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Master of ceremonies Kris Smith at the launch event. All photos: Shireen Hammond BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE By attending and supporting the work of The Salvation Army, those gathered at a gala lunch had chosen to be the hope that people needed in a cost-of-living crisis, a Salvation Army leader told invitees at the Melbourne Red Shield Appeal Launch on Friday. Hundreds of dignitaries, executives and philanthropists gathered at Melbourne’s Fed Square to listen to stories of hope and healing while enjoying a three-course meal and live music. TV presenter Kris Smith was master of ceremonies, and the Welcome to Country was delivered by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Perry Wandin. The crowd listening to Katie Hall MP at the launch event. Those in attendance included State Member for Footscray Katie Hall MP on behalf of the Premier of Victoria the Honourable Jacinta Allan MP and Minister for Housing of Victoria Harriet Shing MP, Senator for Victoria Jana Stewart, Salvation Army Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett and Victorian Divisional Commander Colonel Kelvin Merrett. “We all have choices,” Colonel Winsome Merrett said in her address. “And by being here this afternoon and supporting our work, you’ve chosen to be the hope that people need. Your work alongside us to share the love of Jesus in practical and helpful ways makes a significant difference.” As part of the proceedings, the Victorian State Government announced a pledge of $150,000 towards the Red Shield Appeal. Uncle Perry Wandin at the launch. Representatives from Victoria Police and Fire Rescue Victoria were also in attendance. The testimonial speaker, Priya*, told of her experience in a controlling and violent arranged marriage, where she was subjected to “every form of abuse; emotional, physical, financial, cultural, sexual and coercive”. She told how she was forced to deep clean the house each day before going to work. She said she was forbidden from using certain bathrooms or furniture, and was refused proper meals, forced to eat only leftovers and stale or expired food. “It was a storm of torment that I couldn’t escape,” she said. “The emotional toll was unbearable. I felt like I was suffocating, not just physically, but also emotionally. I was broken.” She told how, after the situation intensified and her fear turned to terror, she grabbed her passport and documents and ran for her life. After calling Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, she was connected with The Salvation Army, which provided her with emergency accommodation and then short-term accommodation. “The first night in the emergency accommodation, even after all the fear and everything I just went through, it was the first time in months I felt an inch of happiness,” Priya said. “I sat down in a quiet room, made myself a hot plate of mac and cheese, and I turned on an old episode of The Big Bang Theory .” She said that in the care of The Salvation Army, she began to come home to herself. “I couldn't trust anyone, but day by day, everyone at the Salvos showed me what kindness and dignity feels like,” Priya said. READ MORE: Hope, courage and healing the focus of Gold Coast RSA launch Priya said it now felt powerful to use her voice, which had once been silenced, to help others feel seen, heard and safe. “Today my life looks very different, and I say this with a lot of joy and pride,” she said. “I am no longer a victim of abuse. I am a survivor. I’m an advocate and a woman finding herself, a woman finding her way back to herself. Apart from being successful in my professional career, I now work with the Victorian Government and organisations like The Salvation Army, where I can advocate for change and help change policies on meaningful projects that focus on mental health, family violence, safety for women and children, education and safety.” The musicians at the launch were the brother-sister duo Isadora and Miro Lauritz. Keynote speaker Shamal Dass, an investment banker and Head of Family Advisory and Philanthropic Services at JBWere, spoke about his background, growing up in Fiji before emigrating to Australia, and how his “big, loving, caring family” was his “greatest asset of all.” He said research shows that many people in Australia are not so blessed. “A family like mine is worth its weight in gold, and no market can tell you its price or its value,” he said. “So, when those people without that family are suffering, where do they go? If they are fleeing violence, who do they turn to? Where do they go when they can't afford something as basic and dignified as a funeral for their loved one? They go to the Salvation Army and other amazing organisations just like them who do the work every day.” Although his ancestors were born in southern India, Shamal described how he came to be born in Fiji to hardworking, middle-class parents who descended from those who were relocated from India to Fiji as part of an indentured labour scheme to develop the sugarcane industry. Keynote speaker Shamal Dass. Following the Fijian coups d'état in 1987, Shamal’s family spread to Canada, New Zealand and Australia. He told how his own family packed a container and arrived in Australia in October, with the jarring cold shocking to a family used to tropical temperatures. He described how, as a family of five, they moved into his uncle’s two-bedroom apartment. “By some definitions of homelessness today, we were technically homeless,” Shamal said. “This I didn’t find out until about three years ago when I was on a board working on homelessness.” Shamal said he first discovered the word philanthropy after he had established himself as an investment banker. He said he was stunned by the amounts of money people had and were able to give away or leave behind. Shamal Dass. “I just kept asking two questions in my head: why were there so many people in so much need that we needed philanthropy? And then [the] second question was, how did all these funders and how did all these charities know they were even making a difference by spending that money? And that is the thing that has actually informed everything I’ve done since then in all my roles.” Shamal said he wanted to talk about why a country of such unimaginable wealth as Australia had so much disadvantage. “ The story of the last 50 years is actually the story of capitalism as the dominant force in Western economies and, in fact, affecting the economies around it.” Shamal described the history of capitalism from its inception in the 1450s on the island of Madeira, a Portuguese colony off the coast of Morocco. “What makes capitalism distinct is the commodification of three things: the commodification of land, the commodification of capital and the commodification of people,” Shamal said. READ MORE: Appeal launch highlights increasing needs in South Australia Shamal said while there were differing types of capitalism, we live in a “perverse, hyper-realised, neoliberal version of it”. “The reason it is different is because it has redefined people as consumers and economic agents,” he said. “There