Search Results

To read the Promoted to Glory notice for Jean, click here

Each week throughout 2025 year, Salvationists around the world are uniting in prayer for a particular territory or region of The Salvation Army.   The focus territory/region shares prayer requests to help us pray with precision and power for one another.   This week (12-18 May) we are praying for the USA Southern Territory.   Commissioners Donna and Kelly Igleheart lead the territory.   The USA Southern Territory has: officers 1404 (755 active, 649 retired); aux-captains 3; cadets 38; envoys 36; employees 14,999; corps 312; outposts 1; senior soldiers 27,277; adherents 1499; junior soldiers 5372.   Pray for USA Southern Territory Praise points: ·       Praise God for the impactful territorial men officers’ retreat held in January 2025. More than 250 men gathered for worship and the Word. ·       Praise God for the resurgence in attendance in adult and youth ministries. ·       Praise God for each man and woman answering God’s call to officership in The Salvation Army. Prayer requests: ·    Please pray for impactful and safe upcoming summer camp ministries in all eight divisions. ·     For our upcoming commissioning and ordination in June with the Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Shelley Hill. Our theme is  Serving Like Jesus . ·      For our upcoming Bible conference in August with the General and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham. Our theme is  Kingdom Living… Awaken Hope . ·     For spiritual strength for new divisional leaders across the territory. ·     Please pray for the great awakening sweeping across the territory through our youth. To find out more about the USA Southern Territory, click here .   To download the 2025 International Prayer Focus schedule, click here .

Major Ross Hailes hands a cheque to Sunraysia Corps Officer Lieutenant Shaun Featherston after his fundraising walk. BY ANTHONY CASTLE Retired Salvation Army officer Major Ross Hailes has completed a 288km walk to honour a grandmother’s legacy and raise money for the Red Shield Appeal.   “We raised just over $10,500 from the walk to support the Salvos in Sunraysia and partner agencies in their work with women and children escaping domestic abuse,” Ross said. “Our family team of five walkers completed the walk in eight days, in extremely hot weather in the high 30s.” The headstone of Ross Hailes’ grandmother. Ross, supported by several family members, including his siblings and their spouses, walked from Renmark in South Australia to Underbool in Victoria in memory of his grandmother, Jennie Norton Hailes. Jennie raised five children as a single parent in Adelaide during the 1920s and 30s. Later in life, she moved to Renmark, where she had lived in her youth when she was married.   The money raised in her memory will support the specific work of assisting single mothers facing financial hardship and/or fleeing domestic abuse in the Sunraysia area.   “The Salvos in Sunraysia and partner agencies will now be resourced to further their work with mothers and families escaping domestic abuse,” Ross says. “We together should thank God and each other for this amazing result.” Ross (left) and members of his family and other supporters who journeyed with him on the 288km walk. Through vital support services and programs, the Salvos are dedicated to offering wrap-around care to Australians facing hardship and homelessness.   The Salvation Army offers a broad range of services nationwide to support women and mothers with children affected by domestic violence.   Ross is continuing to accept donations for the Red Shield Appeal through his digital fundraising page. Click here to donate.   READ MORE: South Australian corps stages remarkable reunion Click through the slideshow below for more photos of Ross’s walk:

General Buckingham has written a letter of welcome to newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Photo by  Simone Savoldi  on  Unsplash The Salvation Army’s international leader, General Lyndon Buckingham, has welcomed Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the global Roman Catholic Church. On Thursday, 8 May 2025, Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American-born priest from Chicago, USA, was elected to the Papacy. He chose to be known by the papal name Leo XIV. General Buckingham recognised his election in a letter to the Vatican written on behalf of The Salvation Army’s members and employees worldwide. “I write today with my personal recognition, and that of The Salvation Army worldwide,” he said, “of the election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to the Papacy and, therefore, to the global leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. “As a people dedicated to following Jesus ourselves, Salvationists welcome Pope Leo as the Bishop of Rome and offer our prayers for his ministry, noting his call to peace and bridge-building in a divided world.” The General recognised the longevity of the new Pope’s pastoral ministry and his strong commitment to social justice. He also called out Pope Leo’s heart for those living in poverty and who suffer amid the current global instability and uncertainty about the future. “This resonates strongly with the heart of The Salvation Army,” General Buckingham affirmed, “and I have no doubt we will continue to work in partnership with Catholics worldwide to bring faith, hope and the love of God in Christ to communities near and far on every continent.” General Buckingham then turned to conversations on Christian unity between The Salvation Army and the Catholic Church that had resulted in the 2014 book  Conversations with the Catholic Church: A Record of the Papers Presented and Recommendations Made During the Informal Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and The Salvation Army . “I am equally as sure,” he said, “that the ongoing Dialogue on Christian Unity between the Roman Catholic Church and The Salvation Army will continue to grow both in its scope and in the richness of fellowship we experience.” General Buckingham concluded his letter by writing: “We acknowledge the expressed joy of Catholics across the world upon the announcement of Pope Leo’s election and join with you all in this time of celebration and hope for the world.”

