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Daisy Gonzalez Cumming was the guest speaker at Hornsby Gateway Corps’ International Women’s Day morning tea. Women from different cultures and nationalities gathered at Hornsby Gateway Corps in Sydney’s north to celebrate this week’s International Women’s Day (Wednesday). Community leader Daisy Gonzalez Cumming was the guest speaker for the event and shared her testimony of experiencing significant hardship in her life but coming out stronger with the love of Jesus. Corps Officer Captain Lydia Hong said the sharing was powerful, and women listening were encouraged “to discover their value gifts and purpose of life." Women gathered at Hornsby Gateway Corps to celebrate International Womens’ Day and discuss ways that women in the local community can be better supported. The event was a partnership between Hornsby Corps and The Salvation Army’s Intercultural and All Abilities team. Nuria Gonsalves is Community Engagement National Lead for the team and gave a speech on women’s empowerment. She spent many weeks organising performers and liaising with the multicultural groups in the area. Moneycare Manager Mita Mitra also attended and spoke. “We discussed local needs and the idea of a monthly’s women’s support group,” said Lydia. “Many attendees expressed their interest in volunteering.” International Women’s Day falls on 8 March each year.

Pregnancy classes in full swing at Balga Corps in Western Australia. Overseeing the activity is Nikola, a pregnancy, birth and post-partum doula, who will be a guest speaker at an upcoming session. By CLIFF WORTHING Pregnancy can be daunting, especially for first-time families, but Balga Early Years Services in Perth has stepped in to provide information and support through its pregnancy classes. “The classes give parents a nitty-gritty, reality base rather than the sanitised Instagram version of the early days post-birth,” said Jo Ineson, Early Years Director at Balga Corps. “We provide professional and specialised information that empowers families to work through each step of the journey from pregnancy to post-birth.” The classes focus on helping the whole family unit with information about birth interventions, breastfeeding, mental health, nutrition and relationship changes that may occur with partners and other family members. Registered midwife Beau speaks to the class during last week’s session. Beau’s vision is to provide expectant parents with the knowledge and tools they require to feel confident on their birthing journey. The child health centre supports a culturally diverse local community with different social expectations. Many new families in the area also face a lack of social connections and loneliness, which is often accentuated by the arrival of a child. “There is no other service like this because we strive to provide a deeper and holistic response geared to community needs,” Jo said. “Because the health service is co-located at the corps, we can connect new families to our other programs that address many other needs.” Jo noted that they see many transformed lives through their approach. She also noted that in some instances, Balga Salvos’ services had supported four generations from one family group. “It is humbling and a privilege to journey with these families,” Jo said. “There isn’t much better than to do life with them and see the positive impact made in their lives.” The first pregnancy classes for 2023 began on 28 February with 14 attendees. A mix of first-time parents, parents in their third birth experience and other professionals up-skilling shared their knowledge. “It was brilliant, as we could actually see the parents being empowered and equipped during the session,” said Jo. “A positive impact was happening right in front of us!”

