The Symphonic Sounds 2024 concert featuring the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne and The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Staff Band was held at Waverley Temple Corps on Saturday 2 March. REVIEW BY BARRY GITTINS Introducing the guests, paying the due respects and courtesies, welcoming all present and thanking God for the opportunity, Melbourne Staff Bandmaster Ken Waterworth said “it was a thrill to be sharing a concert” again with the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne, who duly commenced proceedings. The naval musical director, Lieutenant Commander Brian O’Kane, responding in kind, noted the beauty of the day and succinctly replied, “Just enjoy the music.” (Due credit offered to the following arrangements by members of the maritime ensemble.) Presenting Gustav Holst’s First Suite in Eb, which, as the Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne (RANBM) supremo noted, was “the first piece of music written for a concert band”, the group demonstrated quality musicianship, with lovely tonality and balance. The nautical musicians navigated their way through the three movements, ebbing, rising and soaring as the conductor willed. “Good music doesn’t die, does it?” O’Kane mused thereafter. “It could be any genre.” To prove that point, the navy band presented Popular, Somewhere and For Good from the revels of musical theatre. Popular, sung by Able Seaman Musician Maggie James, was a delight. It was presented with excellent characterisation and connected with the audience. Bernstein’s Somewhere, sung by Able Seaman Musician Laura Kendall, showcased a lovely deployment of rubato, upheld by a sympathetic understanding with the band. The two vocalists combined forces in the duet For Good, again from Stephen Schwarz’s Wicked, lending deft harmonies to effective storytelling, propelled by the RANBM’s tidal pull. The navy crew followed on with the aching beauty of Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone, with Able Seaman Musician Donna Chung excelling with her control and tonality. This was a confluence of eloquent writing and glorious performance; the item showed what is possible when professional musicians listen closely, watch sharply, phrase intuitively, and feel and think in accordance with the music. Four Scottish Dances featured frolicking rhythms, whirling reels and haunting airs, with a bonny evocation of droning pipes, lochs, the heather and bracing downpours. The Melbourne Staff Band (MSB) commenced its offerings with Michael Kenyon’s arrangement of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Marche Militaire Francois, delivered at a cracking pace. Thus enlivened, the MSB presented its main work, Bowen’s Kaleidoscope, an arrangement drawing on Rimsky-Korsakov’s brilliance. The MSB’s rendition effectively conveyed camaraderie, breast-beating laments and the grandiloquent, turbulent plight of Mother Russia’s people. The lush soundscapes of Roger Trigg’s God of the Ages followed, with the entreaty of St Anne: “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come …”. The MSB, bolstered by faith and common purpose, helped listeners transcend time and place. Great is Thy Faithfulness (Dan Forrest, arr. Andrew Wainwright) moved from introspective musing to stalwart testimony. This music offered hopeful prayer and balm for weary, wounded souls, as the MSB captured something of the grandeur and solemn beauty of the brass band through this piece. In resurrecting Bramwell Coles’ arrangement, Treasures from Tchaikovsky, Bandmaster Waterworth drew energy from his charges, with skilled eloquence emanating from high and low quarters. Scintillas of grace were on offer amid rendered aural beauty and virtuosic moments from the lower brass. When the two groups combined forces, conducted by Waterworth and then O’Kane, the concert caught alight. Robert Redhead’s Reflections in Nature (based on Catherine Baird’s Easter classic, When Jesus Looked o’er Galilee) was an inspired Lenten choice, and inspiring in its spine-tingling performance; an apt choice, Reflections was the musical and spiritual pinnacle of the afternoon. The gifts of the assembled musicians were put to a celestial task, and the massed group met that task ably. O’Kane’s leadership of The Chief of the Navy, listed as a quick march, was assured, measured and great fun. The audience’s feet were set tapping, and veteran servicemen and women in the audience were seen to be nodding along, with broad smiles on their faces. “The good thing about music is that it brings people together,” O’Kane observed in his closing remarks. That was, indeed, an observable truth, proved by both the performers and concertgoers. Click through the slideshow below for more photos of the concert:

To read Elaine’s Promoted to Glory notice, click here In 1957, Elaine and her husband Bill entered The Salvation Army Training College from the Enfield Corps, joining the cadet session named ‘Faithful.’ Their first appointment was as corps officers to Laidley, followed by Nanango, Macksville, Woodburn, Mullumbimby, Helidon, Kingaroy, Swansea, Bathurst and Wellington Corps. In 1972, Bill was appointed to the Finance Department at Territorial Headquarters in Sydney, leaving Elaine with the choice of what avenue her ministry would take. Elaine soon found two avenues of ministry, the first was to mark Corps Cadet papers for the Sydney Central Division, where she took a keen interest in the lives of the students whose papers she marked.  Later, whilst working in Community Care Ministries, she again contributed to the education of many volunteers marking papers as part of her contribution to that department. She also found a ministry in League of Mercy visitation at the Western Suburbs Hospital. This led to her completing the chaplaincy courses and extended hospital chaplaincy. During her time as a hospital chaplain, she visited Concord Repatriation Hospital, Mater Mothers, Mount Olivet and Greenslopes Hospitals in Brisbane and later, back to Concord Repatriation and Sydney Eye Hospitals. Following retirement in 1999, Elaine continued her hospital chaplaincy visitation until 2013. Her ministry in the hospitals was greatly appreciated. Throughout her officership, Elaine showed strength, determination and care for those in need.