I’ve just returned from a holiday overseas, which was very enjoyable – thanks for asking.   When I’m travelling, I like to see the sights or any main points of interest to tourists, but I also like to visit churches. I should clarify: I’m referring to large churches in large cities. I like to wander in a cathedral, not just drop in to the neighbourhood Baptist church to see who’s on morning tea this Sunday.   Some of the churches are centuries old and can be quite ornate, with statues, and large paintings and gold-leafed fittings. Some – especially in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions – have the ceilings painted with magnificent Bible scenes, images of Jesus and the disciples, or angels.   This got me thinking – if we decided to add a bit of colour to Salvation Army halls, what would we paint on the ceiling? What would an Army version of the Sistine Chapel look like? (Now I have a vision of God’s hand with a finger reaching out to touch William Booth’s finger.)   How about we keep it simple and just go with a huge Army flag? Surely it would serve as a motivational and inspiring artwork, and the big star in the middle would remind you of the sun and mentally trick you into thinking it was warm even during the depths of winter.   On the other hand, having a huge and very visible ‘Blood & Fire’ in view might alarm visitors and scare small children, not to mention raise an issue for WHS inspectors – ‘Fire? Where? Blood? Write an incident report.’   Maybe the painting should be Salvation Army doctrines. That way, when you nod off to sleep during the sermon and your head falls back with your mouth open, you can just tell people you are studying the doctrines.   Perhaps it should be an image of William and Catherine Booth – the much-loved and respected founders of The Salvation Army. Surely their happy, smiling faces would encourage and inspire all who saw them.   Just one problem: have you ever seen an image of them smiling? Catherine could raise a slight Mona Lisa smile every now and then, but William constantly looked like he’d stepped on some Lego or stubbed his toe.   You could have a large image of Jesus on your ceiling; however, which Jesus would you portray? The one who looks like a very white-skinned, blonde-haired Californian surfer? How about the meek, mild Jesus holding a lamb? What about a crucified Jesus, dripping in blood? Maybe just a bearded bloke working in a carpenter’s shop?   I’m not sure if any of these would work. The last thing we need is 96-year-old Mrs Jones looking up during the meeting and loudly proclaiming, ‘I see Jesus!’.   Perhaps the best solution is simply to put a mirror on the roof. While it would take some getting used to, it would allow the corps officer to double the attendance stats when the count is done!   Major Mal Davies is the Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division

Today, we honour the incredible women who shape our lives – mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties, godmothers, mentors and friends. We are thankful for the many ways they teach, nurture and guide us, and we pay tribute to their strength, love and countless acts of care that make such a difference in our lives. To those who are here with us and those who live on in our hearts, you are cherished beyond words. Join us in celebrating these irreplaceable figures and take a moment to tell the special women in your life how much they mean to you. Happy Mother's Day!

