Warragul Corps celebrated its 140th anniversary in April. The weekend was well attended by current members, including Corps Officers Majors Jenni and Lindsay Frost. Past members attending included prior corps leaders Majors Winton Knop, Jeanette and Wayne Ennis, Majors Kirsten and Warren Elliot and Captain Amanda Hart. The celebration began on the Friday night, with a meet and greet event at the church in Burke St. Saturday saw 80 people attend a trivia night where much fun was had by all. Sunday morning saw a worship service led by former Corps Officers Majors Kirsten and Warren Elliot. Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham greeted the congregation and Meg and Roy Edwards shared their memories of worship at the church. The weekend culminated with a celebration concert held on Sunday afternoon with many people from the community attending. Member for Monash Russell Broadbent greeted the congregation before presenting Doorways case manager Rob Oosterhof with a special plaque acknowledging his seven years of service to the Warragul Corps. Another presentation was made to Roy Edwards acknowledging more than half a century of collecting for the Red Shield Appeal in the Warragul community. During the concert the Warragul band, songsters, timbrels and male voices brought musical items. Eleven-year-old Molly Lais played the piano solo, ‘Shadow Dance’, by Macdowell. One of the features of the weekend was the many photos and memorabilia collected over 140 years and an entertaining multimedia presentation. An anniversary cake was cut during lunch by the oldest attending member, Denis Bright, and the youngest, baby Lucas Green. The church produced a Warragul Corps photo memory book. A copy can be purchased by calling the church office on 5623 1090. This article first appeared in the Warragul & Drouin Gazette.

BY COMMISSIONER MIRIAM GLUYAS, Territorial Commander The Salvation Army Australia Territory has issued a ‘rallying cry’ as a callback to its Army roots, using slogans to unite and inspire our Salvationist troops. The rallying cry is ‘Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed’. The rallying cry isn’t intended to add even more to our mission, vision, and values, but instead serves as a measure to draw them all together as we ask ourselves in all we do: ‘Is Jesus central to this?’ ‘Where is the Spirit leading us?’ ‘Where am I seeing hope revealed?’ Today we explore the first of the three rallying cries: Jesus-centred. JESUS-CENTRED Jesus is our source. Jesus is our lifeforce.Jesus is our reason for living, loving, and fighting. We live according to the ways of Jesus as outlined in the Gospel accounts. We love according to the example set throughout the Bible by the Saviour who laid his life down for us. We fight using spiritual discernment (Ephesians 6), by the power of our Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and not in our own strength or ways (Philippians 2:13). Jesus is the only way to transformation of the world: he was foreknown before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20), foretold of before his birth (Isaiah 7:14), and serves as the forerunner of our salvation (Hebrews 6:20). Jesus is the only way to the building of the church: he is the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11), the building blocks within his people (1 Peter 2:5) and the capstone of all (Matthew 21:42). The Salvation Army Australia commits to staying in step with Christ’s leading and teaching (2 John 1:9), enduring all things that God’s salvation may be evident (1 Peter 4:12-19), praying continually that all may find salvation (1 Timothy 2:1-6) and living out our faith as a consistent testimony so that God’s name be praised (Matthew 5:16). Jesus has offered his life as ransom for our sin, was raised from the dead, resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit and now reigns supreme at the right-hand of God. We commit that there is no room for anything but Jesus at the heart of The Salvation Army in Australia. The Salvation Army has an international mission statement that sets the identity and direction for every command and centre that the Army operates: “The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination.” – International Salvation Army Mission Statement Co-founder Catherine Booth once said: “Whatever the particular call is, the particular sacrifice God asks you to make, the particular cross God wishes you to embrace, whatever the particular path God wants you to tread, will you rise up, and say in your heart, ‘Yes, Lord, I accept it; I submit, I yield, I pledge myself to walk in that path, and to follow that Voice, and to trust Thee with the consequences?’ Oh! but you say, ‘I don't know what God will want next.’ No, we none of us know that, but we know we shall be safe in God’s hands.” Co-founder William Booth once said: “In salvation that is both sound and saving one is brought to see that he has nothing, is nothing, can do nothing, merits nothing, but that he is in desperate need of someone to deliver him and that Jesus Christ is the only One who can and the only One who will.” ·      SAVIOUR: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17) ·      SUPREME: “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:18) ·      SOLE: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6). ·      SURRENDERED: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant ...” (Philippians 2:5-11). ·      SAVED: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12). ·      SINGLE-HEARTED: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). ·      SANCTIFIED AND SENT: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (John 17:15-19). “The Salvation Army Australia is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus. We share the love of Jesus by caring for people, creating faith pathways, building healthy communities, and working for justice.” – The Salvation Army Mission Statement The themes above are simply suggestions to help us focus our thoughts. They each relate to Jesus’s identity and how we are meant to live in response; in our caring, creating, building and working. “Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight, alongside others, to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.” – The Salvation Army Mission Statement Commissioner Miriam Gluyas speaks with Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Reid (Spiritual Life Projects Leader) about being Jesus-centred: https://youtu.be/wgcTTCUecRM

BY COMMISSIONER MIRIAM GLUYAS, Territorial Commander The Salvation Army Australia Territory has issued a ‘rallying cry’ as a callback to its Army roots, using slogans to unite and inspire our Salvationist troops. The rallying cry is ‘Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed’. The rallying cry isn’t intended to add even more to our mission, vision, and values, but instead serves as a measure to draw them all together as we ask ourselves in all we do: ‘Is Jesus central to this?’ ‘Where is the Spirit leading us?’ ‘Where am I seeing hope revealed?’ Today we explore the second of the three rallying cries: SPIRIT-LED The Salvation Army has 11 faith-based statements, called doctrines, that summarise our religious beliefs. These statements place The Salvation Army in harmony with other mainstream denominations of Protestant Christianity. Doctrine 7 states: “We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary for salvation.” Samuel Logan Brengle, one of The Salvation Army’s great holiness theologians writes about the Holy Spirit: “The baptism of the Holy Ghost is to bring us into union with Christ, into loving fellowship with the Heavenly Father, to fit us snugly into God's great, complex scheme of life, and equip us for such service or sacrifice as falls to our lot.” (The Guest of the Soul, 1934). The Holy Spirit has been gifted to us and works in regenerating us inwardly and propelling us outwardly. The Holy Spirit helps us to be like Christ in both his declaration and subsequent demonstration in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” We believe the Holy Spirit convicts us (John 16:8), convinces others (Acts 2:4) and conceives new birth in believers. (Romans 8:11). To be led by the Holy Spirit requires great discernment without distraction (Ephesians 5:1-25), discipline without detraction (Acts 15:28), and conviction that leads to action (Acts 2:1-37). Spiritual development, prayer and fasting, discipleship and accountability, prophetic gifts and testing of the word, time in teaching and learning, devotions, worship, retreats: whatever the practice, all of our ways must lead to listening to God and obeying God’s voice as evidenced through the Holy Spirit. It may be easy to think that being led by the Spirit is about serving well, ministering better or simply being a good servant of God. But Brengle has more to say about this: “The baptism with the Holy Ghost is for power for service!’ so many people think and say. And so, it is. But it is for far more! The baptism does reinforce and empower the soul. The man or woman who is baptized with the Spirit is ‘endued with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49), and as a spiritual energy and effectiveness which are not of this world. Their lives and their words take on a strange, new influence and power, which come from the active co-operation of an unseen Guest, a holy and Divine Presence abiding in love within them, and this fits them for the service of their Lord. But service is not the whole purpose of man’s being. What a person is is more important than what they do. Goodness is better than greatness.” The Salvation Army Australia has also adopted the line, ‘Believe in Good’ as a means of connecting others with the heart of our movement, encouraging faith in the Good News and hope for the future. This is visible on internal and external communications. It is an invitation to faith, and an urging to see God’s goodness in the world at work. We don’t aspire to be simply a ‘great’ organisation or movement or mission. We want to truly be the Good News of Jesus Christ, lived out and empowered by our Holy Spirit’s revelation. The Salvation Army Australia is committed to this, from our roots to our fruit. We have a Spiritual Life Committee made up of officers and soldiers who meet throughout the year to pray, discern, seek God and position ourselves in an attitude of reverence, surrender, humility and listening before God. We believe every follower of Jesus should be involved in similar action and practice. Whatever the outworking of the Holy Spirit’s gifts or leading in your life, we know that every believer is charged with the following promise in regards to prayerful discernment: “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:17-18). Co-founder William Booth once said: “Before we go to our knees to receive the Baptism of Fire, let me beg of you to see to it that