is very little room for human beings in this system. What we do is now defer to the deity-like wisdom of markets to tell us what is valuable and what is not through price. “In this version of capitalism, winners and losers are just an outcome of the system. The markets decide inequity is acceptable, and in fact necessary, in this system to flourish. The narrative in our system is if you’re wealthy, it’s because of merit. If you are poor, then you must be some sort of unenterprising, weak, soft, undeserving fool because if you got it together, then you wouldn’t be, right?” Shamal challenged those in the crowd to give to The Salvation Army to “send a signal to everyone that they’re worthy of compassion and kindness and dignity”, and not a “commodity or an output of the system”. He also asked them to leverage any role they held to help shape the system to be one that is more just, kind and reflective of who we are as a society. He then asked them to, most importantly, fulfil their duty to their neighbour. “There is very little room for human beings in this system.” “There are too many people suffering in the system, and we can hear the toll of the bell, and it is getting louder,” Shamal said. “We are all connected. We are all part of a greater, larger family and a community. So, when we see those statistics, it must move us to action. It must actually move you. Every woman who is sleeping on the streets, every child who is in jail, every young man who commits suicide should actually move us. It should hurt. “In the immortal words of John Donne, ‘any man’s death diminishes me because I’m involved in mankind, and therefore, never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee’.” Shamal ended his speech with the lyrics from a song by the band Massive Attack. “If you forget all that I’ve said, I’m asking you to remember one simple thing, and it is best summed up by my favourite lyric from a song called Teardrop: ‘Love, love is a verb. Love is a doing word’.” The crowd at the launch event in Melbourne. Commissioner Miriam Gluyas presented the Others Award to Design Group Australia for its 25 years of dedicated support to The Salvation Army, and the Eva Burrows Award to donors Geoff and Louise Barrow, who together with their networks raised more than $370,000 towards a Salvos Housing property for at-risk families in Victoria. “To achieve that project last year was probably one of the most fulfilling things we’ve ever done,” Geoff said in his response. “So, we’d like to thank the Salvos for all the good work that you do all the time, and it’s been a real privilege to be part of it with you.” *Not her real name For more information or to donate, go to: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal/

The masthead of The Crusader, the Army’s newspaper in China. BY BARRY GITTINS Salvationists often talk about helping to ‘save’ people, but they are rarely called on to do so practically. One exception was the exciting adventures of Ensign Littler and Lieutenant Shao P’eng Ch’ou in China almost 100 years ago. The life-saving exploits of Ensign Littler and Lieut Shao were captured in a May 1929  edition of The Salvation Army’s English-language newspaper in China, The Crusader .  The European comrade, Ensign Littler, was visiting the metropolis of Chochow when “he was called upon to render first aid to the injured”. Before the ensign arrived at the scene, Lieut Shao had leapt into a well to save a drowning boy who had fallen to his imminent demise. After going ‘kerplunk’ and ably lifting the unconscious child from beneath the waters, the lieutenant himself was clocked with “a dislodged brick” that had “slipped over the side of the well and descended on [his] head, all but rendering him senseless ... he managed, however, to maintain his hold on the child and a rope, and was finally pulled to the surface”. Thankfully, Ensign Littler knew his stuff; he “was able to administer artificial respiration to the child and also attended [to] the lieutenant, who had fainted ... The little boy proved to be the only child of an influential man of that city.” Thank God for a literal lifesaver; all’s well that ends well.  The clipping of the story in The Crusader.

The famous depiction of John Gore and the first unofficial meeting of The Salvation Army in Australia in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Inset: John Gore later in life.   BY CAPTAIN PAUL FARTHING*   The story goes that in September of 1880, John Gore and Edwards Saunders gathered ’neath a gumtree in Adelaide Botanic Garden to hold the first Australian Salvation Army meeting. They sang a hymn before John Gore ascended the tailboard of a greengrocer’s cart and said, “If there’s a man here who hasn’t had a square meal today, let him come home to tea with me.”   Gore’s words are glorious. This is a golden sentence. It suggests that The Salvation Army’s commitment to the social gospel was there from the very beginning. 1 It can even be instructive. It says to today’s Salvation Army, “This is how we did things when we were thriving”.   But, alas, the evidence suggests that John Gore never made such a statement.   A fascinating account from 1913 by then-Lieut-Colonel John McMillan tells a very different story from the established narrative. McMillan later became Evangeline Booth’s Chief of Staff and, if not for an early death, may well have succeeded her as General. He states that Gore was running late for the first meeting and that Saunders had to conduct it himself until Gore arrived. The two of them then led a procession to Hindley Street for a meeting in the Labour League Hall. This account is veracious. McMillan references primary sources – he is writing while both Gore and Saunders were alive – and he makes no mention of Gore’s invitation. Rather, he makes it impossible. McMillan says that Gore was not even there when the meeting started, and when the meeting ended, he had them go straight to the hall for another meeting. There is no time for tea. 2 Edward Saunders. McMillan’s version of events is supported by the earliest sources. The first account of the meeting appears in the Christian Colonist on 10 September 1880. It tells us that Gore and Saunders sang, “Will you meet me at the Fountain?” and it tells us that one person spoke about the Army’s work in England, another on the necessity of salvation, and another on Zacchaeus, but there is no mention of inviting anyone home for tea. They do mention that the open-air meeting was followed by a service in the hall on Hindley Street. 3   Accounts of the second 4 and third 5 meetings also fail to mention a meal at Gore’s place. There are numerous other contemporary accounts of the Army’s early work in Adelaide; they were something of a sensation, people wrote about them often, but nobody mentions Gore’s invitation. 6   About 10 years after the event, we start to see accounts of the meeting in The War Cry . In 1891, The War Cry published its first comprehensive article on the first meeting under the title ‘How we began in Australia’. The open-air meeting and the indoor meeting that followed are mentioned, but not the invitation. 