The Charters Towers Corps band in 1912 ... many of these boys and men would have honoured their mums during a historic Mother’s Day service at the corps three years later.  BY BARRY GITTINS Like many trends and fads, things and observances, we Australians adopted the celebration of Mother’s Day from our cousins, the Yanks. While the day was first celebrated in the United States in 1905, the annual giving of gifts to say thanks to ‘Mum’ here in Australia started with Leichhardt woman Janet Heyden in 1924. The Sydneysider was said to have been moved by the plight of isolated elderly mothers at Newington State Hospital. Read more here However, in a June 1915 edition of The Salvation Army’s War Cry , it was reported that Charters Towers Corps in Central Queensland had set aside a Sunday in early May to celebrate ‘Mothers’ Day’. It is the first reference to Mother’s Day that we have found in Salvation Army history in this country. And not only that, but it is recorded that two mothers “found salvation” at the service. The clipping from the War Cry in 1915. The newspaper clipping states, “ Our work at Charters Towers still continues to improve; a beautiful spirit of love and unity prevails throughout the corps, and the blessing of God is upon us. Sunday was celebrated as ‘Mothers’ Day’. Suitable songs and addresses were given by Officers and Soldiers, which created new interest in all meetings, and at the close two mothers knelt and found salvation. Both are doing well ...” The corps, wanting to ‘improve a beautiful spirit of love and unity’ as they sought God’s blessing, organised a company of six sisters as ‘Visiting Sergeants’ to visit people in their homes and support them in everyday life. Women, empowered and empowering, have always been a source of strength for The Salvation Army. A decade later, in the 9 May 1925 issue of War Cry , The Salvation Army described “a cause for great rejoicing [that] the practice of observing Mothers’ Day is spreading steadily year by year ... In Australia, an increasingly large number of churches call attention each year to Mothers’ Day and hold special services ... our organisation was one of the first in Australia to observe the custom.” The Salvos believed that Mother’s Day served a dual purpose: giving us all the opportunity to thank our mothers for who they are, be they in this life or the next (‘young people are reminded of all they owe to their parents, and are urged to be dutiful sons and daughters’); and to remind ‘parents of their duties to their children’ (loving, caring and providing for them). Let’s salute our mothers who are still with us and celebrate our memories of our departed mothers. Women were the backbone of many Salvation Army families in the early days ... (Top) Six siblings of the Salvation Army Landers family: Cecil Alton, Elsie May, Albert Frederick, Gladys Victoria, Mary Jane and Esther Isabell. (Bottom left) Captain Charles and Mary Tyler pictured with a child and another unidentified officer couple. (Bottom right) Mary Berney (nee Druery) in a studio photo with her son John. Mary was a missionary to Java.

Alex Dekker sharing his passion for cooking and helping others with members of the local community. At just 25 years of age, Alex Dekker has achieved what many only dream of. What began with a single lasagna he whipped up at 19 has transformed into Alex Makes Meals – a powerhouse food charity that has delivered close to one million free meals to Melbourne’s most vulnerable, including those supported by the Salvos. Driven by passion and purpose, Alex and his team are on an unrelenting mission to end food insecurity, as Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH discovered. There is nothing more valuable than your energy. This is the powerful motto that guides Alex every day in his busy life ... and it’s clearly working. In the heart of Melbourne, his thriving food charity, Alex Makes Meals (AMM), pulses with energy and passion as his team prepares and delivers warm, nutritious meals to those in need, including the homeless, disadvantaged communities and struggling families across the city. And the need is great. Each week, more than 3000 meals are distributed across over 50 diverse locations in Melbourne, including various Salvation Army sites, and the demand continues to increase. Local charities have requested an additional 10,000 meals per week from AMM, which relies on both practical and financial support to help reduce the waitlist. But Alex takes it in his stride. From humble beginnings to leading one of Melbourne’s largest food charities, his journey is truly extraordinary and inspiring. It is a story of sheer determination and hard work coupled with a driving passion and sense of urgency to eliminate food insecurity among those facing hardship. “The urgency of our cause is underscored by the 2016 Australian Census, which recorded a significant number of individuals experiencing homelessness,” Alex said. “No individual, especially in a city as vibrant as Melbourne, should face the uncertainty of their next meal. Hunger affects one’s ability to function both in daily tasks and socially. With financial support from the community, our