your souls are in harmony with the will and purpose of the Holy Spirit whom you seek.” Co-founder Catherine Booth once said: “Now, this is who I account for the want of results – the want of the direct, pungent, enlightening, convicting, restoring, transforming power of the Holy Ghost; and I care not how gigantic the intellect of the agent, or how equipped from the school of human learning. I would rather have a Hallelujah Lass, a little child, with the power of the Holy Ghost, hardly able to put two sentences of the Queen’s English together, to come to help, bless and benefit my soul than I would the most learned divine in the kingdom without it.” ·       RECEIVED: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). ·       REASSURED: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26). ·       REMINDED: ‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26). ·       RELATIONAL: ‘For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14). ·       REVELATION: ‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). ·       REGENERATED: ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36-26-27). The themes above are simply suggestions to help us focus our thoughts. They each relate to the Holy Spirit’s identity and how we are meant to live in response; in our caring, creating, building and working. I recently sat down with my good friends Rosy and Eva. Together we shared the times we depended on the Holy Spirit to lead us in the midst of struggle and the unknown.  To view the conversation, click here

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE The Salvation Army has unveiled a refuge for women and children escaping violence in the Northern Territory. The Family Violence Refuge Service was officially opened in Palmerston on 10 April. The centre is set to offer safe housing for approximately 40 women and 70 children over the next 12 months, with a purpose-built facility comprising 10 crisis accommodation units. The rate of those fleeing family violence in the region has outnumbered the accommodation available of its kind in the past few years. The Salvation Army’s General Manager for Family and Domestic Violence Services, Lorrinda Hamilton, said family and domestic violence was one of the leading causes of homelessness for women and children. “It is vital that women fleeing abuse have a safe place to recover and rebuild their lives,” she said. “This new facility will allow more vulnerable women and children to have such a sanctuary.” The refuge, which was built over three years, features eight two-bedroom units for small families and two one-bedroom units designed with access for women with a disability that are also large enough for a woman and an infant. They come with a children’s play area, individual kitchen and bathroom. Clients will receive new linen and welcome packs as well as therapeutic toys, which remain theirs when they leave the centre. The facility was built on an existing site for almost $8.5 million, including $5.6 million provided by the Commonwealth Government Safe Places Program. As part of this program, the Northern Territory Labor Government has also committed $852,000 in funding from August 2022 and a further $5.9 million over the next four years towards operational costs to provide critical support for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence. The Salvation Army funded the remainder of the cost of the build through bequests and the sale of a property. The cost of the swing set was covered by long-term donors to The Salvation Army, Bo and Lindsay Wharton, who have donated more than $200,000 to The Salvation Army. Lorrinda said the design drew on local feedback, international and national evidence and best-practice research. “The centre will provide specialist family violence services and therapeutic, functional, independent and culturally sensitive accommodation to address the increased demand for family violence refuge in the area,” she explained. “We are deeply grateful to the Federal and State Governments who have supported this critical response.” The facility is one of 15 Salvation Army refuges of its kind across Australia, with more set to open later this year in Western Australia and Tasmania through the same state and Commonwealth funding model. Transforming hope Commissioner Miriam Gluyas attended the opening, and said the centre was an incredible facility with beautiful staff who would bring life and hope to families who had experienced things that they should never have gone through. “Our mission statement says that wherever there is hardship or injustice Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others, transforming Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus,” she said. “This is what our DV centre at Palmerston is all about.” The Salvos’ Family and Domestic Violence Services team offers Prevention and Early Intervention Services; Specialist Family Violence Case Management Services; Refuge and Accommodation Services; Men’s Programs; Children and Parenting Services; Brokerage Services; Counselling Services; Security and Safety Upgrades; and Orange Door Services to those fleeing or recovering from violence. In 2023, The Salvation Army provided 123,000 nights of refuge and emergency accommodation, helping a total of 10,000 women and children. Family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia, with one in four women experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime.