7 In 1895, an early convert named Josiah Harris sent his recollections of the early meetings to The War Cry , but he makes no mention of the line. 8 In that same issue, a wonderfully detailed account of the first meeting appears under the title ‘An Adelaide Half Night and What Came of It’. It mentions a night of prayer at which Gore and Saunders (along with five other people who have dropped out of the narrative) prayed and resolved to hold a meeting. 9 It goes on to describe the large crowd that came to that first meeting; the author correctly identifies the song they sang and remembers an interjector being arrested. This reads like the account of someone with intimate first-hand knowledge of the meeting, and there is no mention of the invitation. 10 In these early years, the invitation was not part of the narrative.   But perhaps, many years after the event, Gore or Saunders remembered this line and told their fellow Salvationists? Alas, there is no evidence that this happened either, and it is worth noting that Gore and Saunders (Gore especially) were given ample opportunity to make such a report.   In his later years, Gore was a frequent guest of honour at Salvation Army events, where he would be invited to tell the story of that first meeting. The most prominent of these events was the unveiling of a plaque in the Adelaide Botanic Garden to commemorate the 1880 meeting. Gore’s recollections are comprehensively reported in several newspapers, and his line is absent in all of them. 11 The War Cry gave three pages to the event but made no mention of the invitation. Commissioner Hugh Whatmore told the crowd that Gore had informed him of the song they sang at the first meeting, but he did not mention the invitation. This would seem like the perfect time for a commissioner seeking to inspire his soldiers to make the line known. It would seem most likely that Whatmore didn’t mention it because in 1927, the line was not part of the Australian Salvation Army’s origin story. 12 The modern-day plaque in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Then, in 1948, Thomas C Benson (Australia’s first colour sergeant) told The War Cry he was at the meeting where Gore and Saunders first met and that he attended many of the meetings in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Benson, quite probably the last eyewitness alive, mentions no invitation. 13 In all of these many accounts, a line that the modern Salvation Army considers absolutely remarkable goes entirely unremarked.   Apart from the lack of evidence is the fact that this was not The Salvation Army’s evangelical method. The Army in the 1880s held open-air meetings, followed by an indoor service. Salvationists were instructed to do this in The Salvation Army’s orders and regulations. It explained that the Salvationists’ primary objective was to get people into the hall to hear the good news. It said, “Every effort should be made to draw people to the hall.” All the early accounts show Gore and Saunders doing exactly that – not providing tea.   The line is not part of the story until 1952, when Colonel Percival Dale included it in his book Salvation Chariot – over 70 years after the event. From this point, the line is prevalent. In 1960, Commissioner Frederick Coutts spoke at the 80th anniversary of Sydney Congress Hall and said, “In the first open-air gathering in the Botanic Gardens, John Gore invited any hearer who had not had a square meal that day to come home with him. Salvation is concerned with the whole man – body, mind and soul. And from the beginning this truth has inspired Salvationists alike in their evangelical and their social work – those two inseparable parts of the one Gospel.” Here we see the myth become truth, a sentence that went unremarked for 72 years comes to inform and justify core Salvation Army beliefs.   It takes a good deal of special pleading to argue that Dale (who offers no source for his claim) should be trusted above the bountiful earlier sources. The line was most likely never said.   To lose this line could lead to a minor existential crisis in your average Salvationist. Many, like Coutts, have looked at the great success of the early Army and seen this line as a blueprint. It suggests that evangelism, coupled with social action, is the secret to The Salvation Army’s soul-saving efforts. Indeed, the line is often used as a kind of blessing for the modern Salvation Army’s social evangelism methods. However, while the early army in Australia certainly targeted the lower classes, social work was not at the heart of its efforts until much later. The Australian Salvation Army’s most fruitful period of soul-saving was not driven by social work; rather, as Salvation Army social work increased, Salvation Army soul-saving decreased.   This doesn’t mean that social evangelism should be abandoned, of course, but the emergence of this mythical invitation has perhaps obscured the true blueprint to Salvation Army soul-saving success. John Gore giving a speech at the unveiling of the original commemorative plaque in 1927. When, in 1927, John Gore attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, he was asked why the early Army had surged forward in the way it did. He was, at this point, elderly and frail in body, yet mighty in spirit. He climbed the makeshift stage and there, upon the same spot on which that first meeting was held, he launched into an impassioned oration: “If you want the people to believe in you, you must be in deadly earnest and you must have a fire in your bones. I never was an educated man, but I had the fire of the Holy Ghost, and that was the one qualification necessary for soul-saving.”14   Well said, John. Amen. * Captain Paul Farthing is the Corps Officer at Shellharbour, NSW. This article is an op-ed by Paul, derived from personal research.    References:   1 https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/about-us/our-story/ 2 “Australia’s First Corps” The War Cry, 13 December 1913, 3. 3 “A SALVATION ARMY IN ADELAIDE.” Christian Colonist, 10 September 1880: 5. 4 “NEWS OF THE CHURCHES.” Christian Colonist,17 September 1880: 5. 5 Christian Colonist, 24 September 1880: 5. 6 TO CORRESPONDENTS.” The South Australian Advertiser, 1 February 1881, 4. 7 How We Began in Australia The War Cry 21 February 1891.  8 “Our Corps and their work in Adelaide” The War Cry, 31 August 1895, 6.  9 The five others were Charles Gale, William Trezise (perhaps Alfred Trezise), White, Edward Gay and Green. Gale and Trezise were listed as trustees when Thomas Sutherland first attempted to incorporate The Salvation Army in Australia. 10 “An Adelaide Half Night and What Came of it” The War Cry, 31 August 1895, 10. 11 “THE SALVATION ARMY” The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889-1931) 14 March 1927: 16. Web. 6 May 2025 < http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40771686 >. “A MUSICAL FESTIVAL. ” The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889-1931) 15 March 1927: 14. Web. 6 May 2025 < http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73653411 >. 12 “Recording History” The War Cry, 26 March 1927, 10. 13 “The First Australian Colour Sergeant” The War Cry, 3 July 1948, 8.