organisation can donate meals, provide sustenance and hope to those in need.” And now, his team is gearing up for their biggest-ever fundraising event, ‘Feast to Feed,’ on Saturday 17 May. Some of Melbourne’s finest and well-known chefs are volunteering to take part, including Matt Preston, Telina Menzies, Gary Mehigan, Alice Zaslavsky, Alessandro Luppolo, Ross Magnaye and Lee Dang. The goal? To raise $100,000. Every dollar from the five-course degustation dinner will contribute to AMM’s mission: to bring comfort, security and resilience to vulnerable communities across Melbourne, including those supported by The Salvation Army. “I’m still pinching myself at this year’s line-up,” Alex said. “Matt Preston was a childhood hero of mine, and I would never miss an episode [of Masterchef ]. Our last Feast to Feed was an incredible success, with some terrific chefs – and this feels like a perfect progression.” Tickets are on sale for’ Feast to Feed’ on Saturday 17 May at the St Kilda Town Hall. The event will include a five-course degustation dinner. All proceeds will support Alex Makes Meals, providing nutritious meals to the homeless and disadvantaged across Melbourne, including The Salvation Army. For further information and tickets, click here Salvation Army connection Alex’s connection with the Salvos goes back to the early COVID-19 days, starting with the Sunshine Corps in Melbourne’s north-west. “Sunshine Corps has been one of our oldest partners,” he said. “It was the early days of COVID, and our existing food relief structures were buckling under the load. When we showed up, a preppy young 19-year-old ready for anything, we found we were the only food many organisations like the Salvos could access, and thus, the only food thousands of vulnerable Victorians could eat.” Since then, AMM has delivered hundreds of free meals to Salvos partners each week. Some of these meals stock community food pantries, and others are used to host community dinners. Captain Phuong Reynolds, Sunshine Corps Officer, said Alex and his team had made an amazing and significant contribution to their local community. They often stepped in during critical times and consistently provided meals to those who could not afford them. Sunshine Corps Officer Captain Phuong Reynolds in June 2020, during the COVID pandemic, with two dinners from Alex Makes Meals. “Back in June 2020, when we received meals from Alex Makes Meals, we were so appreciative of their fantastic support during lockdown, especially during a difficult time,” she said. “They were amazing – and we continue to be supported by the charity. We have been very grateful to Alex Makes Meals for their generosity. We work together with them to make a positive difference in our community and provide a lot of food to vulnerable people who visit us each week.” Where it all began The spark that ignited AMM began in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a lasagna. Cut off from his immunocompromised family due to the challenges of lockdowns, the 19-year-old university student channelled his energy into supporting his sister, a hospital frontliner, and her medical colleagues by preparing hearty meals. He started with a single lasagna. It was a hit. The single act of kindness then quickly grew into something much bigger. Alex Makes Meals emerged from Alex’s compassionate initiative to prepare meals for medical staff. From its humble beginnings, it has evolved from a one-man mission to a thriving and leading food charity in Melbourne. When Alex made that first meal during the tumultuous times of COVID-19, it was more than just food – it was hope. Fast forward a few years, and now AMM stands as a beacon of community spirit in Melbourne, committed to alleviating food insecurity among individuals facing hardship by providing warm and nourishing meals to those in need. Alex with one of his volunteers. Vital volunteers Community is a key motivating force for AMM, and its mission is growing beyond providing tasty culinary cuisine. “Beyond meals, we are a symbol of unity, illustrating that when a community comes together, no challenge is too great,” Alex remarked. “We want people to explore our mission, share our vision, and help us ensure that hunger doesn’t stand in the way of a human’s potential. With a strong team of passionate volunteers and sustained by generous donations, we are dedicated to ensuring that no human goes hungry. With every meal, we are not just nourishing bodies but also strengthening the future of our community.” His strong team of more than 80 volunteers are the essential backbone to his mission. From job seekers and students to professionals, AMM unites a multitude of passionate individuals. Alex Makes Meals volunteers prepare and pack meals to be delivered across Melbourne to the homeless, disadvantaged communities and struggling families across the city. The roles can be varied and include delivery drivers, chefs, kitchen hands and critical behind-the-scenes players in marketing, legal, human relations and fundraising. Furthermore, the volunteer role offers valuable hands-on experience, including mentoring and the opportunity to grow in their chosen