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A procession of walkers wearing The Salvation Army's red shield made their way around Lake Wendouree in Ballarat on Saturday as part of an annual fundraising and awareness campaign. The Salvos’ Karinya Support Service organised the Walking Home event, which was a chance for the group to raise much-needed funds for their work. The group provides several family welfare services, including crisis accommodation, childcare, case management and counselling. Its clients include those who have experienced family violence, trauma, homelessness and social isolation. The Walking Home fundraiser began in 2016 and sees Karinya support staff and community members come together. Louise Jeffrey, Karinya Support Services Child, Youth and Communities Team Leader, said she was pleased with Saturday’s turnout and was able to talk to the public about the work the group did. “The money that we raise is for our children and young people who come through our program,” she said. “With the funds raised, we will look at doing a variety of things for the children. “We want to be able to offer them opportunities that their peers may have that these kids do not have available to them. Whether that be activities outside of school, linking them in with a paediatrician, buying them a new school uniform, or new shoes. “Just things so that they don’t stand out for experiencing financial hardship or vulnerability at home. We want them to feel like the other kids.” The group has a fundraising goal of $5000. For more information and to donate, click here. *An edited version of an article courtesy of the Ballarat Courier

BY LERISSE SMITH The launch of an innovative youth supported accommodation facility in Shepparton has heralded an exciting fresh chapter for The Salvation Army’s Northeast Victoria Youth Services. Giving local young people hope and positivity for their future is the purpose-built facility that features 13-bed supported accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25 who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. It is more than double the previous accommodation of six beds. The Youth Accommodation Service was previously on the outskirts of town, on a huge block of land that was not accessible or suitable for most young people and not fit for purpose, with six beds servicing 31 young people. Moving into town and having a new facility now allows the service to offer crisis accommodation, casework and links to community services and The Salvation Army corps and services. “The opening was a great success,” said Leah Farnham, Northeast Victoria Youth Services Regional Manager. “It went really well and was well received. We had lots of people look around. “With floods, bushfires and COVID hitting the township in recent years, we had quite a bit of a pushback in our timeline, unfortunately. But we have such great funders from the Department of Health and Human Services and some philanthropic donations from the Day Foundation, which is great. So, that has allowed us to move up to 13 beds, and we’re looking at servicing 80 young people in this financial year and then 100 moving on and out into the next financial years.” Central to its success is a pioneering model of care centred around psychologically informed environments. Leah said they had moved into the model of care focused on a holistic approach for the young person, encapsulating safety plus a welcoming and bright environment that made people feel at home. It works on a trauma-informed practice lens, relationships and social spheres, and how you develop, deliver and evaluate a service. “It helps us to look at the environment as a whole … staff, young people, social systems, the micro-macro levels, all of those different things,” she said. “It is about how we view the whole system as itself with therapeutic approaches that sit within it.” Also key to the new youth supported accommodation is State Government funding that provides accommodation for up to eight weeks with the possibility of an extension if a young person needs to stay longer. The Youth Accommodation Service program has also announced an exciting new family reconciliation pilot program they are running alongside the new accommodation, with one of the beds dedicated to family reconciliation. It is for young people experiencing interpersonal conflicts within the home, with a case manager working alongside the young person and family. If it is safe for the young person to go home, support systems are wrapped around for the family and the young person. “It’s a super important part of the new model,” Leah said. “Just purely because what we have seen in the past is that if young people are experiencing that interpersonal conflict, it might be between siblings, it might be between mum and dad or the caregiver, or aunt or uncle or whatever the family situation looks like, they come into the homelessness sector. “So, part of it is really about making sure they are not perpetrating the cycle of homelessness and that we’re getting them when we need to. Early intervention. It’s exciting.” Northeast Youth Services has held crisis accommodation in the northeast, particularly Shepparton, for 25-plus years. When asked the reasons that lay behind why a young person may be placed into a homelessness service, Leah said the answer was complex. “Adolescent family violence in the home is a big conversation at the moment and what it looks like,” she said. “But it isn’t the be-all and end-all as to why young people are entering the homelessness sector. It is really hard to quantify and to put into words all the different myriad of things that young people are experiencing that might place them into the homelessness service. “You are seeing lots of different young people entering the system. Every young person is so different, and they all have their individual circumstances, stories and journeys, that you just can’t quantify what that actually looks like for that young person, and if you did, you’d be doing their story an injustice. “Yes, there is family violence. Yes, it is perpetrated by parents to young people, or by young people to parents. But there is significant intergenerational trauma, mental health concerns and social concerns. And we are even seeing an influx of young people where they have interpersonal skills, they have a job. They have family relationships that they can lean on. They have those natural resources. But they are still now entering the homelessness system like we haven’t seen before because they are just priced out of the market, there is no social housing. “I think it’s getting harder and harder to quantify what is the picture of the young person that is entering the homeless system. Just purely because it’s so stretched and varied about what that young person might look like.” Moving forward, The Salvation Army is planning to expand its accommodation services sometime in the future to include transitional housing as the new 13-bed facility is classified as crisis housing. Leah said having transitional housing proposals on the table was good news. “They really need transitional housing, and there is no transitional housing. And so, we are really fortunate enough to be able to work in an organisation that supports us to be innovative and think outside the box.”