Multi-talented musician Ania Reynolds delights shoppers at Taylors Lake Salvos Store with her piano playing and saxophone tunes.   There is no stage, no tickets – just a captivated audience. Every Saturday at the Taylors Lake Salvos Store in Melbourne’s north-west, shoppers often find themselves doing a double-take when entering its doors. For amid the clothing, crockery, cookbooks and collectibles, beautiful sounds resonate from multi-talented musician Ania Reynolds. A gifted pianist and saxophonist, Ania treats customers to musical pieces of all sorts, turning an ordinary shopping trip into an unexpected delight. Store volunteer STEVEN GUTIÉRREZ RESTREPO sat down with Ania to uncover the story behind her passion and purpose. It’s a Saturday morning, and right at the entrance of the Salvos Store in Taylors Lakes, Melbourne, the soft chords of a piano begin to play. The music drifts through the aisles like a gentle breeze, breathing life into the space. There is no stage, no tickets, but there is an audience. And, of course, there is her, offering her art like a kind whisper to the soul.   This is how Ania Reynolds transforms every Salvos store into a sound refuge. Pianist, saxophonist, composer, producer, polyglot, and traveller; her life unfolds through notes and languages, across cities and cultures. An Australian with Polish roots and a deep love for Spanish, French and Polish, she has made music her truest language.   Her concerts in Salvos Stores are more than artistic gestures; they are acts of generosity. Ania donates her time and talent each week, convinced that music can and must be accessible to all. These free, informal, deeply human spaces democratise art, inviting us to pause, inhabit the present moment, and reconnect.   As she puts it, her goal is to bring music “to those who may not have the means, access, or knowledge to attend musical or artistic performances”. For her, it should be a spontaneous encounter. That’s precisely why she chose Salvos Stores – safe, inclusive, warm, diverse spaces with a clear mission to build community.   Speaking with Ania is like meeting both a brilliant artist and a deeply kind human being. She expresses deep gratitude to her family and ancestors for allowing her to nurture her talents from a young age. Ania plays while asking for feedback from customers. She recalls her first contact with music at the age of eight or nine, when, at a restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, she was asked to sing herself the happy birthday song. That moment became a starting point. Ever since, she hasn't stopped creating.   The piano, the saxophone, percussion and synthesisers – each instrument holds a special place in her universe. She loves the piano’s narrative fluidity, the saxophone’s visceral power that connects with the body’s core, the physicality of percussion, and the sonic manipulation of synthesisers.   Her inspirations include Des La Valle, a teacher at Sunshine North Technical School, whose example encouraged her to pursue her passion. She also admires Danish artist Marilyn Mazur, whose stage energy inspired Ania to incorporate theatre, dance, circus, and acting into her world.   For Ania, silence is also music. A note, a chord, a pause, everything can speak. As she beautifully says, “In physicality, it’s movement that speaks rather than sound”.   When she’s on stage, she describes the experience as a trance, a deep meditation. She becomes a channel, allowing creativity to flow through her. That very connection is what she transmits to her audience, guiding them into the here and now.   One of her most meaningful projects emerged during the pandemic: creating sound portraits of different cities by recording environmental sounds of the jungle, the streets, the city and transforming them into experimental music. Instead of walking with headphones, she walks connected to the silence of everywhere. She listens. Feels. Creates.   Today, her compositions have travelled through cities like Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and soon, Saigon (Vietnam).   From here, we invite you to meet her, experience her music, presence, and work, listen to her live at Salvos Stores or through her digital platforms, and, above all, thank her for her generosity, art, compassion, and tireless commitment to sharing beauty.   Discover her music. Pause. Listen. In a world that rushes forward, Ania reminds us to inhabit the moment.   Allegro Non Oppo Out West is proudly supported by Brimbank City Council's 2024/25 Community Grants Program.

Join our leaders as we mark a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. Building on the progress of the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), the newly launched Stretch RAP deepens The Salvation Army Australia’s commitment to respectful relationships, equity, and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This launch acknowledges the progress already made and highlights the work that still needs to be done to bring about significant change. We are all encouraged to actively engage with the plan and walk alongside First Nations communities, inspired by the example of Jesus in pursuing reconciliation and transformation across Australia.