field, advancing their professional journey, all while making a tangible difference in the community. “When I started Alex Makes Meals, I was just a kid in my dorm-room kitchen trying to find a way to feel useful during lockdown,” Alex reflected. “I quickly realised that any real change would require a team, people smarter than me, working together to make it happen.” His love of cooking started early on the family farm. He discovered that if he volunteered to make dinner on the farm, he could get out of a couple of hours of work on long days. “The problem being, of course, that if I made a bad meal, I would not get away with that for long,” Alex said. “So, I had to keep getting better!” Alex and his highly valued volunteers celebrate 200,000 meals. The thriving food charity has now prepared and delivered close to one million meals! And would his younger self be surprised by where he is now? “Hell yes!” he exclaims. “Present-day me is constantly surprised by where we are and the impact we have managed to have.” When it comes to the menu items, variety, seasonality and taste are top priorities. The team cooks a wide variety of meals, around a dozen core recipes in regular rotation, and many more when counting seasonal specials. Additionally, AMM aims to provide a variety of meals to keep things interesting and to cater for different tastes and dietary needs. And the feedback? “People tell us that our meals  feel  home-cooked, which makes me so happy because that’s exactly what we’re going for,” Alex commented. “Every person deserves to eat well, and we are very lucky to be a part of the solution.” As the social entrepreneur and humanitarian reflects on an amazing and hectic past few years, including being awarded the 2024 Young Melburnian of the Year, lessons have been learned. The biggest has had a profound effect – the power of community. Nobody can do it alone. The social entrepreneur and humanitarian was awarded the 2024 Young Melburnian of the Year. He also has valuable advice for young changemakers in the community who want to start a food charity with a social impact. He emphasised that food relief only works if done well and consistently, adding that starting small, making smart choices, and never stopping thinking about how the experience can be improved for the people eating the meals at the end of the line were all important. For those wanting lasting changes, there was also one additional essential: having a team that wants to make a positive difference in the lives of others. “I realised that any real change would need to come from a group of people smarter and more capable than me, working together toward a common goal,” Alex reflected. “Every meal we serve is a chance to make someone’s day a little better.” For more information on Alex Makes Meals, click here

The first Governor General of Australia, Lord Hopetoun (centre), shown departing the rotunda after the signing of the Federation documents. It was filmed by Staff-Captain Robert Sandall (the first time the ‘birth’ of a nation had ever been captured in a motion picture). BY BARRY GITTINS It was on 9 May 1901, 124 years ago, that The Salvation Army’s Limelight Department was on hand at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne’s Carlton Gardens to capture the first-ever session of the new nation’s Federal Parliament*. Things kind of went slightly bung at that point. A camera being set up for filming of the first Parliament. While the Limelighters were skilled and keen, ready to record on film the ceremonies by which the future King George V (then the Duke of Cornwall and York) would do the honours, the Salvationists hadn’t reckoned on the cavernous ceilings and dimly lit innards of the magnificent Exhibition edifice. Put simply, the lighting technology of the day and ‘flash guns’ were not up to the demanding task. Not to worry! Leading Australian painter Tom Roberts’ pictorial record saved the day. The opening of the Parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901, as depicted by artist Tom Roberts. Photo: wikipedia And, undeterred, the Limelight crew shot ‘the breaking of the flag’ ceremony on the building’s domed roof. Having won the tender as the new nation’s largest motion picture company, The Salvation Army’s cinematographers had already been out and about in Sydney on 1 January earlier that auspicious year to shoot the proclamation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Some of the Limelight staff in 1904, featuring Brigadier and Mrs Joseph Perry, Sidney Cook, John Brodie and Mira Whiteman. Mounted platforms allowed The Salvation Army auteurs to film more than 10,000 citizens, visitors, firefighters, soldiers, police, dignitaries, tradies and civic leaders, with innovative, multi-camera coverage, no less. The final documentary – the world’s first feature-length film doco – ran for 35 minutes; five times the length of any previous Antipodean movie. It was the most distributed and viewed Aussie film in its day. *Canberra’s [Old] Parliament House wouldn’t open until 9 May, 1927.   This is the personnel of the first ‘Biorama Company’ raised in October 1901 to tour the Limelight Department’s productions.