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Speaker, author and former Salvation Army officer Danielle Strickland shares raw, honest and vulnerable stories in her book The Other Side of Hope. REVIEWED BY JESSICA MORRIS Is hope more than a tagline or a feel-good sentiment when we are feeling down? In her new book, The Other Side of Hope, Danielle Strickland flips the narrative on despair and cynicism, asking us to embrace hope even in the most unexplainable situations. Part story, part guidebook, you literally flip this book upside down to go between narrative and theology – and while the divide may cause some discomfort, the juxtaposition makes both sides heroes in their own right. We hear story after story about how hope appeared in unexpected places. Danielle opens up about her own story, highlighting how a supernatural experience – an experience of Jesus while in a jail cell – changed the course of her life. There are stories about the people Danielle met while pastoring in the most poverty-stricken area of Vancouver, details about her time in Europe just months after the fall of Communism, and even a mind-boggling scenario where she saw someone raised from the dead. And yet, she also shares an experience where a community prayed for someone, and they weren’t raised for the dead – revealing how hope exists in both scenarios. Anyone who has been in church for more than five minutes will have heard stories like this in the past, and they never cease to become less powerful. However, Danielle’s candour and, yes, even cynicism makes the stories palpable. These aren’t just stories of victory. Like each of our lives, they are gritty, imperfect, and filled with doubt, beauty, grace, and hope. The stories alone will move you and drive home the emotional and spiritual truths of hope – that it exists despite pain, trauma and injustice, and also within the darkness of these. But once you flip the book and see the framework of hope, you are given the language to understand better what she shares. Danielle compares it to the back of an artwork, where the sound structure of board and frame hold up a masterpiece. And within this structure, Danielle unravels theological mistruths and religious trauma that has led us to become cynics, isolated by pain and content with a shallow version of hope found on bumper stickers. She looks at the nature of humanity and our deep need for connection, highlighting how hope is eternal – a characteristic of, or essence, of Jesus. And then later, rewrites the interpretation many Christians have on ‘Original Sin’ and the shame we carry due to this. Instead, revealing how God made humanity and showed us to be worthy of his love in the beginning. People who have experienced church hurt or religious trauma will find a home in Danielle’s words because she lays out how, historically, the western protestant church has culturally hyper-focused on sin to retain power and structure. Declaring, “Our life story and human story does not begin in sin”, she invites you to a new understanding and experience of life and spirituality. Never straying from the core belief that Jesus is the Son of God who died and rose again, she reframes the harmful narratives we have inherited and shows how true experiences of hope mean “we are being rescued from what we thought was true about God.” I have read plenty of books about how to live a better life as a Christian. Yet, I have also read plenty of books that tap into an intangible, unidentifiable hope – whether it be through poetry, stories or mantras. Danielle has encapsulated both facets of the human experience in this book. Making it a powerful conduit for internal healing and a welcome harbour for those who no longer fit into the framework a religious institution expects. This is potentially Danielle’s most profound work yet. The Other Side of Hope is available online, on Audible, and at Christian bookstores.

Drive for Life’s Laurie Camilleri and Moira Guthrie at Shire Salvos Miranda. By LAUREN MARTIN Moira When Moira Guthrie goes to work at Shire Salvos Miranda in southern Sydney, she’s never really sure what each day will hold. Whilst her job as a trainer for The Salvation Army’s Drive For Life program involves her assisting young people in obtaining their L-plate licence, she often finds herself advocating for the people she journeys with in various ways. “I really love this job,” she says. “I see some amazing changes in young people’s lives.” The Salvation Army’s Drive For Life program primarily supports young people between 16 and 25. It is designed to meet the needs of students and young adults who find obtaining their driver’s licence challenging due to various life barriers. The program has only been operational in the Sutherland Shire for about a year. Moira liaises with local youth support agencies and works with the young person to achieve their L-Plate licence. The students have the opportunity to learn to drive with Moira’s colleague, Laurie Camilleri. Moira says it can sometimes take months for a young person to overcome the various hurdles in their life and pass their L’s test. But when they do, it’s a life-changer. “It opens up so many opportunities to employment; it opens up their independence, setting goals, achieving them, seeing something through,” she says. “Having someone [like herself] that mentors them and makes them accountable and cares ... it is a huge thing for their self-esteem.” Many times during her sessions, Moira and her client identify other needs. It might be as simple as Moira inviting the young person she’s working with to head into The Salvation Army’s food relief and welfare centre, located just next door, where they can access free fresh food and grocery items. Other times, she has been able to use her contacts within the youth services space in the Sutherland Shire and link young people to different support groups or for case work. “There are so many opportunities and free services available,” Moira says. “It’s just knowing where to find them and how to tap into them.” Laurie After Drive for Life clients pass their L-test, they meet Laurie Camilleri, The Salvation Army’s Drive for Life driving instructor. An experienced driver-trainer, Laurie’s been behind the wheel instructing people how to drive for over 30 years. His calm voice and unruffled demeanour are undoubtedly assets when sitting beside a learner in Sutherland Shire traffic! “I do this because I have a passion for driver training, and I want to make a difference to how vulnerable our young kids are when they are out on the road,” he says. Drive for Life’s Laurie Camilleri assists young people who find it difficult to gain a licence. With two-hour lessons, Laurie usually develops a strong bond with his pupils, many of whom have experienced hardship in their lives, which has led to them being unable to gain their licence: “There’s a lot of people on the program that don’t have that support for whatever reason, they don’t see their parents, they have no family, or they live in hostels or … houses provided by project managers.” With the help of volunteer supervising drivers, the Drive for Life program can bridge this gap and help young people get to that all-important final stage of the driving journey, the practical driving test, and finally, achieving their provisional driving licence. “So, you got these kids that didn’t have much hope or didn’t have any vision, and you start bringing them along and telling them that one day they are going to get their day of independence – their licence.” He says it’s the best feeling to be part of that journey. “That’s really rewarding that you’ve been part of that, of giving them their day of independence. Because you know how important their driver’s licence is, it helps them get a job; it allows them not to be on public transport, and it helps them meet people. “You’re not really just giving them their licence; you’re setting them up for life, really.”