Believe it or not, this is my 100th consecutive ‘Mal on Monday’ column. Every Monday for the past 100 weeks, I’ve attempted to make you smile or even laugh. I wasn’t a great batsman, so this is my first-ever century!   I’ve been writing for Army editorial departments for more than two decades, so when I returned from overseas service in early 2023, I gave myself six months to settle into my new appointment before asking the editorial department if they needed anything written.   Incredibly, on the exact day I was going to email them, online editor Dean Simpson rang me and asked if I wanted to write something for them! I told him about the miraculous timing, and he said, “Yes, we were giving you six months to settle in.”   I presented some options to him but said my preferred one was to write something lighter, for two reasons. First, I’m not aware of any Army editorial department in the world that regularly includes a humorous column in its repertoire of output; I thought we could break some fresh ground. Second, I sensed that we’d all just become a bit too serious about how life intersects with faith. I felt like I was supposed to be outraged about something all the time and, well, I just wasn’t.   So, the idea of giving people a reason to smile at the start of each week appealed both to me and to Dean and away we went. Dean named the column, the wonderful Vaughan Duck provided the comic image of my big head, and I got to work writing.   Along the way I’ve told you about some of my own experiences in the Army; I’ve told tales about some wonderful people I’ve met; I’ve entirely fabricated some stories that never appeared in the Bible, and I’ve even pointed out some of my own deficiencies and foibles, of which there are many.   I’ve been bemused to discover that I could rewrite Scripture and even put comical words into Jesus’ mouth, and people would just laugh along, but if I said something even slightly negative about brass bands, we received some heated responses. Misquote Jesus – no problem. Make a joke about a baritone – big problem. Some Salvos are funny.   A few months ago, I spoke to Dean about how long we’d run the column for, and I suggested 100 articles would be a nice round figure to stop on. Having served as editor-in-chief in both Australia and the UK, I’m well aware of a columnist overstaying their welcome, and I always encouraged my editors to constantly refresh their output and consider new approaches, new columns and new ideas.   So, this is my final ‘Mal on Monday’; I’ll retire with a century to my name. Thank you for reading my weekly mish-mash of words. I hope I’ve caused you to smile once or twice. Thank you also to Dean for seeing the value in a column that aimed only to bring some cheer into a world sorely lacking it.   When I was growing up, we regularly sang a song that said, ‘Joy, joy, joy, there is joy in The Salvation Army’ and it referred to being ‘joyful all the way’. I haven’t sung that song for decades, which is perhaps telling.   It’s been a pleasure to bring some joy back into our Army. Keep smiling as you serve God and others.   Major Mal Davies is the Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division   Editor’s Note: We all need a good giggle from time to time, so I want to thank Mal for his weekly insights into the lighter side of Salvation Army life. Yes, this was his 100th and final column, but the ‘Mal on Monday’ tab will remain on the Salvos Online home page, so feel free to click on any of the columns he has produced over the past two years. I’m sure reading them will brighten your day. – Dean Simpson

A clipping from the 8 June 1935 War Cry telling stories of how Salvation Army cadets were faring with door-to-door evangelism. BY BARRY GITTINS One reason that pioneering Salvationists and their successors raised the ire of some fellow churchgoers and citizens was their unwillingness to remain quietly seated in church pews. The Salvation Army would be out and about, in their faces, on their streets, and even on their doorsteps! The War Cry ’s 8 June 1935 issue, 90 years ago, illustrates this well. As part of their regular training, officer cadets would conduct door-to-door visits to private homes with no prior notice or invitation. “Small houses, big houses, clean houses, dirty houses,” the article explained, “It does not matter what kind of house it is. It is not passed by. The cadet never knows what the knock on the door will reveal.” Female cadets preparing for an open-air meeting near Pellegrini's in East Melbourne. The Salvos rocked up, fully expecting sorrow to “reign behind the door … [with] some form of sin or trouble spoiling the peace of the home”. In such an instance, the interloping cadets were expected to serve as “the sympathetic listener and adviser of the people”. The visit of 93 cadets to 490 homes in 10 Melbourne suburbs, the War Cry reported, “makes interesting reading … [90] homes were entered by the cadets at the invitation of the householders … The cadets read the Bible to, and prayed with, 234 persons, and engaged 362 in earnest conversation about their spiritual life.” From the 90 households the Salvationists entered, three people ‘sought salvation’, one being ‘a Greek woman’ (we do not know if she spoke English fluently, or if the cadets spoke Greek). One resident, an 80-year-old blind man “in an extremely dirty house”, told his unexpected visitors that “he remembered when Major [James] Barker was the leader of the Army’s work in Melbourne”. Another householder, “a Communist”, told the Salvos that “the only people who bothered about religion were the ignorant, the insane and the criminal … the cadets wondered in which category he had placed them”. Male cadets preparing for an open-air meeting in Collingwood, Melbourne. That same day of visitation, “eight women cadets visited [wards of] the Melbourne, Queen Victoria, and the Eye and Ear hospitals”, talking with 54 patients and praying with 37 people. One man’s chart stated he was a Salvationist, but when beset by cadets, he explained, shortly, “I am not a Salvationist. When I entered hospital, I told them that I belonged to the Army – so that the other sky pilots who visit here would leave me alone.” Entreated to “live up to the standard set by the Salvation Army”, the man pulled “the blankets over his head, refusing to discuss religion any more that day”. Not every visit is welcome, and not every visitor comes to our doors invited. But a knock on the door can be a welcome surprise. Cadets in West Brunswick, Melbourne.

‘Welcome to Country’ is not new; it has been a part of Aboriginal culture for thousands of years, writes Adrian Appo. BY ADRIAN APPO* I grew up on the coast in country Queensland. One of the values that Dad and Mum instilled in me was respect. It was respect for others and what they stood for; it was respect for what they owned; and it was respect for ourselves. For if we could not give respect, how could we gain respect? If we overlay the concepts of showing and giving respect, then much of the confusion and disquiet that has arisen around welcomes and acknowledgements are taken away. Ancient welcomes ‘Welcome to Country’ is not new; it has been a part of Aboriginal culture for thousands of years. The land management practices of Aboriginal people meant that for our very existence, groups had to cross into each other’s lands to share resources and foods. Visitors were welcomed, granting permission to travel in peace and safety. As it was back then, the Welcome to Country is performed by the traditional custodian of the land on which an event or meeting takes place. It might be a simple speech taking a few moments or a combination taking in a smoking ceremony, didgeridoo playing, a song or a traditional dance performed over days. It is probably worth noting here that Aboriginal people refer to themselves as custodians of the land, for the land cares and provides for us as much as we care for it.   Modern acknowledgement The ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ came more into practice in the late 1990s. It can be done by anyone from any cultural heritage. The importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of both protocols is that they pay respect to the fact that we stand on Aboriginal land. It was only 33 years ago that the High Court recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples did have ties to the land, therefore debugging the concept of terra nullius (land that is legally deemed to be unoccupied or uninhabited). Even in the past two decades, as a nation, we have struggled with the notion of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution. Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country have met with criticism. Where they have been legislated, the function can become more of a process rather than real intent. Many Aboriginal leaders, myself included, would prefer that if there is not genuine gesture, it not be performed at all.  Practical application While both practices recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, I think it has a far more practical application. When you go to someone’s house, you knock on the door and wait to be invited in. When you enter, you enter as a guest, a friend. I recall speaking to other Aboriginal leaders and reflecting that, when growing up, family and friends would only ever come to our back door. At the same time, we all laugh and say, “because only police and strangers come to the front door”. Those who came to the back door had already been welcomed to our home and family. So, show respect, be genuine and be welcomed in as family. *Adrian Appo is a proud Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg, Queensland. He is a member of The Salvation Army Australia Territory Board of Governance. Adrian was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous youth through career planning, employment and training programs. He has also received a Centenary Medal and an Australian Defence Medal.