To read Major Stanley Wilson’s PTG notice, click here

Collecting for the Red Shield Appeal can, at times, be less than exciting. If you’re at a static point in a busy shopping centre, you have music to listen to, people to observe, shops to consider spending money at and maybe even a food court nearby to have a break at. However, not all static points are as stimulating. One of our collection points is standing outside the door of a supermarket looking at a car park. People park their cars, walk into the supermarket, and 10 minutes later, they walk out and drive away. Sure, we collect good donations, but not much is going on to stimulate the senses. One of our static points is at a busy outdoor shopping mall, and I enjoy observing people as I stand there. I especially enjoy judging different fashions and styles. I hasten to add that I live much of my life in jeans, t-shirts and Dunlop Volleys, so I’m no fashion expert. But – just like judging art – I know what I like and don’t like. While I was collecting the other day, a teenage girl approached with a lady I assumed was her mother. As they walked past I noticed something moving just behind the girl: it was her fox tail. Yes, she had a full fox tail hanging out the back of her jeans and swinging behind her. I’m assuming it was not actually connected. A young man, maybe 20, walked by in his pyjamas and slippers. It was 1pm. I figured he was just being prepared in case a sudden and overwhelming urge to nap overtook him. Two teenage girls walked past wearing baggy, calf-length pants, socks and chunky white casual shoes. The socks stood out: one set had watermelon slices on them, and the other set had bees on them. They had swapped one sock so that they each had one watermelon sock and one bee sock. I wondered if they washed the other person’s sock before returning it or just gave it back dirty. An elderly lady walked past pushing a small shopping trolley. She would have been about 70 years old, with white hair, sensible black shoes, black slacks – and an Iron Maiden t-shirt. Perhaps she just liked the colourful design; perhaps she’s a fan of classic UK heavy metal music. Who knows? I saw four young businessmen walking and laughing together, seemingly on their lunch break. They all wore suits with white shirts, ties and black leather shoes. The suits were almost an identical colour – that mid-blue that seems to be the only choice of young, upwardly mobile office workers. I wondered how they choose what to wear each day as they look in their wardrobes in the morning: “Hmm, might wear the blue suit today.” Mind you, I can’t be too picky, I’m standing in a public place wearing a red apron! Sure, it has a big red shield on it announcing my representation of The Salvation Army, but nevertheless, it’s a red apron with little tie strings on the side. Maybe I need to get a fox tail to make myself more acceptable. That might help attract attention. – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos

BY LAUREN MARTIN A newly established Salvos fitness group in southern Sydney is meeting more than just physical health needs. Salvation Army workers Moira Guthrie (Community Services Coordinator) and Melissa Fowler (Doorways Case Worker) started the weekly Pilates-based group at the Shire Salvos’ food relief and assistance centre at Miranda. “Melissa Fowler and I saw a need to offer a safe space and some self-care for local women, and so began our first women’s only Pilates class,” Moira said. “Women who can’t afford classes like Pilates (which can cost up to $30 per session) consider it a luxury, and it is at the bottom of their needs list when it comes to trying to make ends meet. “Shire Salvos’ strength is partnering with other like-minded organisations in the area. While working closely with Orana Women’s Health Centre, we were able to secure a Pilates instructor who volunteers her time.” Women are referred by local community and caseworkers, and bookings are essential. The class is offered on Wednesdays when the centre is only open for appointments, so the Pilates area is a private, safe space. “One of the most prevalent issues in this area is family violence,” said Moira. “But it’s not often talked about. Women are mostly in caring roles, so they put themselves last and offering this consistent opportunity for them where they can give themselves self-care (at no cost) and the ability to find support with other like-minded women is wonderful.” One woman, who booked to attend the Pilates classes when invited by a friend, says it’s been wonderful: “I lost my little dog last year, and I walked with my dog twice a day, so I wasn’t walking anymore. It makes you feel good, and it gets you out in the community and meeting people, which is good and healthy.” She said living alone in a small government housing unit can get lonely. Having the Pilates class to go to every week brightens her day. Moira and Melissa say some of the most powerful moments of the new initiative have happened during coffee and chat time after class. “We sit around