BY LAUREN MARTIN Just three years after The Salvation Army began in Australia, moves were made to train new officers. In the early 1880s, a small training centre was set up in a corner shop in Adelaide, and cadets in Sydney were taught from a room at headquarters. The first dedicated training centre was established in South Melbourne in June 1883, and by March 1888 a new men’s training school was opened in Punt Road, Richmond. Training of officers at the time matched the spread of The Salvation Army across the nation in those early days – fast and furious! The Punt Road training college accepted 20 cadets at a time, with a total of 80 trained in the first year, which equates to about three months’ training time for each session. The program was mostly practical rather than theological or academic. Each day would start with a long march to ‘knee drill’ (prayer) at 5am, which was followed by street meetings, the selling of the War Cry, housework and a public meeting at night. In 1889, the first training home for women opened in Richmond. This was run much like a religious order under the watch of the principal, Staff-Captain Mary Shackson. The women would march to the men’s home in Punt Road for lectures and conduct practical training at the North Richmond Corps. Both training homes were affected by floods in 1891, and in 1900 the men’s training centre was destroyed by fire, prompting the Army to rethink its training as it constructed a new purpose-built centre. The new centre – The Federal Training College – was opened on 16 July 1901. It could house 160 male and female cadets from across Australia and New Zealand. Although the college was co-ed, the male and female cadets were kept separate – even the library was used by men and women on alternate days! This college continued to function as the Australian National College until the division of Australia into two territories in 1921, when a new training college was built in Petersham, Sydney, for Australia Eastern Territory cadets. Little more than 10 years later, however, the Great Depression forced the amalgamation of training again, with Eastern Territory cadets travelling to Melbourne for training. Both the Australia Eastern and the Australia Southern territories upgraded their buildings in the late 1970s, with a multi-story motel in Parkville, Melbourne, purchased for the Southern Territory Training College, and a Sydney campus relocation to Bexley North, the site of a former boys’ home. Over the ensuing years, the colleges began offering a range of courses with a choice of qualifications from research degrees to certificate and short one-day courses. The Southern Territory site was renamed Catherine Booth College in 2012, and the Eastern Territory facility was renamed Booth College in 2007. In 2017, when the two territories became one national territory, National Commander Commissioner Floyd Tidd announced the relocation of The Salvation Army’s School for Officer Training facility to Catherine Booth College in Melbourne. On 13 September 2017, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Divinity, Professor Peter Sherlock met with Commissioner Tidd and Colonel Mark Campbell (then Chief Secretary) in Sydney to sign a new collegiate agreement between the University of Divinity and The Salvation Army. The signing of this important document in effect marked the birth of Eva Burrows College. Eva Burrows College, located in the Melbourne eastern suburb of Ringwood, is now The Salvation Army’s national college in Australia, born out of the unification of Booth College in Sydney and Catherine Booth College in Melbourne. All residential cadets began their training at the national college in 2018. * Some information taken from the Eva Burrows College website Catherine Booth College (Melbourne) timeline 1883: Training of Salvation Army officers commenced in Richmond. 1901: A new officer training college was opened in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. Its facade can be seen today opposite St Vincent’s Hospital. 1921: A second college in Australia was opened in Sydney to train officers for the Australia Eastern Territory. 1960: An Education Department commenced within Territorial Headquarters (69 Bourke St) to address other learning needs of the territory. 1979: The college moved from Victoria Parade to 303 Royal Parade Parkville. 1993: The Geelong Conference Centre was acquired to foster in-service training. The Education Department moved to Geelong. 1995: Government-accredited training was offered for cadets within the vocational sector. Prior to that training was internally accredited. 2002: Salvation Army Education and Training Services was established in Geelong as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to provide accredited vocational training across Southern Australia. 2006: Officer training made the transition into the higher education sector. The college became a Recognised Teaching Institution within the Melbourne College of Divinity (now the University of Divinity), a leading body of theological and ministry education in Australia. 2010: The General of the Salvation Army gave in-principle approval for setting up an integrated faculty for all education and training within the territory. 2012: Catherine Booth College became a reality. 2015: In January the college moved to the new Campus at 100 Maidstone Street, Ringwood. 2018: On 10 January Catherine Booth College and Booth College combined to form the new Eva Burrows College. Booth College (Sydney) timeline 1921: The Australia Eastern Territory Training College was opened at 55 Livingstone Road in Petersham, Sydney. Here, Salvation Army officers-in-training, undertook a ten-month residential course, which was extended to two years in 1965. 1980: The Salvation Army Officer Training College moved from its Petersham location to Bexley North. 1995: The college was named The College of Further Education. 1995: The college provided accredited vocational courses as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). 1996: The college opened a campus at Lake Munmorah with an emphasis on leadership and discipleship for young adults (this campus later moved to Berkeley Vale.) 1997: Theological education opened to all, not just those preparing to become Salvation Army officers. 1999: The new college of Further Education building opened at Bexley North with modern classrooms and an updated library. 2001: The college becomes a Member Institution of the Sydney College of Divinity. 2007: The College of Further Education was renamed Booth College. 2018: On 10 January, Booth College and Catherine Booth College combined to form the new Eva Burrows College in Melbourne.