Joy Pittard holds her certificate alongside Wollongong Corps Officers Lieut-Colonels Terry Grey and Lyn Edge. Ninety-five-year-old Joy Pittard was surprised in a Sunday morning meeting at Wollongong in May with the presentation of a Salvation Army Service Recognition Award. Joy shared the exceptional service award with her late husband, Ken, who was Promoted to Glory in 2018. The couple, soldiers of the Wollongong Corps, received the award for their work in helping to establish the Tarrawanna Corps in the northern suburbs of the Illawarra region. Lieutenant-Colonel Lyn Edge announces the awards. Wollongong Corps Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Lyn Edge announced the awards to Joy and Ken (posthumously) before Lieut-Col Terry Grey presented Joy with the certificates. With the help of the late Alma Seton, the Pittards established a Sunday school in a park at Tarrawanna in 1956, leading to the formation of the Tarrawanna Corps, originally known as the Fernhill Mission. When the weather was unsuitable, the Sunday school was held in a local butchery shop. An estimated 120 children attended the Sunday school, among them a young Bob Seymour, who went on to become a Salvation Army officer. He is now a retired major and is married to NSW/ACT Divisional Commander Major Robyn Black. Ken Pittard played a significant role in the conversion of Bob, maintaining a close interest in him for many years after he left Sunday school. Bob conducted Ken’s funeral service at Wollongong Corps seven years ago. READ MORE : He just loved me and prayed for me   Bob’s sister, Lyn Mather, who also attended Sunday school in the park all those years ago, is still a soldier of the Tarrawanna Corps. She has held various leadership positions over the years and now runs the popular mid-week Kids in the Kitchen program at the corps. In addition to conducting the Sunday school in the park, Ken Pittard also visited families of the children during the week. As a young married couple, Ken and Joy continued their Tarrawanna ministry for 10 years, while also carrying out roles at their own Wollongong Corps.   Ken and Joy Pittard in 2014.

The Salvation Army in Peru is involved in coffee cultivation to help sustain local families and strengthen local economies. Could you find Cuba, Peru and Latvia on map?   The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) works globally with local corps and centres to help change the lives of some of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable, and suffering individuals.   Over the coming months, Global Focus will feature some of the projects SAWSO is driving and the impact these are having in local communities. READ MORE: What is SAWSO and what does it do? Peru: Coffee cultivation Located in Peru’s Amazon region, El Porvenir is part of San Martin, the country’s leading coffee-producing region. Known for its exceptional Arabica beans, the area’s coffee cultivation helps sustain local families and strengthen the town’s economic foundation. Recognising the opportunity for growth, SAWSO is partnering with The Salvation Army’s Porvenir Corps to enhance operations by funding advanced harvesting equipment and planting 1000 additional coffee plants. These efforts will enhance productivity on the three-acre farm, generating approximately $40,000 in annual revenue.   The Porvenir Corps will use this income to fund social programs, including local schools, the Liga de Mujeres children’s dining room, and support local families.   Seasonal harvests will create additional employment opportunities for community members, thereby boosting local income and enhancing economic stability. To ensure long-term success, a portion of the profits will be used to fund a coffee ambassador to increase sales. Through these efforts, El Porvenir will expand its coffee production, ensuring a stronger, more sustainable future for its people.   Cuba: Driving change In Cuba, The Salvation Army stands as a resilient force for change, operating more than 40 corps that deliver vital support in the fight against poverty, domestic violence and food insecurity. Mototaxis create opportunities for families and local communities. Generating local income is key to ensuring the sustainability of these life-changing programs. In partnership with local leaders, SAWSO has launched a transportation initiative aimed at addressing public transit shortages and trade restrictions. With start-up capital, four electric mototaxis were imported to serve communities struggling with limited fuel and unreliable transport options.   By hiring local drivers, the project provides steady employment for families and generates profits that support community programs. A portion of the earnings is also reinvested to expand the initiative into new areas. With full cost recovery projected within two years, the program is a model of resilience and local empowerment, paving the way for greater opportunities and lasting impact across Cuba.   Latvia: Rebuilding lives Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, The Salvation Army in Latvia has been actively supporting Ukrainian refugees with urgent assistance such as food, hygiene items and bedding.   As the war continued, SAWSO partnered with The Salvation Army in Latvia and other organisations to expand the local response, launching educational sessions and social connection activities and hiring a psychologist for therapeutic support.   Over the past year, SAWSO’s focus shifted toward long-term integration, offering anti-human trafficking awareness programs, job placement assistance, and workshops on employment and refugee rights. To ensure refugee voices shaped their programs, The Salvation Army in Latvia conducted a survey with over 800 Ukrainian households to assess evolving needs. As a result, the current priority has become expanding integration services, including mental health and wellbeing seminars, legal rights education, community-building activities, and master classes to help refugees adapt and rebuild their lives in Latvian society. These stories have been taken from The Salvation Army World Service Office 2025 Annual Report. To download the full report, click here .

