed or gender… Make the punishment something they’ll remember”. Robert wrote to me complaining about an image we’d used to accompany one story, saying that the image included nudity and it was shameful for The Salvation Army to use such an image. I wrote back to him and pointed out that the image was part of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. He responded to me by saying that it was still inappropriate for us to use the image and that he wasn’t surprised to hear of its location “because Catholics aren’t Christians!!!”. He added that, “We cannot support nudity in any form; God clothed Adam and Eve and that’s good enough for me.” Dianne said a lady came to her corps for welfare support and, in disgust at receiving a lesser shopping voucher than she wanted, she swore and spat on the floor. Dianne queried, “Spitting on the floor is desecrating God’s house, isn’t it? What does God say about spitting in church in the Bible?” Not much, I think. Graham wrote to me to say we were quoting from the wrong Bible – “The only correct version is the King James Version; all other versions are counterfeits.” Angela sent me 17 pages of gematria (ciphers, cryptograms) where words are given number values. She attempted to prove that key words in a recent edition of ‘Warcry’ kept adding up to 666 and clearly The Salvation Army are demonic. Doris said she’d been involved with the Army for 30 years and got highly critical of some of our practices before asking why we don’t do wedding services – “Is it because we fear rituals?” – because she’d never seen or been to an Army wedding. How do you tell someone that we do do weddings, but no one had ever invited her? Arthur asked me if I’d “gone bananas” because we reviewed a movie, he thought was anti-Christian. My reply to him began: “In response to your letter and question of 6 November, no, I don’t believe I’ve gone bananas”, and I went on to explain why we ran the review. Judith (another regular correspondent) opposed our review of the movie ‘Shrek’ because Shrek was “unappealing, immoral, crude, hideous, and ugly”. She said he would cause children to “wake and scream at night”. Gail sent me a 474-page document telling me why our government was un-Christian. It included photocopies of newspaper articles and correspondence she’d shared with newspapers and government officials. I confess I didn’t read it all. And, finally, Ronald invited me to join his One World Government “to manage Planet Earth and all things within it”. He sent me a weblink, which I looked up and discovered his organisation contained one member – Ronald. I chose not to join him. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

In this Christmas message, Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett looks at the gospel of Luke and reflects on the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth. These humble beginnings remind us that from the outset, Jesus identified with those who experience exclusion and the impacts of poverty in our society. As we serve others in our community this Advent season, especially the most vulnerable, we also serve Jesus. Amidst the busyness of Christmas, may we all be encouraged to slow down and meditate on the wonder and joy of Christ with us.

1. What is your current appointment and what do you find most satisfying about it? I’m the Corps Officer at Ulverstone Corps and Burnie Corps in north-west Tasmania. Both corps are growing in number and in depth of faith; new ministries are starting and there’s a strong missional intent behind all we do. We are seeing new faces nearly every week at Ulverstone, which is very exciting as they commence their faith pathway with us. At Burnie, there’s a lot of co-located mission expressions who are keen to work together to provide holistic outreach to our community. 2. Away from the appointment – if that’s possible! – what do you do to relax or unwind? I go to the beach or play games with the family, and I play trombone with the City of Burnie Brass Band. Also, north-west Tasmania is a beautiful place to explore with mountains, caves and beaches. 3. What’s a favourite Christian song and why do you like it? I have many favourites, but one I keep coming back to is Wesley’s And can it be. It has such amazing lines like, ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free – for O, my God, it found out me’ and ‘My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee’ – it is as if Wesley wrote of my own conversion! Christ’s love sought me, liberated me, transforms and compels me. 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? Moses – although I expect I’d be mostly listening. What a life! The burning bush, his encounters with Pharaoh, leadership through wilderness, Mt Sinai, mentoring Joshua – I’d love to hear his take on what happened and his reflections on God. 5. If you were talking to a group of Salvationists and they asked if you recommended officership or not, what would you say? Absolutely – but know why you are doing it. Officership is a covenant-with-God lifestyle, and The Salvation Army is the ‘vehicle’ by which you are enabled to do it. Sure, the vehicle might look like a banged-up Holden Commodore at times (!) but officers really are immensely privileged to be paid to live out God’s calling. We are with people in their best and worst moments; we speak truth and life to those who need to hear it most; we point them to Jesus and witness the joy come flooding in when they are saved. Sure, every believer can and should do that, but officers are supported to make it their number one priority in life. The Army’s flaws are trivial next to the realised power of the Spirit at work through us.

Congratulations to the following officers on their promotion to the rank of Major: Captain Jennifer Reeves (18 November 2023) Captain Joanne Brookshaw (30 November 2023) Captain Peter Brookshaw (30 November 2023) Captain Scott Ellery (30 November 2023) Captain Kim Haworth (30 November 2023) Captain Steven Haworth (30 November 2023) Captain Pauline Middleton (30 November 2023) Captain Aaron Stobie (30 November 2023) Captain Ashley Barkmeyer (7 December 2023) Captain Bronwyn Barkmeyer (7 December 2023) Captain Richard Day (7 December 2023) Captain Paula Glover (7 December 2023) Captain Stuart Glover (7 December 2023) Captain Jeff Goodwin (7 December 2023) Captain Terri Goodwin (7 December 2023) Captain Craig Harlum (7 December 2023) Captain Matt Moore (7 December 2023) Captain Narelle Unicomb (7 December 2023) Captain Alison MacDonald (10 January 2024) Captain Gareth MacDonald (10 January 2024) Congratulations to the following officers on their promotion to the rank of Captain: Lieutenant Ashley Biermann (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Rita Biermann (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Star Conliffe (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Aaron Coombes (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Keryn Coombes (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Charlie Jung (2 December 2023) Lieutenant Steph Glover (2 December 2023) We thank God for their dedicated and faithful service over the number of years represented by these promotions.

REVIEWED BY GARTH R. HENTZSCHEL* Do you like a good yarn from the Aussie bush? Bush yarns and other offences is a book for you! Max Lewis is a Salvationist and retired Queensland police officer who spent his service in rural and remote Queensland towns. This book is a collection of 61 very short chapters with images of bush trackers and old police stations. Each chapter tells a different story from the point of view of the non-drinking, non-gambling policeman in locations where these pastimes are often the only forms of entertainment. Most of Max’s service was in Far North Queensland at places such as Atherton, Burketown, Camooweal, Laura, Mt Isa, Palmerville, and Ravenshoe. The remoteness of these towns was clearly portrayed in the yarns. Eumundi police station, which was another place Max served, although not geographically remote, carried with it unique experiences for the emotions of the police officers. This too was portrayed in such a way as to secure empathy from the reader for what people in law enforcement are required to do. Similar to other memoirs from professionals in law enforcement and medicine, there are examples of black humour with stories of road accidents and death. It shows the way these professionals deal with such matters to sustain their mental health. Stories of chickens in the police quarters and alcohol locked in the watchhouse give cases of a more whimsical note. There are interesting and unique characters to meet and the birth of the Laura Rodeo (Far North Queensland) to explore. For a self-published book, it is clearly written and professionally arranged. The stories are authentic and reveal the true nature of the roles performed by country ‘coppers’. Bush yarns and other offences uncovers uniquely Australian bush tales and a lovely example of community policing. Max Lewis, Bush Yearns and other Offences: A Police Officer’s Initiation to Country Service by Bush Folklore is available as Kindle or Paperback from Amazon.com.au or other online booksellers. *Garth R. Hentzschel is a Salvationist living in Brisbane and is a freelance historian and writer