This Anzac Day, we remember the courage and dedication of brave Australian men and women. As we listen to The Last Post, may we be forever thankful to those who have sacrificed for our country in times of war both past and present.

Each week throughout this year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army. Prayer requests are shared by the focus territory/region to help us pray with precision and power for one another. This week (29 April-5 May) we are praying for the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory. Please pray for: Switzerland ·       Give thanks and pray for the start of a new strategy period that we have entitled ‘Lives transformed’. May Jesus transform the lives of many people in our corps and social centres! ·       Pray for workers for the harvest. Only one cadet is being sent out this summer, and no one has signed up for officer training this year. Austria ·       Pray for the management team in Vienna under the leadership of Major Gerhard Wyss. A redistribution of responsibilities is planned – pray for wisdom for this. ·       Pray for our small corps in Vienna that is seeking new ways of reaching out to their neighbourhood. Hungary ·       Pray for our French-speaking regional leaders who face the daily challenge of the Hungarian language, which is foreign to them. Ask for strength, motivation and wisdom. ·       Give thanks and pray for the preparations for the 100th anniversary of The Salvation Army in Hungary. The celebrations will take place 24 - 26 May 2024 in Budapest. For more information on the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory, click here. For more information on the International Prayer Focus 2024, and to download the calendar, click here.

BY MAJOR MAL DAVIES When we judge others, we generally do so based on a lack of information. We see someone and immediately decide what sort of person they are. Have you ever done that? Have you ever summed someone up at a glance? And how do you feel when someone does it to you? Many years ago, I marched in a Salvation Army band in an Anzac Day parade. The crowds that lined the streets were wonderful and supportive of those marching by. It was a beautiful Autumn Day, and I felt proud to be Australian. I was on the outer line of band members, right near the crowd, and I could see and hear something of a commotion up ahead. It appeared that a rowdy group was having a right old yell and carrying on somewhat. In the lead-up to the day, there had been talk of protestors attending Anzac Day marches and possibly causing disruptions, and, well, that’s what seemed to be taking place right before my eyes. Put in my place I considered if I should say something when I reached them. I felt I should but then I also realised I was representing The Salvation Army, so I’d need to be careful of my own behaviour! I also figured it wasn’t really my job; there were police present at intervals all along the parade route. Finally, I decided that I just couldn’t march by without saying something, so I composed some words of admonition to put them in their place. As I got to these guys, I could more clearly hear what they were saying: “Good on ya, digger!”, “Well done, mate”, “You guys are legends,” “Brilliant effort, lads.” They were clapping hands and waving and cheering for the veterans more than anyone along the whole march. Well … that put me in my place. I’d seen them and assumed the exact opposite of what the reality was. They weren’t jeering, they were cheering, and they were doing it with nationalistic pride and immense passion. The Bible contains many warnings about judging others and, in one, Jesus says quite simply: “Stop judging by mere appearances but, instead, judge correctly” (John chapter seven, verse 24). “I’ve judged a lot of people wrongly in my life … I pray that God teaches me to see as he sees.” There is a story in the Bible of a man called Samuel, who was chosen to identify the man God had chosen to one day be king of Israel (plot spoiler: it was David). Samuel looked at David’s older brothers and none of them seemed to be right, and then saw the small, younger brother. God seemed to say, “It’s him.” Samuel wasn’t convinced at first, but God said to him, “Other people judge on outward appearance, but I look at a person’s heart” (1 Samuel chapter 16, verse seven). Seeing as God sees Most of us don’t have x-ray vision or the ability to see into someone’s heart, so how do we get to see what’s in there? Easy – we get to know someone. We spend time with them. We hear their story. We assess their personality and character. We observe how they treat others. We listen to their words and note their actions. We build up a character study that allows us to ‘see’ their heart. I’ve judged a lot of people wrongly in my life, including some punks one Anzac Day; I pray that God teaches me to see as he sees.