and have coffee and cake, and they can meet other like-minded women, and we can connect them to other services if they open up about things that are going on in their lives,” said Moira. Melissa said one participant commented to her about the progress and improvement she had seen in both her physical and mental health since beginning the weekly class: “The Pilates class is creating an opportunity to look after the biopsychosocial needs of women in the community. It has quickly become a valued and key connection point for women in this area.” The class is about nurturing body, mind and soul. And while The Salvation Army is often associated with financial, housing and other practical support measures, its mission pillars of Caring for People, Building Healthy Communities, Working for Justice and Creating Faith Pathways are more wholistic – which is why initiatives like this are so important.

Salvation Army teams and services in different locations commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), on 17 May to celebrate sexual and gender diversity. At the Melbourne headquarters of The Salvation Army Australia, around 60 people attended the celebration morning tea. Staff members reflected on the meaning of the day and how it ties in with The Salvation Army’s inclusion statement. Major Jenny Begent prayed specifically for the day, acknowledging that all have the right to live with dignity and without persecution or discrimination. Around Victoria, staff at the Salvos youth supported-accommodation facility in Shepparton hosted an afternoon tea with the young people at the site and participated with other local services in a community event. The Frankston team joined in festivities at the site they share with other external youth services from the Mornington Peninsula. Events also took place at the Sunshine Youth Hub and the Upton Road crisis accommodation service. Others, including a group from the Merri-Bek Salvos, attended community events. “IDAHOBIT Day serves as a pivotal opportunity for The Salvation Army Youth Services to reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity and support for individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions,” said James Aloni, State Manager for Youth Services, Victoria. “It's a day where we reflect on our ongoing efforts to create safe spaces and commit to furthering our support, ensuring that all young people feel affirmed and empowered within our communities.” Captain Brad McIver, head of Social Mission for The Salvation Army Australia, reflected on growing up in the 1970s and the “whitewashed” view of the world he had at the time. “I really am deeply grateful for the people of all abilities, from the LGBTQIA+ communities and from culturally diverse backgrounds who have been and are a part of my life – those who have spoken truth into my confusion and who have acted with grace as I have tried to grow and learn. “As I reflect on this year’s IDAHOBIT Day and consider this year's theme of ‘No one left behind’, I am reminded that, because of the way that we have as a community, as a society and I as an individual have responded to people from the LGBTQIA+ community in the past … it's so important that we are proactive in embracing, including and championing people of diverse backgrounds. “Just as we have prioritised our work with Indigenous Australians … just as we have prioritised our embracing of people of all abilities and those from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, so should we prioritise our engagement, our support, our allegiance and our inclusion of people from the LGBTQIA+ community. “We are committed to being an organisation that is inclusive, and which celebrates, embrace and lifts up diversity in all its forms in the days to come.” Everyone included Salvation Army team leaders also commented on the day. “We held a morning tea on IDAHOBIT Day to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ young people and continue the conversation around what IDAHOBIT stands for,,” said Kass, Youth Hub Coordinator at Youth Services West, Melbourne. “IDAHOBIT Day this year was a celebration of all the wonderful young people we support, from all walks of life, and a promotion of the Sunshine Youth Hub as a safe space for all, regardless of who they are and who they love.” Captain Belinda Cassie, Ministry and Support Coordinator for Youth Services (Vic.) commented on the IDAHOBIT Day theme, ‘No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all’. “As a person of faith, that is something I can 100 per cent get behind,” she said. “Jesus left us with the exhortation that we are to love God and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. There was no caveat added, so that mandate includes everyone from the LGBTQIA+ community too. “One facet of loving well is that we want equality for all, we want freedom for all, we want justice for all. We leave no one out and no one behind. When we know that two in three young people will experience abuse because of their sexuality or gender diversity, we support IDAHOBIT Day particularly. We strive, though, to live out that support every other day as well, in order that those young people, indeed all young people, as well as any of our staff who are LGBTQIA+ have the assurance that we stand with them.” To read Major Jenny Begent’s prayer, watch Bam’s story and learn more about The Salvation Army’s Inclusion Statement, click here.