Eva Burrows Scholarship winner Claudia Cummins. The 2022 Eva Burrows Australian Leadership Scholarship has been awarded to Claudia Cummins. Claudia is the Safe House Program Manager at The Salvation Army’s Trafficking and Slavery Safe House in Sydney, NSW. She supports and works closely with survivors of modern slavery, including trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude and forced marriage. As survivors recover from exploitation experiences, Claudia and her team work to restore safety and autonomy and help them build new independent lives. With the scholarship, Claudia will undertake studies for a Graduate Diploma in Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney. This relatively new course includes an opportunity for students to develop a unique piece of research or fieldwork. Claudia’s chosen project will be related to the anti-slavery work she will be doing with The Salvation Army. “Although I have learnt about the impacts of modern slavery and the support needs of victim-survivors from my work at the Safe House, I hope to gain deeper knowledge on the matter from a legal and business perspective which will enhance my subject matter expertise,” Claudia said. “I am looking forward to making the time and space to think more deeply about some of the complex challenges I have seen in anti-slavery work and hope to find new ways of addressing these issues.” To read a Q&A with Claudia, click here

Dear friends, Every year, The Salvation Army Australia celebrates International Women’s Day and the achievements of women across the Army. I am proud to be part of a movement that honours and values women's contribution to society and blessed to be a part of a movement that empowers thousands of women daily. To those on the frontline – the many officers, volunteers and employees who provide practical, emotional and spiritual support to those in need every day; thank you. I am grateful for your passion and commitment. To the officers who have responded to this specific call to ministry and sacrificed much. Thank you, you encourage my heart. To the many I work alongside daily who have taken on leadership roles here at the Army, thank you. You inspire me every day. To all who champion the contribution of women inside and outside our movement, proactively seeking how to empower women and ensure their voice is heard, thank you. We need you! General Eva Burrows, 13th General of The Salvation Army, said, “ Women have the power to make a difference in their communities and the world. ” And they do! Jesus interacted with women as people made in the image of God, of intrinsic value and with great capability and intelligence in an era and culture when women were generally not treated with dignity or respect within society. On International Women’s Day, Jesus’ example and General Burrows’ words remind us of the contribution women make to our families, our communities, our world, our places of work, and our churches, and the richness and depth they add to our world, making for a more equitable society where everyone’s contribution is valued. The day is a celebration of the strength, courage, and achievements of women and the absolute criticality of women to be equal participants in society around the world. It reminds us women have the power to make a difference. It is also a reminder there is still much to be done to ensure women continue to be actively supported, empowered, valued and acknowledged. Embracing equity and the full participation of women in all aspects of society is challenging in some parts of our world. Please pray for those women. Together, let’s look for ways to advocate for them and their desire to be educated and increasingly participate in society to be heard and valued. General Eva Burrows believed, “ women are capable of incredible things, and it is up to us to ensure that we create an environment in which they can thrive. ” To the women reading this, I pray you have found a community in which to thrive. I pray you feel valued for your contribution to The Salvation Army’s mission, and I pray each of us sees the essential part we play, wherever we find ourselves planted, to support one another. God bless you each, Colonel Winsome Merrett Chief Secretary 8 March 2023