Australian officers Geoff and Kalie Webb were promoted to the rank of commissioner this week. BY SIMONE WORTHING AND KIRRALEE NICOLLE Colonels Geoff and Kalie Webb, officers of the Australia Territory, currently serving as Territorial Leaders in the Kenya West Territory, were promoted to the rank of commissioner this week. The Webbs took up leadership of the Kenya West Territory in February 2024, Geoff as Territorial Commander and Kalie as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. They were previously based at International Headquarters in London. Geoff served as Executive Secretary to the General, while Kalie held two roles – as Under Secretary for the South Asia Zone and as Director for SASIA SALT Learning Centre. The couple have vast international experience, having served in four of the five Salvation Army zones around the world. To read an in-depth interview with the Webbs by Salvos Online journalist Kirralee Nicolle in 2024, click here Australian officers Colonels Geoff and Kalie Webb with fellow officers of the Kenya West Territory. Corps continue to serve in wartime Ukraine As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues into its fourth year, Salvation Army corps around the country continue their ministry with local communities and the many internally displaced people fleeing the fighting.   Youth and children are a major focus in Ukraine as leaders and volunteers try to give the young people as normal a life as possible in a warzone. Over the past couple of months as the (northern) summer approaches, corps have led more activities outside. The Kyiv Mayak (Lighthouse) Corps recently ran a summer camp for children who previously had no connection with The Salvation Army. Bible studies were a part of the activities which also included sport, craft and a campout. Regular Sunday school and youth groups continue each week.   Older teenagers learned about CPR and the importance of first aid skills, while another group attended a workshop about difficult relationships.   Material and psychological aid is also distributed to the many who need it. In Vinnytsia, the corps has partnered with the Department of Social Policy in the city to Vinnytsia, corps leaders work to help those overwhelmed by the difficulties of war, giving them hope to go on and the assurance that they are not alone. UK charity shops respond to human trafficking survivors The Salvation Army’s UK charity shops are assisting survivors of modern slavery, as part of the Army’s Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Response. The Salvation Army’s charity shops both raise awareness of modern slavery and seek to assist survivors (featuring artist and volunteer Jemma Banks). In addition to donating vouchers to survivors to give them dignity in choosing their own clothing and other needs, the stores arrange private sessions for survivors to try on and choose clothing without fear. The stores also offer volunteer and work experience to help boost confidence and social skills to prepare for long-term employment. The stores also partner with artists and other parts of The Salvation Army to continue raising awareness of human trafficking and slavery issues. To find out more about The Salvation Army International’s responses to modern slavery and human trafficking, click here Children enjoy Big Adventure 2025 Also in the UK, Salvationists in the East of England Division hosted Big Adventure 2025, a weekend camp for children aged 8 to 14 held at Hilltop Outdoor Centre in Sheringham. The outdoor-focused event brings children together with leaders from across the division to participate in adventure sports, build friendships and learn about Jesus. The group at Big Adventure 2025. Image: The Salvation Army East of England Division Facebook page The team described the event on Facebook as a “blessing and privilege” to serve and participate in. “We’ve loved journeying and adventuring with this amazing group of young people as they have stepped out of their comfort zones, been brave, trusted, and conquered fears,” they wrote. “It’s been a joy watching them form new friendships, learn more about the brilliant people they are and find out more about what it means to trust God.” Canadian Salvationists assist in search for missing children With Nova Scotian children Lily (6) and Jack (4) Sullivan having disappeared from their house last Friday, search and rescue teams have been scouring the Pictou County region within the small Canadian province using drones and helicopters. The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team has been on the ground, assisting more than 100 personnel involved in the search with meals, water and pastoral care. Source: The Salvation Army Maritimes - Atlantic Division Facebook page. “We remain committed to supporting the community throughout this challenging time and extend our gratitude to all those involved in the search efforts,” The Salvation Army Maritimes – Atlantic Division said on their Facebook page. “The Salvation Army extends our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to their family and the entire community during this deeply difficult time.” NZ Thai community responds to Myanmar appeal Commissioner Janine Donaldson, Territorial Commander of the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory, recently met Royal Thai Embassy staff and members of the Thai community, including Mr Supphawut Supanun, Chairman of The Wellington’s Thai Community, New Zealand, at the embassy. “The Thai community generously raised $10,200 in support of our Earthquake Appeal for Myanmar and Thailand,” she said. “Their kindness and compassion were deeply moving, and we are incredibly grateful for their support. We look forward to continuing this relationship and partnering together on future initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.” Commissioner Janine Donaldson accepts the donation from The Wellington’s Thai Community, New Zealand, for the Earthquake Appeal for Myanmar and Thailand.