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Joy shares her story of volunteering at Bendigo Salvos (Vic.). Trained as a chef, her love of cooking has gone beyond nourishing bodies to nourishing minds and souls. Joy says what she loves about volunteering is “feeling appreciated ... and helping someone eat that normally might not eat”. You get far more out of it “than what you give”, says Joy.

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE International students in Geelong, Victoria, now have an environment where they can feel a sense of trust, safety and belonging, a program manager for The Salvation Army says. Australia has seen record numbers of international students in 2024, with a 23 per cent increase across the nation in the number of students from overseas compared to 2023. Victoria alone has recorded an increase of more than 37,000 students from last year’s numbers. Geelong International Student Lounge Program Manager Helen Nicholls-Stary said a lack of sufficient income and increasing mental health struggles were core issues for international students living in Geelong. She said finding work in hospitality or retail was a struggle for the large cohort of older postgraduate students drawn to Geelong. “It’s really difficult for them to pick up a job in McDonald’s or anything like that because they’re too old,” she said. “McDonald’s, Red Rooster, KFC – all of those, once you hit about 21, you’re out.” She said many also thought they would be able to secure part-time work in their chosen field to support themselves while studying, but that was also not typically achievable. “It just doesn’t work that way in Australia,” Helen said. She said because of these challenges and a lack of cultural awareness, students were vulnerable to exploitation. Helen said the International Student Lounge, located at the Geelong Corps, was running workshops on understanding worker rights, workplace cultural practices and how to secure a job. “For a lot of international students, they can write a resume, but they’ve done it in their own language, in their own country,” she said. “We [want to] offer that immediate feedback. It’s a bit like resume writing 101.” The Lounge, which opened in May 2023, has since provided hot meals at over 80 events, reached more than 500 international students and had a total attendance of close to 3000, which almost equals the number of international students at Deakin University, the largest education provider in Geelong. Helen said the Lounge was also offering health and wellbeing workshops to address mental health concerns, as many students were experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety. She said the Lounge staff were hoping to work alongside students to create digital resources to educate international students about mental health awareness and strategies. Helen said that, with online study continuing after COVID-19, students still felt a sense of isolation and a lack of connection. “We’re creating an environment where [there is] a sense of trust, a sense of safety and belonging,” she said. “That’s one of the things that we picked up right from the beginning. International students came to the lounge, and they’d say, ‘The problems that I thought only [I] was feeling, I’m now discovering everyone feels the same way’.” “There’s that sense of normality with some of those concerns and being able to talk about it and have that common feeling of being able to solve it together, or ‘I’m not the only one’.” The Lounge, which opened a year ago in May 2023, has since then provided hot meals at over 80 events, reached more than 500 international students and had a total attendance of close to 3000, which almost equals the number of international students at Deakin University, the largest education provider in Geelong. Another initiative beginning this year is a 10-week learn to swim and beach safety program. The program is set to run as a multicultural swim safety and surfing initiative, which Helen said was timely. “Over the Christmas period, we’ve had the highest rate of swimming deaths within the multicultural community,” she said. In addition to these programs, the Lounge is also set to host an International Friends cultural exchange program this year and a Discover Victoria excursion program so that students can travel for free to see significant tourist attractions across the state. These programs are available to Geelong International students as a result of the Study Melbourne Inclusion Program Grant for 2024. The Lounge is open every Monday and Thursday evening from 5-8pm and is open to all international students studying higher education.