In his April devotion, General Lyndon Buckingham shares the story of Zacchaeus – the tax collector who wanted to see Jesus, but from a distance. As Jesus entered Jericho, he stopped at the tree that Zacchaeus had climbed to get a better view of him, and told him he wanted to fellowship with him at his house. The General explained how this powerful encounter with Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ life – a beautiful story of salvation. General Buckingham shares that he often thinks about this story, and wonders whether there “are people in trees all around us who are interested, but somewhat distant when it comes to knowing about Jesus". He continues, “Perhaps this week, you and I will have an opportunity to invite someone to come a little bit closer and to experience the transforming grace that comes from a powerful encounter with Jesus. May it be so. God bless you.” To watch the devotional video, click here or on the video below.

As Anzac Day 2024 approaches, Salvos Online brings you the story of Brigadier John McCabe OBE, one of The Salvation Army’s longest-serving Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS) representatives. John was promoted to glory in 2009 at the age of 96. John McCabe joined The Salvation Army at the age of 20 and, within a few years, was serving as a ‘Sallyman’ supporting the Australian Defence Forces in the Middle East, Ceylon, Korea, Papua New Guinea and Australia. He ‘enlisted’ on 28 October 1940, aged 26. In 1941 in the Middle East, he was attached to various units within HQ 6 Australian Division. He returned to Australia in August 1942, but the following month was bound for New Guinea, where he quickly made his presence known with troops on the Kokoda Track. In New Guinea, he was the only RSDS representative to cross the Kokoda Track and the Sanananda Track during World War Two. Recalling the events years later, he said: “At one stage, we existed for months on a daily ration of a 12-ounce can of bully beef and some dry biscuits. But we got through.” John, who lost his father to World War One, also served in Korea for 12 months from 1951. In his roles, in World War Two and Korea, John said he was often called upon to offer advice and counsel to Diggers. In his words, “… a good counsellor needs to have big ears – needs to be a good listener. We relied upon God to help us in these matters, and I believe he did … the advice given and referrals made were not done lightly, but under advice from him.” John remembered he was sounded out about serving in Korea and was given a chance to decline, but “I was asked to go, and I went; I said yes. The fact was, it was a [kind] of service that I’d been in, and that I’d liked; so much so that, even after Korea, and when I finished my career, I finished back with the services. All told, I had close on 25 years working with troops … I suppose it was something that I felt I could do.” Although he could only occasionally give a short message, John’s men had the best kind of preacher with them. True to his own philosophy, John lived out his beliefs, and his actions spoke more loudly about the One he represented than any sermon could have. When asked if he regretted anything about his service, John admitted, “The ones who suffer are the ones that stayed behind. The biggest price for my service was paid by my wife (Elsie). While I was in Korea, we had two children at that stage, and she had all the responsibility while worrying about what was happening. “A soldier is not actually in the frontline all the time,” he continued. “There are times when … the biggest danger that he’s got to fight against is himself and the environment in which he finds himself; particularly in a foreign country. “So, I think that the people who stay behind possibly suffer more; possibly, enough credit has not been given. As far as my wife’s concerned, she paid more, in terms of emotional, spiritual drain and physical drain, than I ever did.” John later became a Salvation Army officer, serving in corps throughout NSW and Queensland, before retiring in 1979. In retirement, he continued to serve others, including working as a volunteer driver at The Salvation Army’s Riverview Gardens facility in Brisbane. In early 2007, the 3 RAR Association presented John with a plaque honouring the work of The Salvation Army RSDS and for his work as a ‘Sallyman’ during World War Two and the Korean conflict. In April 2007, the plaque was placed permanently in Concord Hospital’s Kokoda Memorial Garden in Sydney. Brigadier John McCabe OBE was promoted to glory in July 2009, aged 96. He and his wife Elsie (who was promoted to glory in 2005) had five children. In his book Salvos With The Forces, author Walter Hull concludes that Brigadier John McCabe OBE “represents all that is finest in a Red Shield representative.”