Jim Gow, Youth Participation Worker at North East Youth Services, was thrilled with the response to the  Under The Same Stars  sleepout. BY LERISSE SMITH It was a powerful and poignant wake-up call. When a group of VIPs recently bedded down at Deakin Reserve sports oval in Shepparton (Vic.) as part of The Salvation Army North East Youth Services ‘Under the Same Stars’   sleepout event to increase awareness of issues facing youth homelessness, no one anticipated an unscheduled soaking. But a surprise midnight drenching, caused by sprinklers the local council had forgotten to disable, saturated sleeping bags, cardboard shelters and participants. The unexpected twist could have dampened spirits; however, it instead served as an impactful real-time lens into the harsh realities of youth homelessness. A surprise midnight drenching, from sprinklers the local council had forgotten to disable, left sleeping bags, cardboard shelters and participants saturated. “In a strange twist of fate, what began as a mishap became one of the event’s most poignant teaching moments of the night,” reflected Jim Gow, Youth Participation Worker at North East Youth Services. “A guest speaker with lived experience of homelessness put it into perspective for everyone: “This is how it is. The exact thing has happened to me. I was asleep on the St Kilda park bench. You’ve got no security. You’ve got no stability. It’s time to go. You move. You are up and about again.” Some participants left. Many others shifted to drier ground. But those who stayed gained something profound: a visceral sense of how quickly things can change when living rough. “The unintended consequences were actually enlightenment,” Jim remarked. “The people that stayed had, ironically, gained another dimension of how unstable life was because of the incident.” And their spirits were far from dampened. The event exceeded all expectations, raising a record $20,000 to support local youth services. Organised by the youth services team and Ray Dobson Real Estate as part of Youth Matters Homelessness Day, the sleepout aimed to raise funds and build empathy and awareness for young people experiencing homelessness. “This was our maiden voyage with this event,” Jim said. “It was a first for us, but we knew the appetite was there. I am hugely humbled by the $20,000. It was also about an experience of people roughing it in a way for one night and just walking in other people’s shoes temporarily and experiencing a snapshot of the issues that other people are facing constantly.” Salvation Army employees, including youth services staff and a regional manager for adult homelessness service, gather to support  Under the Same Stars. The Salvation Army North East Youth Services offers accommodation and outreach services for young people aged 16 to 25. Located in Shepparton, the Youth Accommodation Program enables young people to stabilise their situations and receive support to set immediate future goals. More than 100 people, including community leaders, locals, and even CEOs, signed up to sleep rough from 6pm to 6am. The event was fully supervised and free of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or vapes. The night was marked with standout moments. Homelessness stories Guest speakers shared raw and emotional accounts of survival, struggle, and resilience through first-hand lived experiences of homelessness. One young man recalled sleeping in the back seat of his car while holding down a full-time job. With a window that wouldn’t roll up, he worried about his safety and could barely sleep, changing clothes in his boot before heading to work. (Left): Guest speaker Jarvis Atkinson inspired the sleepout attendees with his personal story of homelessness lived experience. (Right): Talysha Dawson was also a guest speaker. The Salvation Army North East Youth Service staff member spoke about the work of the program and critical issues facing youth experiencing homelessness. Another speaker reflected on challenging life experiences and decisions, including addiction and the dangers of sleeping rough in Melbourne. He also recounted a traumatic night when a friend he was sleeping beside experienced a horrific attack. A random passerby poured accelerant over him and set him on fire. “It’s hard to digest, hard to even fathom,” Jim remarked. “We don’t know how lucky we are. We have got first-world problems. It’s not about rubbing people’s face in that – it’s building the discrepancy between our social hierarchy and those that have and those that have not.” Another striking component of the evening