The Australia Territory has 32 Aussie officers serving overseas this year, one at International Headquarters in London but based in Australia, and 10 overseas officers serving in different appointments here. Over the coming months, Global Focus will feature many of these officers – who they are, where they’re serving, the joys and challenges they face and what life looks like for them in their unique corners of The Salvation Army world.   Australian Colonels Geoff and Kalie Webb, who had been previously based at International Headquarters (IHQ) in the United Kingdom, took up new roles in Kenya West Territory in February. At IHQ, Geoff served as Executive Secretary to the General while Kalie held two roles – as Under Secretary for the South Asia Zone and as Director for SASIA SALT Learning Centre. In Kenya, Geoff is serving as Territorial Commander and Kalie as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. They have now served in four out of five Salvation Army zones, which they say has been an incredible privilege and opportunity. Salvos Online journalist KIRRALEE NICOLLE sat down with the Webbs virtually to find out a bit about their recent move, what they are learning and how we can all be more aware of what is happening on the other side of the world. You’ve obviously moved around quite a bit, but can you tell me how it felt this time finding out that you were moving to Kenya? Kalie: I was very busy in a job that I loved as Under Secretary for South Asia. Having served in South Asia, I understood the context and was really involved with it, so it was sad for me to leave that job after such a short time. However, the opportunities that we have to be able to come alongside the people of the Kenya West Territory has been a blessing to us. Geoff: I think our respective situations were different. Kalie was heavily immersed in her role. We were only in IHQ for a year and then we were moved here to Kenya. For me, it was a different context. I was the Executive Secretary of the General, which was a wonderful opportunity to serve very closely alongside two generals for whom I already had great respect – which further increased when working closely with them. Having said that, I must admit that being involved in a territorial leadership role is something that I enjoyed before and now I’m really enjoying again. What would you say has been an unexpected or surprising feature of your last 13 weeks in Kenya? Geoff: I would have to say the worship. It’s an amazing experience: it’s vibrant, there’s a lot of dancing and the music is so rich. A worship leader might sing one line of the melody and then everybody joins in with this amazing set of harmonies. If you’ve never experienced African singing, then it’s hard to describe. Another thing I’ve encountered is the incredible sense of welcome. We walk down the street, and because there are so many Salvationists in the area, we could go into a supermarket and the person who is the checkout attendant may be a Salvationist. People smile readily, are happy to see you and we feel safe. We feel part of things here and we are spending a lot of time learning and listening. Kalie: We’ve grown up typically expecting that you only go to worship for about an hour on Sunday. If it goes longer than, say, an hour and a half, people tend to think it’s too long. We are now in the situation where we have worship that goes for anywhere between two and three and a half hours long. But it’s vibrant and it’s great. Which city are you living in? Geoff: Kakamega – it’s a rural town in the heart of the territory. It’s fairly small by comparison to Mombasa, Nairobi or Kisumu, the top three largest cities. A lot of officers in the territory are farmers, and when they take holidays, they return to their family homes to plant the next crop. Which sources have you been drawing on to help you understand the context that you’re now in? Geoff: There have been several officers who have lived in Africa before – people like Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson, and Major Seth LeLou from New Zealand, who have all been an amazing help to us. We were given some helpful resources by people like Richard Bradbury at IHQ who’s also lived in Africa. I think a lot of it is about asking questions, being adaptable and recognising that everywhere is different, and if you listen you can learn fairly quickly from people. Kalie: An example of that is that on Thursdays and Fridays, we often hear shouting and yelling, and we’ve recently learned it’s because someone has passed away. Usually, they will move the person who’s died from the morgue to the funeral home on a Thursday or a Friday, ready for a funeral on Saturday. Some of those life things give you a little more understanding of the culture. We’ve been fortunate to have lived in Pakistan before, so we know to ask the questions where you anticipate that the answer is going to be different from how you live your life back home. So, from the news we are aware of some of the some of the things that are going on in that part of the world, including famine. In the time you have been there, what are some of the needs that you’ve identified or are learning about? Geoff: It’s an