The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS) in Australia has long had a special relationship with the Australian Defence Force (ADF), offering practical, emotional and spiritual support in difficult situations, times of grief and in everyday life. As RSDS representatives and other Salvation Army personnel serve at ANZAC Day services around the country again this year, Salvos Online looks at this unique ministry. COMPILED BY SIMONE WORTHING The history of the ‘Sallyman’ and ‘Sallyma’am’ (as they are affectionally called) in Australia dates back to the Second Boer War in 1899. William Booth, The Salvation Army’s co-founder, sent Adjutant Mary Murray to offer the troops a place of respite and someone to talk to. Mary did just that, setting up a tent that soldiers from both sides of the fighting could access, providing a hot cuppa, biscuits and a listening ear. “This outreach continued through the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam – every conflict that involved the Australian Army,” said Major Brett Gallagher, Chief Commissioner of the RSDS. “And this is what we continue to do today – 125 years later. “We also have the report from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide being released later this year. We see this as a place where we can help those who are struggling due to their service. That’s our heart as a team and as The Salvation Army – to help others find wholeness.” Around the nation, RSDS representatives support ADF personnel and their families – on the bases, on exercises at various locations and occasionally overseas. There are currently 13 RSDS representatives at five Army bases around Australia; three at Royal Military College, Duntroon; and one in Melbourne, who oversees veterans’ Ministries. In Canberra, Majors Joanne and Kenneth Delamore provide a valuable ministry at The Royal Military College, Duntroon, and the Australian Defence Force Academy. “We’re The Salvation Army officers, Sallyman and Sallyma’am,” says Kenneth. “We take our truck and provide a practical service of tea, coffee, lollies, biscuits ... all that practical good stuff, but also a listening ear. And when you’re out bush and doing it hard, as the cadets are more often than not, that service, when we come in for that five, 10 minutes, one hour, whatever it is, it’s a real morale booster.” Army Cadet Lawrence David backs this up: “Whenever I see the truck roll up, it always gives me this hope or this motivation. It’s a lift, a push, to my morale. So, in those stressful moments, in those hard days, whenever I see the truck, it’s always really encouraging to me, like, oh, there’s the truck, there’s someone to talk to.” More than a cuppa Joanne explains that there is more behind their ministry than just having a cuppa and a chat. “The cadets will often talk with us about some of their life struggles and concerns,” she says. “It’s a chance for us to support and encourage them and bring hope. “They also ask about any news, sports results and what’s happening in the world. We have a laugh and build relationships. This opens the door to deeper conversations.” The growing number of females in the Army will often come to Joanne to talk. “As with the guys, it’s a chance for the women to chat to someone who is not in their chain of command about their lives and, at times, what they’re struggling with,” she says. Joanne often drops off batches of her famous Anzac biscuits at battalion headquarters, to families and different groups. “People see that you’re there for them, and it opens doors for our ministry,” she explains. “I love that we have the freedom within the defence structure, as part of The Salvation Army, to support people in their daily lives; and that we’re wanted in those spaces.” Long-term relationship “The relationship between the broader Australian Army and The Salvation Army is one that goes back a long way, particularly at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, where we train the officers of the Australian Army,” explains the Army’s Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hickey. “The relationship between the two organisations is one of critical importance. It really assists the young trainees to understand the welfare benefits, the morale benefits organisations such as the RSDS provide – things they can take forward into their future careers to assist their soldiers.” Coming full circle At the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia, RSDS representative Auxiliary-Lieutenant Vaughan Agnew says his work revolves around “hanging out and doing life with people, having a chat and providing support. “I am part of the welfare team, and I work heavily with the padre (chaplain) and the welfare officer.” Vaughan also takes his truck “out bush” for regular stints away with the 1st Armoured Regiment, part of the 9th Brigade. He is usually away around 13 weeks per year, with each stint varying from two to three weeks or slightly longer. When requested, he also helps support the Reserves, as well as cadet and other