London’s City Matters newspaper website recently interviewed The Salvation Army’s world leader, General Lyndon Buckingham. The article is reprinted here for Salvos Online The red shield of The Salvation Army is instantly recognisable to millions of people around the world, but have you ever wondered who is responsible for this organisation and what it actually does? The international leader responsible for The Salvation Army is currently General Lyndon Buckingham. This interview with the General took place while he was visiting Uganda, one of the 134 countries in which The Salvation Army serves. The General is the only elected position in The Salvation Army. General Buckingham explains, “First and foremost, we run churches! Wherever the Salvation Army flag is flying, you will find a congregation of people worshipping. One of our driving ambitions is to meet human need without discrimination, and that ‘human need’ varies depending on where we are in the world. We provide shelter for the homeless, feeding programs, schools, hospitals, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, counselling services and prison ministry, and services for children and families who are in need. Our International Social Justice Commission, based in New York, speaks to the United Nations on global social justice issues. The Salvation Army is currently making a compassionate contribution to the care of people affected by the war between Russia and Ukraine. We do what we can, where we can, to support those in need based on our ability to respond. I am grateful to everyone who helps us make a difference.” Since August 2023, the General has been responsible for overseeing The Salvation Army globally (including its 1.5 million members worldwide). Although based at the International Headquarters in London, the General travels extensively in support of overseas territories. He said, “The office of the General is responsible for the spiritual life and wellbeing of the movement, but also has policy and direction responsibilities which are delegated and shared between the General’s Council and the Salvation Army’s International Trustee Company. This is the office that acts as the glue that holds together the international Salvation Army and its mission around the world.” He continued, “The senior leaders within The Salvation Army are ordained ministers who, through a series of appointments, have been entrusted with greater responsibility based on their character, skill set and performance. This is a combination of time, experience, skill, and affirmation from peers. International appointments are then made by the International Appointments Board as a result of recommendations from peers.” “We are incredibly grateful for the level of support that people around the world are able to give to The Salvation Army, and we continue to endeavour to be good stewards of whatever resources are entrusted into our care.” The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 with a quasi-military structure, but the question sometimes arises concerning how appropriate this uniform approach is today. General Buckingham said, “As we mature and develop, we are recognising both the strengths and perhaps some of the weaknesses of our military motif and metaphor. We are managing the tension between our desire to be collaborative in leadership style while using the motif to its best advantage. We are probably less militaristic today, and we’re trying to find a ‘win-win’ way of using the motifs in a modern context.” With the impact of COVID-19 still very real across the globe and a cost-of-living crisis biting in many countries, can charities still rely on the general public for support? General Buckingham said, “We recognise the challenge for any one organisation, whether it’s a government or an NGO, to ‘do it all’. Collaboration and cooperation between government agencies and NGOs is a healthy response to the needs of the world.” He continued, “I think that people are right to be discerning about how they support various global NGOs. We are incredibly grateful for the level of support that people around the world are able to give to The Salvation Army, and we continue to endeavour to be good stewards of whatever resources are entrusted into our care. This enables us to do very good work for those less fortunate. Wherever The Salvation Army makes a positive contribution to wellbeing or to enabling others to make a positive contribution, that’s worth celebrating! ‌“Our Christian faith is the heartbeat of this organisation, and what we are endeavouring to do around the globe comes from that place. I think, if anything, that should give people confidence that our good motivation comes from a faith that expresses itself in acts of loving-kindness. This is the driving force behind this movement. The motivating force behind this movement is God’s love for us and our desire to express that towards our neighbour.”