was the ‘privilege exercise’. The sleepout participants stepped forward or back depending on aspects of their upbringing or identity, such as growing up with two parents or feeling safe showing affection in public. By the end, people stood scattered across the field, physically illustrating the invisible advantages or disadvantages they carried into adulthood. A key message was not to rub people’s faces in privilege. It was to acknowledge the fact that some people had more opportunities than others. “A few people were emotional (after the exercise),” he commented. “It was just an acknowledgement – we are here with the same theme in mind and the same genuine want for change. But our background stories may be very different.” For Jim, avoiding tokenism was key. READ MORE: Sleepout smashes fundraising goal for WA youth services The sleepout was not meant to trivialise homelessness but to simulate eight hours of discomfort, just a glimpse designed to spark reflection, not pity. “I think it rang people’s bell,” he commented. “I think their appreciation went up. I hope their tolerance went up or their understanding. I like to think that, on top of the money raised, there were other objectives achieved. We had many guest speakers raise some thinking points, such as … do you get paid tomorrow? When buying food. Where are you heating it up? Where are you going to the toilet?” The team hopes the sleepout inspires long-term empathy and action – that people will pay it forward, stay involved, and remember how fortunate they are while others remain deeply vulnerable. Fundraising run Runners Peter Ralph and Vic Bovalino enjoy a celebratory embrace after running from Epping to Shepparton in a gruelling 22 hours. In the lead-up to the sleepout, a group of local runners also launched a unique fundraiser of their own, ‘100 Miles From Home’ .  The team included locals Peter Ralph and Vic Bovalino, who ran 162km in 22 gruelling hours from Epping to Shepparton, arriving at the sleepout site as heroes at 3.41am. Their celebratory hug was cheered by all. “We have run 100km events before, and we wanted to take the next step when it came to distance running,” Peter explained. “This has been in our minds for a while, and why not raise funds for a worthy cause by doing it – everybody wins!” With overwhelmingly positive feedback, Jim is optimistic about the event’s future. “Anything that is successful comes from a team,” he reminded the crowd. But he also knows events need a lifespan. “I don’t want to be that person that’s out there with 20 people going, ‘Well, it’s great to see you again’, and now it’s the Year 2046,” he laughed. “No one likes to see the movie  Jaws 9 ! They will watch 1, 2, and 3, but we don’t want to flog a dead horse!” But for now, the enthusiasm is clear. A cooked breakfast of bacon and egg rolls by Berry Street’s Education First Youth Foyer team was provided to the participants. “The response means we can justify an investment of time and effort in building people’s awareness locally to make our community one of understanding, ultimately making our community stronger in the long run,” he emphasised. “People have been really responsive with how they believe they can make it better, and I am sure the next one will be a great success. We launched our survey in response to the event and found that 100 per cent of respondents who had already completed it stated that they not only found it valuable but also would do it again and that they would recommend it to others. It was a very strong and positive response.”    Participants setting up for the sleepout.

Donations are still being accepted for the Self Denial Appeal 2025. So, it’s not too late to give your gift to support the Australia Territory’s international projects in India, Tanzania, Bulgaria and Georgia. In this video, Communications Secretary Colonel Rodney Walters shares an inspiring message about the impact of the Self Denial Appeal. Reflecting on the incredible stories of God’s hope revealed around the world, he highlights the importance of giving with a willing heart, trusting that God will multiply our gifts to meet the needs of those who need it most. Your support can be part of something bigger – making a real difference in the world today. So, please consider donating to this year’s appeal if you haven’t already. Your donation can help The Salvation Army fulfil its commitments in these countries. Donations can be accepted until 30 June (end of Financial Year). To find out more and donate: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/self-denial-2025/