units. Vaughan supplies the Sallyman coffee, tea, cordial, lollies and biscuits on the barracks when asked. From time to time, when requested by the Australian Government, Vaughan and other RSDS representatives support flood and bushfire response efforts, both nationally and at state level. Vaughan grew up in The Salvation Army and served in Darwin in the 2nd Calvary Regiment from 2002-2006. “I understand what soldiers typically go through and the importance of just having a friendly sounding board – someone they can safely and comfortably have a chat to outside their chain of command – a civilian but who dresses and talks like them,” he says. “I also understand the Sallyman and the Salvos and all they can offer. “With my background, I am already connected to the soldiers. I’m a trusted person because of that situation, part of the brotherhood. It’s a level playing field and an amazing space to step into. “No matter what I do in this big organisation, God is in everything. He puts the right person in my path at the right time. All I have to do is be obedient and follow him.” Vaughan has worked with defence families on the base as well. This role is now covered by another RSDS representative, Major Mairi Mitchell. Leaning on Jesus “In all the good times and the really tough, I still love what I do,” said Major Sue May, who came out of an early retirement to serve for the third time as an RSDS representative at the Robertson Barracks, Darwin. “The simple act of giving ‘a cup of cold water’, giving a little encouragement, sitting with people in their ‘stuff’, and sharing the journey with those I meet – it’s quite a privilege. I share my experience along the way so that people know I lean on Jesus to get through.  Hopefully, they will see Jesus in this Sallyma’am.” Sue began her RSDS work in Townsville with her husband, Henry, their two young boys and pregnant with their daughter. Henry was frequently away ‘out bush’ supporting the soldiers. He went to Cambodia for six months to serve with the RSDS, and Sue looked after their young family and supported the soldiers, their partners, and their families. Since then, Sue has served the RSDS in Singleton (NSW) and Edinburgh (SA) and in various other roles with the Salvos in between, including chaplaincy, corps officer and family ministries. “With this being my third time at Robertson, I know my way around and what it’s all about,” says Sue. “I’m not as young as I used to be, so I get support to set up the truck with its four 40-litre urns, hot water for tea and coffee, and other supplies. I spend time talking with those who come for their jube or a brew, wherever they are training, and that’s where we have a laugh, sort out the world, or occasionally find people who are doing it tough. “Having done both the truck and family, I can bring both sides to the conversation. I know the conditions the soldiers work under and what it’s like to have three kids to look after when the partner is away. “We also see many nationalities and cultures, including Indigenous, and we treat all people the same. We bring non-judgemental caring to what we do out in the bush ...” “I get great support from soldiers and officers here – they value the truck and the service we bring. We are the pseudo chaplain, the morale boosters; we listen to what people are saying and not saying, we keep an eye on those ‘loitering with intent to talk’ and suggest other services the Salvos or the Army can provide. These might include domestic violence shelters, playgroups, coffee catchups and many others. I am still in touch with many girls from my initial coffee group – we share a unique bond. They’re all survivors of being called on at a moment’s notice to look after the family and work while the partner is deployed or out bush.” Sue finds that being a Sallyma’am in this workplace adds, perhaps, a softer touch in a tough environment. “I see women in roles including leadership, logistics, signals, transport, military police, health – the list goes on. There are not as many females in infantry battalions, although there are some,” she said. “The Army is a very male-dominated workforce – only about 20 per cent of the Army workforce is female – but there are some very capable women working in significant roles. “Many women find it safer to talk to a female – they can talk about the stuff they need to talk about, as men need to talk to men. “Maybe because I have the ‘wisdom highlights’ in my hair, they look on me differently. I find it easy to chat to people of all ages. They respect RSDS reps for who we are and what we bring as Sallyman and Sallyma’am. “It’s the whole package, whether we’re male or female, we bring a little bit of home – around the truck, and especially in our ‘Hop Ins’ (recreational facilities on the base). They can relax and, perhaps, let their guard down if they need to. “We also see many nationalities and cultures, including Indigenous, and we treat all people the same. We bring non-judgemental caring to what we do out in the bush, in the ‘Hop In’ and wherever we are.”