The people of Acapulco are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Otis, the Category 5 storm that hit the Mexican city in late October. The hurricane sustained winds of 260km/h with gusts of 315km/h causing severe damage to the city as well as Salvation Army facilities including the Acapulco Children’s Home. Children from the children’s home were evacuated to safe locations. Fallen trees and damaged buildings had cut off essential services including electricity, major roads, drinking water and communications. The Salvation Army’s Mexico Territory and International Emergency Services (IES) team at International Headquarters had been closely monitoring the situation and were able to act as soon as the storm hit. It took the team more than 20 hours to reach the area from Mexico City because debris blocked some of the major road networks. When they arrived in Acapulco, they established an emergency canteen and an operations centre so that they could prepare and deliver food and water to locals who had been affected by the hurricane and to local first responders. The emergency canteen has distributed more than 3500 meals* since it opened. Additional support, including the possible provision of supermarket vouchers, is being explored. IES Director, Damaris Frick, said, “The Salvation Army in Mexico was able to act quickly to support the community in the crisis, including helping to clear debris from roads and preparing and distributing food and water. I thank the Mexico Territory and international Salvation Army personnel who are working tirelessly to support everyone affected. Please pray for our officers and the people affected in the city of Acapulco.” Rebuilding phase Major Reyes Cervantes, Divisional Commander, Capital Division, along with Divisional Emergency Coordinator, Captain Hiram Martinez, travelled to Acapulco with nine officers, eight cadets (trainee officers) and 25 volunteers from Acapulco, Mexico City, Querétaro and Villahermosa. This team has been assisting in the efforts to clear debris from roads, provide meals for those who have been affected and assess how the community can rebuild damaged buildings and infrastructure. The IES team, in conjunction with the Mexico Territory, have begun actioning short- and long-term response plans and are working closely with government bodies and local authorities. IES Programme Officer, Captain Matthew Beatty, and USA Eastern Territorial Emergency Disaster Services Director, Bobby Myers, have arrived in Acapulco and are providing expert advice on the next steps of managing this crisis. Territorial Commander Colonel Ricardo Fernandez said, “We have been working with government bodies and the Mexican Navy in Acapulco to ensure that Salvation Army personnel can safely access the affected areas. I commend the efforts of our personnel on the ground working hard to support the emergency service workers and affected community members.” – IHQ Communications *Figures correct 13 November 2023 Click through slideshow below to see photos of the Salvation Army’s response to Hurricane Otis:

BY JASON SIMMONDS The Church worldwide is experiencing a creative renaissance, with renewed interest in developing innovative, out-of-the-box ways of sharing the love of Jesus through music and the arts. There was a time when the Church led the way in creativity with architecture, fine art, music and sculpture – but in many ways, it has lagged behind in responding creatively to a world experiencing hardship and injustice. The Salvation Army has a rich heritage in music, film and other creative expressions. Because of this, Worship Arts Australia feel this is a poignant moment in time where we need to rediscover our creative roots and bridge the deficit the Church is experiencing in the discipline of the arts. God, the ultimate ‘maker,’ created our world from nothing. He used three spoken words “Let there be …” and life on Earth was the result, with all its diversity of creatures, wonder and beauty. It is becoming clear that God is restoring the value of creativity within the Church, and that’s why the National Creative Arts Camp, to be held in January 2024, aims to connect, champion and encourage young creatives to reach their potential and make a missional impact in the corps and communities in which they live and serve. Exciting stuff happens when a group of young creatives get together – we saw this at the first National Creative Arts Camp held earlier this year at Milson Island on the Hawkesbury River in NSW. Collaborative efforts took shape, passions were ignited, skills shared, opportunities were created, and dreams realised. NCAC creates an environment where youth and young adult creatives can network with like-minded creatives from across the country who are tackling similar challenges, and it enables them to journey and grow together – both in the honing of their craft and nurturing their spiritual life. We’ve heard many stories of our young people growing in confidence and coming alive with ministry opportunities opening up and churches and communities impacted through their NCAC experience. “Exciting stuff happens when a group of young creatives get together.” Worship Arts Australia firmly believes that creative communication is critical to the effective sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and as creatives are empowered and encouraged within the body of Christ, it will usher in the renewal of our movement and enable people to encounter Jesus. With many creative streams on offer, led by some of the most accomplished leaders in The Salvation Army, youth and young adults will take a new creative vitality back to their corps. This leap of creativity will add to a corps’ existing ‘gathered worship’ as well as spark new ‘communities of hope’ and ‘community tables’ that they become involved in. We have a growing list of young people keen to attend the camp, but as many struggling artists will tell you, the $395 registration fee is the only barrier to their participation. So, I conclude this article with three questions: 1. Can you identify creatives aged 15 to 30 in your corps family or sphere of influence who would relish this leadership development and creative opportunity? - Encourage them to register. 2. Would you bless the next generation of creatives by sponsoring one or more delegates to the camp? - Follow the same registration link and choose the sponsor option at step 3. 3. Are you a corps outside of Victoria with young creatives who need to be at this camp? Can you cover the $200 travel gap so your young people can take advantage of this opportunity? - Have your young people register and choose the pay-by-corps option. The National Creative Arts Camp will take place on 14-20 January at Blampied in Victoria, culminating in a concert presentation at Brimbank Salvos on Saturday 20 January. To register or sponsor delegates, click here