Auxiliary-Lieutenants Josh and Lorelle Vince share God’s vision for the people of Lethbridge Park to be free from the challenges that hold them back. BY LAUREN MARTIN   It’s Thursday morning at Lethbridge Park Salvos in Sydney’s Greater West, and a flurry of activity is underway.   Auxiliary-Lieutenant Josh Vince leads a group of volunteers as they set up tables for the morning food market and community lunch.   Laughter drifts from the kitchen as a team of four dedicated retirees cooks butter chicken from that week’s donated food supplies.   Outside, volunteer Frank fires up the coffee van’s machine and gets ready for the gates of the compound to be opened.   Everything is all set for another busy day.   It’s always a busy day at Lethbridge Park Salvos. Volunteer Frank loves his role on the coffee machine. Nestled among some of Sydney’s most disadvantaged suburbs, Lethbridge Park has an above-average unemployment rate and a median household income of just $1411 per week, which falls below the national average. Many residents rely on government benefits. The Urban Living Index ranks Lethbridge Park/Tregear as the most disadvantaged area in metropolitan Sydney.    “I was scared when housing [NSW Housing] called me and told me they had a place for me here,” says Sara, a volunteer with Lethbridge Park Salvos.   She and her two children moved to the suburb five years ago after fleeing an abusive relationship. They left with nothing and lived in supported transitional housing during the COVID-19 lockdowns. “No fridge, no lounge, no beds, nothing … we got told to come to Lethbridge Park Salvation Army to get help.   “From then on, we were just welcomed back to get more help and assistance when we needed it. Especially being a single mum in an area that is notorious for safety issues … it’s nice to be here [at The Salvation Army],” she says. The Salvation Army has been ministering in Lethbridge Park, western Sydney, for nearly 50 years. Reviving the corps Auxiliary-Lieutenant Lorelle Vince remembers being appointed to Lethbridge Park in 2018 and arriving to find the building covered in graffiti, on a property surrounded by a tall, barbed-wire fence.   “We would tell people we worked for The Salvation Army in Lethbridge Park and people would say, ‘Isn’t that an abandoned building?’” she says.   The Lethbridge Park Centre, historically an outpost of St Marys Corps, had been run by volunteers, with The Salvation Army’s Moneycare financial counsellors working there 1-2 days a week for many years. Josh and Lorelle were tasked with creating a new missional community at the centre. Auxiliary-Lieutenant Lorelle Vince prepares for Thursday morning food relief at the western Sydney centre. They quickly got to know other service providers in the area and began collaborating with ‘Together in 2770’ – a community initiative involving multiple place-based organisations and schools that invites locals to be part of positive change in the communities of postcode 2770.   The connections led to a partner organisation, The Hive, organising a painting working bee on their building in May 2018, giving it a ‘fresh start’. Later, renovations opened up the building to allow more light in and create spaces that facilitated better community connections. The barbed-wire fencing was replaced with high-quality fence panels and an electric gate for the carpark.   Josh and Lorelle, as part of their involvement in ‘Together in 2770’, then held a community forum for Lethbridge Park. “We asked what people wanted to see here,” says Josh. “This helped us form a plan with a focus on community safety and infrastructure, and activities for young people.”   Now, Lethbridge Park Salvos is open 5-6 days a week, offering a mix of Salvation Army-run services, programs, and connection activities, as well as hosting other services and organisations in the space.  Auxiliary-Lieutenant Josh Vince prepares for Thursday morning food relief at the western Sydney centre. The ministry isn’t confined to the building. Josh and Lorelle are frequently found at nearby public schools, assisting with or running breakfast programs, chatting with people around their coffee van, supporting community members in getting to and from medical appointments, or accompanying them to court.   They assist community members in accessing additional services and support, including the NSW Government EAPA program, Sorry Business Funeral Transport, Salvation Army alcohol and other drug services, Youth and Moneycare programs, and the local ‘Together in 2770’ initiative CUBS (Check-Ups Before School).   “Our vision is that people would be free from addiction, family violence and poverty,” says Lorelle, explaining that she and Josh offer a ministry of ‘presence’: “Being there consistently, with people knowing that they can be vulnerable and open and that there is assistance there when they are ready to make a positive change in their lives.”   For volunteer Sara, that assistance came at just the right time. Now, she is a committed volunteer, and she and her kids participate in numerous Salvation Army initiatives at Lethbridge Park.   “I run the intergenerational group, which is a group for people of all ages to come together to share their stories and experiences and to create new hobbies,” she says. “Community lunch on a Thursday is a big one [that I help with] and making sure that community members have food to take home to their families – that’s a really big thing that I feel good about.   “And Friday morning coffees is really important because it gives the kids a hot chocolate and that gives them an incentive to come to school on a Friday.”   She says that since she started volunteering with The Salvation Army at Lethbridge Park, she has been feeling more positive and believes she has a purpose. “Being here is helping me to be more productive and be a better person.”   Josh and Lorelle are looking for Christian volunteers with a passion for people to serve alongside them at Lethbridge Park to give hope. If you are interested in learning more, email Josh:  Joshua.vince@salvationarmy.org.au