“I’ve changed now. I’m quite confident, and I’m very grateful of what The Salvation Army … has done for me.” After going through the Bridge Program for gambling addiction at William Booth House, John took up the opportunity to become a volunteer with The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS). John said he was very low when he arrived, but volunteering in this capacity has changed his life. It has given him a purpose and boosted his self-esteem. “I am originally from New Zealand,” says John. “I've been in Australia now since 1995. I’m a compulsive gambler. In 2005, I had a run-in with the police. My court-appointed lawyer’s brother used to work at William Booth House in the Bridge Program. And she asked me why I was in court and the reason for it and all that. “When I’d told her, she said, ‘Well, when you get sorted out, come and see me, and we’ll get you into a rehabilitation program and all that.’ And that's how I became involved with The Salvation Army. They just sort of said, do you want to become a volunteer? Calm presence Major Kenneth Delamore, RSDS Officer in Charge and Senior Representative at Royal Military College, Duntroon, shared that John is “very easy to get on with. He has a great sense of humour. He has a lot of knowledge about sports and things in general that he can connect with the cadets on. And just to have John and his calm presence around the truck is really, really a great help. And that's taught me a lot as well. “A lot of young cadets come in, and they’re first time away from home, and it’s somewhat overwhelming,” Kenneth continued. “People get very relaxed when they’re standing around the truck having a nice cup of tea and a biscuit. They often ask questions, share, unload and all that. And we have some very deep and meaningful chats with our cadets. The impact that has on them for the good is only going to be better for them as future leaders. And we’ve got some great future leaders coming through.” Confidence returns “When I first started, I was, my self-esteem was very low because when you're in addiction, you do things that you probably never thought you could do,” John shared. “You go into some very bad places and all that. And when I first started, it was very hard … because the cadets all call you ‘Sir’, and I kept looking behind me thinking, who's she talking to or who’s he talking to? So, it really helped with my self-esteem. And I’ve changed now. I’m quite confident, and I’m very grateful, I suppose, of what The Salvation Army in any shape or form has done for me.”

Many corps still hold a Sunday morning prayer meeting – it was called ‘knee drill’ when I was a young fella – and these can be a great way to commence each Sunday as you prepare for worship and for whatever other activities might take place at your corps on a Sunday. They can also, rightly or wrongly (probably wrongly), be a source of some mirth and amusement from time to time. For example, many corps are blessed to have someone who knows more than everyone else, and they choose to show that during prayer time when they have a captive audience. “And, Lord, we thank you for the rain last night, which was sorely needed. Last night’s 5mm of rain was the highest so far this month, exceeding the 4mm last Thursday but still lower than the average for April, which is 5.5mm. But, nevertheless, not a bad effort, God.” Another is the gossip: “Father, we lift up in prayer Tom and Helen, who are still fighting, and she had to go to the doctor on Wednesday for some rash she has, and she had to leave the kids with Doris, her neighbour, who doesn’t even like Tom and Helen because they yell so much. But then, Lord, we all know about Doris’s drinking, so she can’t start.” Some corps also have a snoozer. This is the person sitting next to you whose breathing you suddenly hear slow down; then they start to snuffle a little, and then – as sure as anything – the first little snore creeps out, and you feel them bump your shoulder as they lean to one side. I was taught that if you’re ever the snoozer, the trick is that when you wake up you just have to say “Amen”, and all is good. However, you might have to convince some people that just as the Spirit intercedes for us with “groanings too deep for words”, well, so do you. Some people pray too long. They have six things to pray for and can’t be bothered offering another prayer or two later, so they just shove all six topics into one prayer. It’s a 30-minute prayer meeting, and one person always takes 10 minutes to clear their backlog of requests. I knew one officer who, if someone was going too long, he’d just interject. He’d start with short ones: “Hmm, yes, Lord” ... “Yes, amen” ... “Yes, Jesus”. And then he’d just make his move: “Hmm, yes, Lord, we do indeed pray for all homeless cats to be found and loved by you, but we also pray for …”, and he’d just talk over them and re-route the prayer to get us all back on track. Once, at a corps, I had someone who regularly felt a movement of the Spirit and figured everyone else should feel it too. “I sense the Lord wants us to hold hands around the circle as we pray and call out the name of anyone we need to forgive or who has wronged us. Just call them out, go on, call them out loud, do it now.” Well, no. I figure God knows who they are, but you don’t have to. Mind you, I wondered how that person would respond if everyone else called their name out loud! Prayer is wonderful and should be encouraged and promoted at all corps, but let’s play nice when we do it. And you don’t need to tell God how much rain fell the night before – he sent it! – Major Mal Davies and his wife Major Tracey are the Corps Officers at Adelaide City Salvos