BY LERISSE SMITH An impassioned call for all Salvos to continue their life-changing work in the community and bring beauty instead of ashes to a world that desperately needed it was a key theme of the Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate The Salvation Army’s 140 years of Social Services in Australia. The special thanksgiving event to celebrate the Salvos’ social and spiritual service to the community was held at Project 614 in Melbourne on Sunday and officially concluded the 140th-anniversary celebrations held across five days. The international conference highlighted the significant milestone of the Army’s Social Services with the theme ‘Everybody Has A Work To Do.’ Several highlights of the service included special prayers and worship to thank God for the past 140 years and to commit to a life of future service to God and others, plus a message of reflection by Colonel Winsome Merrett, a lament by Major Brad McIver, music by Melbourne Staff Band and Songsters and worship ensemble, Scripture readings, and a personal testimony by Aux-Lieutenant Mark Curtis. Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas delivered the main address, with the benediction undertaken by Major Jenny Begent, Assistant Secretary for Mission. As organiser of the 140th-anniversary event, Jenny said the thanksgiving service was an appropriate end to an “incredible and amazing” week of celebrations for the Army’s Social Services. “We have had a fabulous week that has focused on the relevance of faith-based services in Australia today,” she said. “The quality of speakers was outstanding and provoked much thoughtful discussion. The delegates from Norway, Denmark, UK, Canada and US territories provided a view of the international army that reminded us of our global community. “It was wonderful to finish off the conference with a worship service of celebration. Commissioner Miriam reminded us of our need to continue the work of redemption for all people, reminding us of the conference theme: ‘Everybody Has A Work To DO’. Thank you so much to all who attended and participated; you made it a wonderful time of remembrance of the past and hope for the future.” Miriam delivered an impassioned address centred on inspiration from Isaiah 61 and its message around the ‘oaks of righteousness’, plus the parables of the sower and the fig tree that bore no fruit. “We are called to be oaks of righteousness, ready to help, ready to be there,” she said. “For 140 years we’ve been there ... hopefully hundreds of years to come. All around this world, people are called to be oaks of righteousness. Why? To bring beauty instead of ashes. We need to bring beauty instead of ashes to a world that desperately needs Jesus right now. “Sow kindness, sow love, sow joy, sow hope, sow Jesus. Don’t ever let us be a fig tree that doesn’t bring fruit. We are a mission movement. We are in this together. There’s a world out there that is desperately lonely. A world that needs Jesus. We are his plan. There is no other.” Colonel Winsome Merrett reflected on the inspiring work of William and Catherine Booth, Mother Teresa and George Müller and how they fulfilled the callings and purpose on their lives. “The theme of this conference has been ‘Everybody Has A Work To Do’. Not all of us are a William or Catherine Booth, or a Mother Teresa or a George Müller, but as people of faith in Christ, we each have a work to do, and it’s special,” she said. “The apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, says it this way: For we are God’s handiwork created in Jesus Christ to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. Just to be clear, this is not saying that our works will redeem us or be a ticket for eternity. What that Scripture passage is saying is that in giving us new life through belief in the work of Jesus on the cross, we become a demonstration of God’s workmanship; we are recreated for good works that God has designed for us to accomplish. “We know that we are not saved by our good works, but rather God has saved us for good works. Mother Teresa said the good you do today may have been forgotten tomorrow ... do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.” Miriam shared an example of good work being undertaken that significantly impacted a person’s life, which was a practical demonstration of the love of Jesus. She told the story of a gentleman who gained employment and help in other areas of his life thanks to the Employment Plus team. In a message to his worker after he gained employment, he ended with a thankful and impactful comment: “Ultimately, you guys saved my life,” the gentleman said. “And you didn’t even know it.” Mark’s story Aux-Lieutenant Mark Curtis, Mission Leader of Garden of Hope in Western Australia, shared his incredible journey of traversing extremely challenging times. He related his life of substance abuse, losing everything and even experiencing a stint in jail – and how thankful he was to meet the Salvos who changed his life for the better. He became a follower of Jesus and now has a leadership role with the Salvos. “Back in the 1880s, when God called William Booth out of the building, he said to him to step outside the church and start meeting people where they are at. That’s what we are called to do. We need to start walking towards them,” Mark said. “The Salvos shield is like a beacon. The amazing thing is that we don’t have to go in for the lost; they walk towards us already. It’s love that changes someone’s life. We are called to love each other. We are never going to get perfect. We are called to love each other in the darkness.” Mark added that Isaiah 49 was an inspiration for his life. “I love the picture of being in God’s hands,” he said. “I want to go into the prayer closest and be in his hands. Don’t be scared of the darkness. Love one another. Thank God that William Booth was obedient to the call.” Miriam reiterated being thankful for the past 140 years of Social Services, the importance of reaching out to others and giving hope, and the importance of the Salvos creating communities where people were loved, served, known and celebrated. “These can be the best years for the Salvation Army,” she said. “Let’s do what God is calling us to do. Let’s be the people that God is calling us to be. Let’s do communities of hope. Let’s sit around a table to talk about life and faith and get on mission together. “Let’s get into our social places – and help in every way we can.”