Dr Jeannette Young, Governor of Queensland (centre), with guest speakers Natalie Cook (left) and Cameron McDonald at the Brisbane launch of the Queensland Red Shield Appeal. Photo: Roger Phillips “It starts with a dream,” said Olympic beach volleyball gold medallist and Salvation Army supporter Natalie Cook OAM, who was the keynote speaker at the launch of the Brisbane Red Shield Appeal (RSA) on Friday 2 May.   Natalie was speaking directly to testimonial speaker Cameron McDonald, who had just shared her heartbreaking yet inspiring journey through decades of abuse, domestic violence and addiction to a life of renewed faith, strength and hope. Natalie presents Cameron with one of her special Olympic volleyballs. “Your future looks like whatever you want it to be,” continued Natalie, as she gave Cameron one of her treasured Olympic volleyballs, and the more than 420  people attending the launch broke into spontaneous applause. Cameron, who will also be the testimonial speaker at the upcoming Sydney and Adelaide RSA launches, spoke about the help she received from the Salvos, who “have played such an integral part in my journey … they rolled up their sleeves, got in the trenches with me and held my hand. They supported me in a range of ways … they believed me, they never judged me … they helped me holistically and gave me a safe space.   “They made me feel human by being humane.”   Rebecca Levingston, ABC journalist, producer and presenter, was MC for the Brisbane event. Rebecca welcomed everyone before the morning began with an Acknowledgement of Country. The stage was set for the beginning of the Queensland RSA launch at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Her Excellency Dr Jeannette Young, Governor of Queensland, officially launched the Queensland Red Shield Appeal at the breakfast. Dr Young and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo, are patrons of The Red Shield Appeal in Queensland.   “There are always people within our communities who are in need, and this has been the case for the entirety of the time the Salvos have been in existence,” said Dr Young. “And it’s indeed why this army of goodwill was established in the first place, and why it’s still so very necessary.   “Queenslanders, of course, are not immune … and continue to hope for better times. With the launch in Brisbane this morning of the Red Shield Appeal, that hope exists. The hope is to assist as many Queenslanders as possible into transitional and long-term housing, to provide emergency and disaster relief when needed, to dispense financial aid when necessary, to help job seekers look for employment, and to shore up all essential services that provide care to those who need it. Together, let’s make that hope happen.”   Colonel Winsome Merrett (centre) joined Divisional Leaders Majors Fran and Mark Everitt for the Brisbane launch. Photo: Roger Phillips Divisional Commander’s challenge After warmly welcoming everyone to the launch, Major Mark Everitt, Queensland Divisional Commander, challenged the audience to take five seconds and share with those sitting next to them the three issues they would like to solve in our society today.   A loud and energetic buzz erupted before Mark shared that the top three among many are homelessness, domestic violence and poverty. Mark then shared some of the spiralling statistics around these issues, as well as other areas where the Salvos assist.   “Thank you for choosing to be part of the solution,” he said. “Supporting this appeal brings the hope people need, and your generosity is what makes our work possible.”   Breakfast was then served, allowing people to network and chat with the Salvos representatives at each table.   Building social capital After a video highlighting the work of the Salvos, Ross Israel, Brisbane Corporate and Philanthropic Advisory Group Chair, spoke about the “warmth and a compassion” the Salvos bring to the local community across a range of essential services and how critical these services are in maintaining and building “social capital”. He defined this as referring to “the networks, relationships, norms and trust that enable people or groups to work together effectively and achieve common goals”.   “I would just like to ask you, please, to give generously this morning to help the Salvos, who are building our social capital 24/7 and 365 days a year, lifting those that are desperately in need of help and hope.”  Passing the ball In her keynote address, Natalie spoke of her dream to become an Olympian at the age of eight when she watched Lisa Curry-Kenny win the 100-metre freestyle swim at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. “We all have dreams,” she said, “and it’s not just about sport. Who’s still got a dream? Who’s waiting for it to come true? Who’s changed it? And that’s the beauty of the dream – you can change it.”   In true Natalie Cook style, with humour and depth, she compared her dream with that of Salvation Army founders William and Catherine Booth, and the legacy their dream has left today in the lives of thousands of people around the world. Natalie (left) and Cameron were guest speakers at the launch. Photo Roger Phillips And, as she spoke about her own Olympic journey and “four hours of fame”, she also challenged people, as they are able, to change two people’s lives or to change thousands of people’s lives through the work of the Salvos. “Please consider the contribution you can make, not just financially, but in other ways so this legacy continues to ripple out,” she said.   “How can we be the hope? And how can we keep the ball flying? And how can we pass the ball? How can we get people off the streets and to the Salvos?   “In this room, we can be the hope, and we can believe in good.” Testimonial speaker Cameron with Colonel Winsome Merrett and Major Mark Everitt. Photo: Roger Phillips Others Award Colonel Winsome Merrett, Chief Secretary, presented the ‘Others’ award   – a tribute that recognises an organisation, trust or foundation that offers an extraordinary spirit of service to others   – to the Sylvia and Charles Vertel Charitable Foundation.   Justice Deborah Mullens, Chair of the Foundation, accepted the award.   “The Foundation has been making multi-year grants to the Salvation Army for over 20 years … It has been an honour and a privilege to see what The Salvation Army has been able to achieve with the Vertel grants, and Cameron [testimonial speaker] has made us so aware of that today.”   Winsome added that the Foundation’s partnership with The Salvation Army “exceeds 24 years with donations totalling more than 40 million”. Colonel Winsome Merrett gives her final remarks. Choices “The trajectory of our lives is shaped by the choices we make every day,” Winsome said in her closing remarks.   “And as you’ve heard this morning, there are many, many people who find themselves having to make really challenging, really difficult choices every day … but through your support and generosity, you are helping more people have more options for those choices. Each of us has a choice.   “We can each be the hope for others in our everyday lives. When we hear of someone’s struggles, we can choose to listen. When we see hardship, we can choose compassion, and when we know someone is battling and doing it tough, we can choose to step in and offer a helping hand.”   Winsome concluded the morning with prayer.   The Brisbane RSA launch event raised over $400,000, with more donations to follow.   For more information or to donate, go to: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/red-shield-appeal/