interesting one because Kenya West demonstrates two very different effects of climate change. In the northern part of the territory, where we visited recently, is an area which is basically desert. It resembles parts of the Australian inland. People living in that area tend to be nomadic. Water and food insecurity are problems there. In other parts of western Kenya, where drought has not been a problem, we are now facing the climate-change issue of flooding, which is occurring much more frequently. Crops have been washed away, and potential harvests have gone. Others have not only lost their livelihoods but also their homes have been swept away. So, it’s a difficult situation here in Kenya and probably in other parts as well. In Kenya East Territory, there are places where they are really doing it tough at the moment with the flood situation. Are there any other experiences that you’d like to share? Kalie: We recently had the opportunity to go visit a corps in Turkana, northwest Kenya. When we got there, we found the building of the hall was funded by the Australia Territory back in the 1990s. It was great to have that connection and to tell them we were from Australia. We also learned some officers in Turkana are really doing it tough. One young male officer was living in a corrugated iron shed with no fan. Because the temperatures reach the mid-40s, he was not able to stay in his house after a certain point in the day. It was too hot to sleep in at night, so in the evening he would drag his mattress outside, but that made him vulnerable to snakes and scorpions. We also found out that when the people of Turkana get really hungry and desperate, there is a poisonous fruit that they will boil three times to extract the poison so that they can eat it. Things like this just break your heart. Geoff: All you want to do is help as best you can. But, unfortunately, there is no magic wand solution. We did buy some fans for air movement in two corps/quarters where there were none. It’s not until you hear the personal stories that you actually can connect more with it than just reading about it on the news. Overall, we’re having a wonderful time. We are enjoying what we’re doing and we’re also incredibly grateful to Australia for the support they provide. Australia Territory has always been very generous to different projects around the world, including here in Kenya.

BY LAUREN MARTIN It’s not a usual day in the office when you find yourself shedding a few silent tears over lunch in the ballroom of a five-star hotel. But that was the reality for many of the 430 guests of the Sydney Red Shield Appeal launch when they heard the raw, beautiful story of a woman assisted by the Salvos. The event brought home the reality of financial hardship and household dysfunction that too many Australian children grow up in and how the Salvos offer a range of wrap-around services to assist and journey with people to a brighter future. The launch on Friday 17 May was attended by businesspeople, supporters and dignitaries, including the honourable Mark Buttigieg MLC, media personalities Natalie Barr and Joe Hilderbrand, and singer and Salvos ambassador Samantha Jade. Guests heard about the growing need among Australians struggling to make ends meet – and the impact that hardship has on all aspects of people’s lives. Testimonial speaker Bee Orsini told those gathered that her limited memories of childhood included moving around a lot, having very little to eat and growing up with a mother who, in hindsight, slept and drank a lot because she was incredibly lonely and depressed. “It wasn’t the lack of money, presents or a washing machine,” she said, “It’s what the absence of these things said about our lives: that we were worthless, added no value to the world, and that no one cared about us.” Eventually, Bee left home as a teen because she didn’t feel safe there, ironically moving into situations that she would later realise were even more unsafe. After a tumultuous few years, while experiencing homelessness and couch surfing, a friend told her about The Salvation Army. Bee reached out and began a long-term journey of healing, with the Salvos alongside her every step of the way. “What are three things from my time at Oasis [The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network] that helped me to heal? Consistency, accountability and love,” she said. “When we think of these big, complex challenges like homelessness or the cost-of-living crisis, we often think of the big solutions or changes at a systemic or institutional level. This is different from walking alongside someone to directly transform their life. “While it’s not one or the other, my hope is that when you hear my story, you recognise the profound impact of investing in one life at a time – no matter how long it takes. The thing is, though, there are very few organisations or initiatives prepared to journey alongside people in this way for the long haul. But the Salvos are!” Bee, who now works for The Salvation Army as a Financial Inclusion Project Officer, encouraged those gathered to give generously to this year’s Red Shield Appeal. The response was overwhelming, with more than $850,000 pledged on the day.