As Publications Manager, Cheryl Tinker oversees all Salvation Army online and print publications, including Salvos Magazine, Kidzone magazine and Salvos Online. After recently celebrating a milestone of 25 years of service with the Salvos Publications team, we sat down with Cheryl to explore her beginnings, chat about her achievements, and discuss how our publications have evolved. By MATT ALLENSBY* Cheryl was born in Tasmania, and as her parents are Salvation Army officers, she enjoyed an upbringing in the Army, travelling to many corps across Australia before settling in Victoria. With a passion for art, Cheryl pursued a tertiary education in fine arts, but after meeting her husband and starting a family, she said her responsibilities “took life in a different direction”. “But in 1986, an opportunity came up at the Salvos’ Weeroona Hostel, so I started working there.” In her time at the Weeroona, Cheryl undertook a variety of responsibilities, starting in an admin position before moving into an ‘activities coordinator’ role and then becoming the hostel’s ‘afternoon supervisor’. Fortunately, Cheryl’s fine arts background was well utilised. “I organised painting classes, attended expos and events, and used my art in things like that,” she said. “While I was there, I also did some freelance work for The Salvation Army’s Women’s Ministry – painting murals and designing brochures, etc., so I was still able to use my skills in that area.” After 11 years at Weeroona, Cheryl decided to broaden her horizons and pursue opportunities outside the Salvos, starting a new role at Monash Gardens Hostel as an afternoon supervisor. However, Cheryl soon found herself being called back to the Army. “When I look back now, I realise God was with me, guiding me the whole way – the Army was where I was meant to be,” she chuckled. “I was working [at Monash Gardens] about six months when I got a call from Colonel Pam Trigg, asking me to come and see her,” Cheryl recalled. “I sat down with Pam and Major Leanne Ruthven, and they were talking to me about a job they had that they thought I’d be perfect for. “I loved it from day one. I really felt like it was my calling.” “Pam was a visionary with a real love for children, and she and Leanne were wanting to revamp The Salvation Army’s Young Soldier publication,” Cheryl explained, not knowing Young Soldier was about to embark on a long journey to become the well-loved Kidzone magazine that all Salvos know today. Cheryl was offered the job of an editorial assistant and started immediately. “I loved it from day one. I really felt like it was my calling,” she said. “Pam and Leanne gave me creative freedom, always encouraging me along the way.” Starting as a team of two, Cheryl recalled how the team slowly grew over time. “As new computer programs and technology were introduced, we all learned and grew together into a strong team.” Reminiscing on the different roles she has had in the publications department and the evolution of Salvos publications over the years, Cheryl highlighted the development of Kidzone as one of her biggest achievements during her 25 years of service. Today’s Kidzone originated from Young Soldier, an A4 magazine printed in black and white. It has transitioned into a vibrant, full-colour publication read by around 27,530 children a week and supported by its website. Cheryl also reflected on the relationships the Publications team built with others along the way. “The biggest thing for me in that process, aside from learning new technologies, was the relationships we formed,” she said. “And this continues today. We tell people’s stories, and so we engage with many different departments and people internally and externally. Having the privilege to meet, work and build strong relationships with so many people over the past 25 years has been the most enjoyable part of my role and I would say the main reason for my longevity.” Cheryl acknowledged the professionalism of the whole publications team. “As a team, we have always embraced change and technological advances enabling us to continue to evolve, but our greatest strength is that we know who we are and why we do what we do, and we do it well together – our mission is God’s mission.” The team’s collaborative efforts have led to the development of many successful Jesus-centred publications today. These include Salvos Magazine, which has over 26,400 weekly readers, Kidzone, which has more than 27,000 readers, and the recently launched Salvos Online website, which boasts over 28,000 page views a month. To learn more about other Salvos publications, check out the Publications and Resources page on The Salvation Army website. *Matt Allensby is Internal Communications Advisor for The Salvation Army

When Mario came to the Salvos, he was broken and without hope. Now he’s thriving. He shared his story of redemption with Salvos Online reporter LAUREN MARTIN I came here broken two years ago [to Shire Salvos Miranda Food Relief and Assistance Centre in southern Sydney.] I was heavily drinking and heavily using drugs. I was in a lot of depression, anxiety and stress. I was having suicidal thoughts. I found Shire Salvos Miranda because I rang Lifeline. I was so broken, I was in tears, I had given up on life. I had recently separated from my partner, who had found out that I was using drugs, so she didn’t want a bar of that. I was also in the process of being evicted, so I was very close to being homeless. I came from a good, hardworking family, but I had broken all bridges with my father and brother because I had abused them so much. I was blaming everyone else [for my problems]. I remember being in line [for a Salvation Army food hamper] when a Salvation Army Moneycare financial counsellor came and spoke to me. She said, “I haven’t seen you here before”, and I just broke down in tears. She brought me inside [to the office] and said, “It’s going to be OK”, and she introduced me to some staff members. They made me feel really welcome and made me feel safe. There was either death or change for me. I was that broken. I always knew I was a better person. I knew I was a good person and had a good heart, but I was obsessed with depression and stress. I got exhausted from that lifestyle and didn’t want to do that anymore. I wanted a better life. I then met with a Salvos AOD [Alcohol and Others Drugs] worker and pretty much surrendered in her office. I told her everything. She mentioned going to rehab [Recovery Services] and spoke to me about a couple of them. The Salvation Army’s William Booth House was the first one she mentioned, but I didn’t want to be around that area in the city. I explained that I’m a Cancerian – I like parks, rivers, and the outdoors. She told me about a place at Callum Park in Sydney called WHOs (We Help Ourselves). I got a place and was there for three and a half months. I didn’t know what to expect. What I did know was that I needed help and guidance. It took a while for me to become teachable because I had all that ego and addiction. Slowly, I started becoming vulnerable. And listening – shutting up and listening. Then I could learn. I’m now 16 months sober. My life is amazing right now. I am discovering the person I’m meant to be. I feel that God’s called me ... he’s grabbed me and said, “I need you to help others.” I’m at peace now. I’m not in my head anymore. The fog has lifted, and I’m clearer. I hold myself responsible for my actions, and I do the next right thing. I don’t associate with anyone I knew prior to rehab. I have made great new friends. I walk every morning and go to an AA meeting every night. I’ve set some goals. My plans are to do service and help anyone I can. I decided to do a community services certificate at TAFE, and they said you have to do some work placement. And I thought, “Why not Shire Salvos Miranda?”