Poverty is no more evident than on the streets and in the alleyways of our cities. The Salvation Army’s Policy and Advocacy team recently made a formal submission to the inquiry into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia. ​ The Salvation Army believes that poverty is not to be defined as an income level, but as a broader situation where a person is not having their basic needs met because of financial constraints. These basic needs are things like shelter, health and the ability to participate. ​ The submission includes 40 recommendations from The Salvation Army made for Senate Community Affairs References Committee to consider. Out of the 40, recommendations listed in the submission include: ​ The commonwealth government establishes a clear body or cabinet position with the accountability to progress toward ending poverty. ​ An immediate increase of jobseeker and youth allowance to ensure recipients are able to live with dignity. ​ The productivity Committee to report on the economic costs of poverty and the likely benefits of addressing disadvantage and hardship in Australia. ​ “Our aim with this submission of feedback to this inquiry is that we can engage further with the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs and ultimately see our recommendations accepted and rolled out to effectively inform policy,” Policy and Advocacy Advisor Josh Gani said. ​ You can read the 40 recommendations and the full Poverty in Australia submission by clicking here The policy and advocacy team develop approximately 60 submissions and letters a year on topics and social justice issues The Salvation Army tries to address every day. ​

As part of the Soul Space devotional for International Women’s Day, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas considers how mentoring and investing in someone can have a profound impact on their life.

(From left) Colonel Rodney Walters (Secretary for Communications), Belinda Slifkas (Myer General Manager of Merchandise), Lady Marigold Southey (AC) and Judi Agnew (Relationship Manager Corporate Partnerships). A special appreciation event was held recently at ‘Cranlana’, the historic Melbourne home of the Myer family, long-term supporters of The Salvation Army.   Judi Agnew, Fundraising Relationship Manager, said the event was held to thank the Myer family for their ongoing support and to celebrate 25 years of the Myer Christmas Charity Bear.   “We recognised Sidney Myer’s daughter Lady Marigold Southey (AC) – a philanthropist in her own right – for opening the original family home to us for the past 15 years,” Judi said.   The historic mansion has been in the Myer family’s hands since 1921, when the department store’s founder, Sidney Myer, bought it, but the home has recently been listed for sale.   “We also acknowledged the Myer Community Fund team for supporting TSA for 25 years through their limited-edition charity bear, and we provided guests with insights into our FDV services and devastating rise in cases,” Judi added.   Jessica Gavin (Myer Senior Category Buyer), Belinda Slifkas (Myer General Manager of Merchandise), Lucy Hobson (Community Relations Advisor | Myer Community Fund), John Verano (Myer Product Developer), Blanche de Rasilly (Myer Category Buyer) and Colonel Rodney Walters. Colonel Rodney Walters, Secretary for Communications, was Master of Ceremonies for the event and Sonali Correia, Senior Manager of Supported Accommodation and Afterhours Crisis Responses from our FDV stream, spoke about the work of her team.   “Jasmine shared her personal story of transformation, having been supported by TSA. There was not a dry eye – a remarkable woman,” Judi said. “Michael Harding also entertained us with his piano brilliance.   “Sadly, this was our last event held there, as the beautiful ‘Cranlana’ is about to be sold; however, we have many great memories and friendships that continue on.” For more photos, click through the slideshow below:

Rob and Carolyn love being part of the Miranda cooking class. BY LAUREN MARTIN   About a year ago, the team at Shire Salvos Miranda started a fortnightly cooking class focused on low-cost recipes. The classes were for community members who received a weekly food hamper.   Shire Salvos Miranda Community Coordinator Moira Guthrie said the classes had been a major success in more ways than one – the group has developed into a beautiful community of people who love and care for each other and go ‘on a mission’ together.     “The cooking classes began to meet a need,” Moira said.   “A lot of our community members have never been taught fundamental cooking skills, and we thought what a great way to show them how to cook dishes from the ingredients found in their weekly food hampers.” Shire Salvos Miranda Community Coordinator Moira Guthrie. But God knew that the need was far greater than skills in the kitchen. The group, many of them who didn’t know each other well, began to stay longer, chatting around the communal table that is used during the cooking class.   “We have a group of regulars that come to our fortnightly cooking class and have formed friendships where some catch up outside the classes,” Moira said. “The feedback was that they found it uplifting to come along and make friends.”   One such couple are Carolyn and Rob Craig. They began to attend Shire Salvos Miranda earlier this year when Rob’s dad told them about the food hamper support. They heard about the cooking classes and thought they would give it a go.   “We decided to come along to the cooking class, and we haven’t stopped! We have met a few of the other lovely ladies and gentlemen who enjoy the cooking class as well,” Rob said. “We all have a chat and a laugh and lunch together! It’s really lovely knowing that we have other people that we can share our stories with and if someone’s having a bad day, they know that we are there for each other.”   Carolyn agrees. She says she doesn’t get out much, so the fortnightly Monday cooking class – and the support and friendship of the group – is a highlight.   “Everyone is so caring, loving [and] there if you need their help, you know? And willing to talk to you … it’s just nice when you’re there for each other.”   As the group got to know each other better and became more of a friendship and support group, their love and care for each other organically spread further.   Rob had an idea – why not offer to cook for the Shire Salvos Miranda ‘Soul Food’ faith community, which meets on Thursday nights for a meal and laidback-style church?  Shire Salvos Miranda Mission Leader Lieut-Colonel David Godkin Many of those who attended the cooking class also called ‘Soul Food’ their church, so they approached Shire Salvos Miranda Mission Leader Lieut-Colonel David Godkin, with the idea.   David was thrilled! The group’s shepherd’s pie was a big hit, and there are plans to have the group cook regularly for Soul Food.   Rob returns ‘home’ These days, when Rob Craig walks into Miranda Salvos, he has a huge grin on his face. It’s a place where he is known and valued. He says it feels like family.   And it’s a ‘full circle’ moment for Rob, who became connected to nearby Rockdale Corps when he was a teen, only to slip away after a few years “when the going got tough”.   “I initially started with The Salvation Army when I was 11,” he recalls. “We had some officers from Rockdale Corps in our street around Christmas time, and they were just telling people about The Salvation Army.   “I’m the eldest of five in my family; at that stage, we only had one income coming into the house, so it was a bit of a difficult time for the family.”   Rob began attending the Boys’ Legion and worked his way through the years to become a leader. He loved the sense of belonging that The Salvation Army offered him.   “At that age, it felt like I had a purpose; I belonged somewhere. I was very much a loner. It was very hard for me to make friends. Being short in high school, I was always bullied.   “It was very warming to know that I was part of something and that I was doing something good. Not only was I involved just with Boys Legion and things like that, but when Red Shield Appeal came along, I would go out on the streets and help with that.”   However, when a close friend stopped attending and other issues came up, Rob decided to walk away. But he’s always known that God has been with him. Like the ‘prodigal son’, his return to a faith community has been met with open arms.  Carolyn peeling potatoes for the Soul Food meal. “To have that moral support here and to know that there’s people here that have ‘got your back’, that’s really what The Salvation Army is about. Not only do they try and help you in other ways, but if you need someone to talk to, there’s always someone within the corps group or they know someone that can sit down and have an ear or a shoulder.   “And it’s always warming; it’s always a warm welcome here.”   The ‘Jesus culture’ at Shire Salvos Miranda invites those who attend to extend that welcome to others, and Rob can often be seen coming alongside men who attend the centre and who are experiencing difficulties.   He says Shire Salvos Miranda, Soul Food, and especially the fortnightly cooking class are all his ‘church’ because “church is where you make it.”    Read more: Happy birthday to Soul Food