BY ANTHONY CASTLE Hundreds of Salvation Army supporters have attended major Red Shield Appeal launches in Adelaide and Perth over the past two weeks. The Adelaide launch was a breakfast held on Wednesday 8 May at the Convention Centre in the city, while the Perth launch was also a breakfast event, held at Optus Stadium. ADELAIDE A local Kaurna man, Allen Edwards, brought a Welcome to Country for the morning. Guests included Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection, representing The Premier, and Michelle Lensink MLC, Shadow Minister for Social and Community Housing, representing the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon David Speirs MP. Jane Doyle OAM was the MC for the event. “We are delighted you have chosen to join us today,” she said. “Together, we can ease the burden countless families are facing. Your generosity places the Salvos on the frontline, providing immediate support through emergency relief centres while working to find long-term solutions and a new beginning. “Today, more so than ever in the past few years, surging prices are driving Australians toward greater hardship. Although there have been sporadic slivers of hope, increased inflation, successive interest rate hikes, and the growing rental crisis have caused unprecedented levels of financial and personal stress for millions across the nation.” The Honourable Frances Adamson, Governor of South Australia, provided a video message due to being overseas. Tanya Hosch, Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy with the AFL, was the keynote speaker. “As a Christian movement, The Salvation Army is deeply involved in communities across South Australia, tackling rising issues like homelessness, financial struggles, family violence, addiction, isolation, and mental health challenges,” said Major Paul Hateley, Divisional Commander South Australia/Northern Territory. “We’re all here today because we all share a commitment to helping those in crisis. From providing immediate relief like bill assistance and groceries to offering long-term support such as counselling and accommodation, together we stand ready to walk alongside individuals and families on their journey.” The Honourable Katrine Hildyard MP presented a cheque from the South Australian government for $25,000. Electel Resources made a lead gift of $30,000. Mark Wood of Pro Vending donated $20,000 to the campaign. The Salvos provided over 1.67 million sessions of care across all social programs in the past 12 months. Major Mal Davies, Adelaide City Salvos Corps Officer, spoke to a video presenting the story of Sue, whose engagement with the Salvos Moneycare financial services team empowered her to find a new beginning. “Sue commenced by saying that the many complex factors that led her and her family into financial hardship felt like a tsunami, and she spoke of feeling ashamed and losing control and not being able to face her friends and family,” explained Major Mal Davies. “This is something that, sadly, we’ve seen more and more of as the cost-of-living crisis has continued.” The morning also acknowledged and celebrated some of The Salvation Army’s valued supporters. Colonel Rodney Walters, Secretary for Communications, and Major Hateley presented the Eva Burrows Award to Mrs Shirley Uhrig and Mr John Uhrig AC. The Others Award was presented to Mr Mark Gevers, Managing Director and owner of Electel Resources, supporters of The Salvation Army and major sponsor of the event. Colonel Rodney Walter closed the morning in prayer: “Go into the world in peace, have courage, take hold of what is good, never pay back wrong for wrong, let compassion be your companion and forgiveness your constant friend. Keep the fires of the spirit burning; seek always what is best and keep the faith.” Click through the slideshow below for more photos from the Adelaide launch: PERTH Communications expert Christina Morrissy was the MC for the Perth launch of the Red Shield Appeal. Christina welcomed guests, including His Excellency Chris Dawson, Governor of Western Australia, and Sabine Winton, MLA Member for Wanneroo. Divisional Commander Major Brad Potter spoke about the heart of The Salvation Army before presenting the Others Award to The Wearne Charitable Trust and the Eva Burrows Award to Keith Sorensen. Doorways State Manager Lindsay Boyer shared about the Army’s impact across Western Australia and introduced Danielle Black, who powerfully shared about the life-transforming work in Karratha in the state’s far north-west. “It was a wonderful morning celebrating the impact of The Salvation Army and highlighting the vital need for ongoing support and collaboration to care for our most vulnerable across WA,” Brad said. Click through the slideshow below for more photos from the Perth launch:

Join us as we celebrate National Volunteer Week! Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett shares a message of thanks to our nearly 20,000 dedicated individuals who volunteer in various roles each day. This year's theme, ‘Something for Everyone’ celebrates this vibrant, diverse and passionate community and highlights our commitment to inclusivity and community involvement. Whether you’re greeting guests at our local stores, aiding in emergency responses or contributing your expertise to our committees, your unique perspectives and efforts create lasting impacts across Australia. Happy National Volunteer Week!