. I’ll never forget this place – this is where the miracle started for me. I’ve made amends with my mum and my father. I now have the best relationship ever with my brother and my mum and father. I owe my life to the people here at The Salvation Army who gave me hope. This is where I came when I was broken. You have to be broken in order to be healed.

Australians around the country will honour Remembrance Day today (11 November). Salvos Online spoke to retired Salvation Army officers Colonels Julie and Kelvin Alley about their current roles as RSL chaplains and their personal link to the Australian Defence Force. What does Remembrance Day mean to you both? For Julie and I, it is a very significant day when we have the opportunity to pause, reflect and express gratitude for those of our nation who have given their lives in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Historically, it is the day we commemorate the end of the First World War, but over the years, it has come to be the opportunity to remember those who have served our nation in all theatres of world conflicts. Do you think the day is being almost forgotten in Australia, and why is it important that we continue to recognise it? It is certainly not almost forgotten, but perhaps it doesn’t get the same media attention as, say Anzac Day. For us, it remains just as significant because of our close involvement and participation every year in Remembrance Day services. The day is not a public holiday as in the case of Anzac Day, which doesn’t give the general public the same sense of awareness or opportunity for involvement. The RSL clubs continue to liaise with schools in order to maintain awareness amongst our younger generations of the importance of this day. You and Julie are chaplains to the local RSL – why do you do this? What does this role entail, and what impact does it have – on yourselves as well as those you minister to? When we retired just over three years ago, we were asked if we would accept this role with the Runaway Bay RSL Sub-Branch, which has had a very long association with the Gold Coast Temple Corps. We attend the monthly meeting of the club members, slowly getting to know the members more personally. Julie also attends the ladies’ luncheon each month, building relationships with each of the women. We preside as ‘padre’ at the significant commemoration services each year, which include two Anzac Day services and Remembrance Day, and numerous other special occasions. We have had the privilege of conducting funerals for deceased members, and related remembrance occasions. We also arrange an annual ‘Church Parade’ where we encourage as many club members and families as possible to attend a special service at our corps. For us, this is an honour and privilege, to support those who have served in our nation’s uniform. What are some of the challenges returned servicemen and women face? The members of the RSL club tend to be older, those who have served in World War Two, Korea and Vietnam conflicts, or who have given service in the forces over those same decades. They face the challenges of ageing, of health struggles and even mobility issues. Those who have served in more recent decades face significant challenges in the transition from service life to lives as civilians. These can range from emotional struggles due to traumatic experiences, finding and maintaining suitable employment, maintaining relationships, especially marriage, homelessness, substance abuse and gambling issues. Kelvin, can you tell us about your cycling trips that fundraise for returned personnel – again, why you do this and the impact these donations have? Since 2006, I have been part of the ‘Pollie Pedal’ (an annual bike ride of 1000km over eight days, started by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 1998 as a means of getting politicians out and doing something active to benefit the community. Each year, the Pollie Pedal raises huge sums for charity, which over the years now total many millions of dollars. For the past five years, we have supported the charity ‘Soldier On’, which supports veterans and their families. This year, we will be riding for ‘Wandering Warriors’, a smaller charity that supports veterans and families of our Special Forces. The ride will start in Perth. In 2021, the Pollie Pedal was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, so I decided to have my own ‘Solo Pollie Pedal’ – I rode 1500km self-supported through the Darling Downs and Central Queensland, and raised $10,500 from 105 wonderful sponsors! In recent weeks, I did a similar ride, raising almost $1500 for Wandering Warriors. How can Australians help support both serving and returning members of the Australian Defence Force? Julie and I would encourage all Australians to show their support for the special commemorative days each year – to turn out in force for Anzac Services, and other services such as Remembrance Day. The RSL goes public twice annually with sales of poppies and other commemorative items such as badges. The public is encouraged to support these as much as possible. Older generations can encourage the younger generations to continue the respect and honour that has been given in past generations and to be sensitive to the unique and challenging circumstances that are involved in service in our defence forces. Do you have a personal connection to the ADF? Our son is a triple veteran of ADF service in Afghanistan. As parents, we have experienced the emotions when a son is sent overseas to dangerous war zones for his tours of duty. We have experienced those moments when news comes over the radio of another ‘incident’ involving an ADF member, and the long wait, not knowing whether it is our son. We know that moment of relief when we have it confirmed that it is not our son, but then the realisation hits that it is indeed the son of other parents. Tears then flow anyway.

BY MAJOR PHIL INGLIS We live in a world that seems obsessed with standards. When you go for a job, you must meet certain ‘eligibility criteria’ standards. When you apply for entry into a selective high school or some university courses, you must sit for some exams to see if you are up to a certain standard. If you want to join a professional music group, you generally have to audition to see if you are up to the standard required to play in the orchestra or sing in the choir. When you meet your girlfriend’s father for the first time, he will attempt to gauge whether you are up to his standard. When you join a sports team or almost anything else, you must live up to a certain standard. Many times in life, we see opportunities and improvements offered to people who meet these standards. I met the standards of my father-in-law (eventually) and was given permission to marry the greatest blessing of my life. A friend of mine was able to live up to the standards required for a Master of Education degree and was given a promotion as a result. Another friend was able to play a high standard of rugby league, was invited to play on a semi-professional team, and now gets paid to play. We are so conditioned to think this way that we sometimes think that God operates in the same way. We are tempted to think we can only receive God’s blessing, attention or acceptance when we meet a certain standard. Banners and flags However, another definition of the word ‘standard’ is a banner or flag. Particularly, a ‘standard’ is a banner or flag used to identify someone or a group of people. In a military parade, a ‘standard’ is carried at the front of a group to identify them. In The Salvation Army, we have flags that identify which part of the Salvos you’re a part of. In a throne room or banquet hall, standards are hung to identify those who sit beneath them. In a very poetic part of the Bible, God’s love for us has been described as a banner, or a standard, being flown above us to identify us as people who are loved by God (Song of Solomon 2:4). “You will never live up to a perfect standard, but you can live beneath one.” So, while the Bible does teach us that, in the words of the great philosopher Hannah Montana, Nobody’s Perfect, that’s not where it ends. Sure, we are not perfect, but God already loves us, and what he did for us proves it. We simply need to accept the love of God; simply sit beneath the banner of love flown for us by Jesus. In other words – you will never live up to a perfect standard, but you can live beneath one.

I’m aware that, internationally, there are still some Booths involved in The Salvation Army and in officership; and not just any Booths but living descendants of our founders, William and Catherine Booth. It must be hard, at times, to carry that surname in the Army. I worry that any Booths will be held to some sort of higher Christian standards than the rest of us – “Well, I wouldn’t have expected that of a Booth!” Of course, there are many other large families in The Salvation Army, where generations of Salvationists of one clan have become prominent in the Army. I attended one corps where there were four elderly brothers, flowing down to many children and grandchildren – it took me ages to work out who was related to whom and how! Then, even worse, I discovered that through a distant relative and by marriage, I was related to the same family! As has been said many times, it’s an incestuous Army. We grow up, attend youth groups and divisional events, date other Salvationists, marry, and, before you know it, half the Army is related! Some years ago now, Tracey and I were asked to lead a corps anniversary at a large corps in Melbourne. After the Sunday morning meeting, an elderly male Salvationist approached us and thanked us for our leadership. He then looked at me and said, “I’ve been trying to place you; are you Edgar and Elva’s boy?” I replied that I was one of them, along with my brother, and he commented that I came from “good Army stock”. I said, “Well, yes, I guess I have red, blue and yellow blood. I’m a fifth-generation Salvo with parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins who are or have been officers. The Army’s all I’ve ever known.” Then, smiling, he turned to Tracey and said, “And who were your parents?” She replied that they were Tony and Gloria Anderson from Wodonga, but they didn’t attend the Army, and she was the first family member to be a Salvo. At this, the elderly chap simply muttered, “Oh”, and turned around and walked away. He loved me, but he wasn’t interested in Tracey at all! We looked at each other and laughed; his dismissal of her because she wasn’t ‘Army’ enough for him was plain to see. My son and daughter-in-law have their first child due in a few months. While it’s been lovely to see the renewed popularity of biblical names in recent years (Joshua, Josiah, Hannah, Leah, Caleb, Chloe, Jesse etc.) I wonder if I should suggest something to them to ensure the child isn’t treated as Tracey was. Hence, welcome to the world William Bramwell Ballington Cadman Brengle Davies, or Catherine Evangeline Emma Kate Eva Davies! – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos