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Majors Paul and Wendy Hateley with Phoenix Reigns, who was the testimonial speaker at the SA/NT Division’s Christmas Thank You event. Over the past month leading up to Christmas, The Salvation Army has been holding ‘Thank You’ events across the country to formally honour and thank the people and organisations who support the Salvos’ work throughout the year. Salvos Online highlights one of these events, held in Adelaide on behalf of the South Australia/Northern Territory Division.   BY ANTHONY CASTLE The South Australia/Northern Territory Division hosted its annual Christmas Thank You event on Wednesday, 19 November, to express its appreciation for those donors and supporters who made its work possible.   Divisional Commander Major Paul Hateley welcomed guests to the luncheon at the Adelaide Pavilion.   “The Salvation Army is only ever as strong as the people who walk with us, and when I think back on this past year, I’m blown away by the support and impact,” Paul said.   “Today is a time to come together to say thank you and to celebrate what’s been achieved. Even looking around this room, so many moments come to mind.” Majr Paul Hateley speaks to a packed room at Adelaide Pavilion. Paul thanked NAB for their commitment to 800 volunteer placements with The Salvation Army nationally. A group of volunteers were at the Salvos’ warehouse packing Christmas donations for families. The Salvation Army provides tens of thousands of Christmas hampers each year, and many more gifts to children in need.   “As we approach Christmas, we know many in our communities are still struggling,” Paul shared.   “Families are being forced to make difficult choices and for others, this season is a painful reminder of loss. But because of your support, those who feel excluded will be welcomed into our warm embrace, those who feel alone will find friendship and support, and those who feel afraid will have their hearts filled with joy and hope for a better tomorrow.” Paul began the meal with a prayer, and attendees listened to vocal performances by local Salvo artist Rebecca Raymond. Rebecca Raymond sings for those gathered, and Phoenix Reigns shares his story. The event featured testimonial speaker Phoenix Reigns, who shared his experiences of family breakdown, alcoholism and homelessness as a teenager. Phoenix later took on parenting responsibilities in adulthood and encountered ongoing struggles with addiction. It was The Salvation Army that supported Phoenix during his most difficult times, providing the compassion and support needed for positive change.   “The Salvation Army can only do what we do because of the support of people like you – our donors and supporters,” Phoenix said.   “You make it possible for people like me to get the help we need, to rebuild our lives, and to find hope again. Even though my story isn’t finished yet, I know this: I’m not the same person I used to be. God turned my darkness into light, and now I want to share that light with others.”   Salvation Army chaplain Duan Kereru shared details about the work happening across the South Australia/Northern Territory Division, and volunteer Meredith Wenham was presented with the Hero of Hope award. Chaplain Duan Kereru (left) shares about his chaplaincy work, and Meredith Wenham receives her certificate from Major Paul Hateley.   Meredith has been providing invaluable support to the Fundraising and Gift in Wills team for 15 years. She has assisted with data administration, mail-outs, and at the Wills Day events.   The Divisional Commander then expressed gratitude to everyone for their contributions and attendance, concluding the lunch with a reading from Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Australian Officer, Captain Star Conliffe, currently serving in Daejeong, South Korea, shared a photo of the local 'Charity Bucket' campaign – in sub-zero temperatures! BY SIMONE WORTHING Around the world, The Salvation Army is in full-swing Christmas mode, celebrating the birth of Jesus in its communities and its corps in the lead-up to Christmas Day. Red Kettles are out on the streets in all weathers, raising funds to make sure the lonely, the sick and the vulnerable are cared for during the festive season. Choirs are singing, meals are being served, gifts are being distributed and elves, puddings, ponies and sleighs are bringing delight, hope and a sense of belonging to young and old.   From Canada to Moldova, South Korea to Poland, Sweden to the United States, Ukraine to Pakistan – enjoy our global Salvation Army Christmas collection! Just click on the arrow below to view the slideshow..

Jet skis, motorbikes and a double-decker bus were all part of the annual Toy Run through Hobart. BY LERISSE SMITH   Engines roared to life, jet skis zipped across the water, and a shiny red double-decker bus rolled in as the Christmas spirit burst through Hobart for one of the city’s most loved festive traditions – the annual Salvos Motorcycle Riders Association (MRA) South Toy Run.   Thousands of Tasmanians flocked to join the festivities, with $25,000 worth of gifts and donations given to support The Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer program. Now celebrating its 46th year, the MRA South Toy Run remains Australia’s longest-running event of its kind.   It wasn’t just a parade of chrome and horsepower; it was a celebration of generosity, community and the festive Christmas spirit.   “The Toy Run was absolutely incredible,” said Amelia Natoli, Salvos State Manager of External Communications. Some of the colourful displays on motorcycles as they thundered through the streets of Hobart.   “It was a great success and an awesome community day. So many people took part from all walks of life. It was a fantastic day full of festive cheer. The generosity and community spirit on display was something truly special. The incredible support received will help the Salvos bring hope to Tasmanians in need this Christmas.” The iconic charity ride on 9 November brought the city to life as 1500 riders, jet skis and a red double-decker bus joined forces to bring gifts and donations for the Salvos Christmas Cheer program.   The convoy thundered out of MyState Bank Arena in Glenorchy at 12.30pm and rolled into Salamanca on the waterfront at 1pm. Jetski Tas Inc. joined the event by water. The team of skiers from Jetski Tas Inc. added much excitement to the Toy Run arriving on their water to take part in the community day.  Crowds packed the streets with ‘Honk if you go past!’ signs posted on some residential fences, while children squealed with delight as the riders thundered by, including some from interstate.   Getting into the swing of the day was Tamanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who filmed the spectacle from his office overlooking the waterfront.   For Amelia, who has been helping to organise the Toy Run for six years and volunteered for many more, the magic still hasn’t faded.   “It’s an event that I love very much,” she said. “Having the jet skis involved for the last two years has been awesome. The event continues to take a new turn. It never fails to surprise us. Seeing people rock up on their bikes is amazing. We had one of the biggest plush toys, a gorgeous dog, I’ve seen this year. He got to say hi to all the lovely community members that lined the streets.”   Adding extra sparkle this year was Red Decker Hobart, a bright red double-decker bus, joining the Toy Run for the first time. Volunteers aboard enjoyed the best view in the house, watching the bikes and crowds from the top deck. The Red Decker Hobart bus took part in the parade. Behind the scenes, the 50 Salvos volunteers teamed up with the MRA South crew to make the day happen. The Hobart Corps even wrapped up church early so volunteers could help collect the gifts when riders arrived.   While the value of this year’s gifts was slightly down on previous years, they were still impressive, Amelia added.   “The thing we noticed that changed a little bit was that we received a similar number of gifts, but the value of each gift was a little bit less,” she reflected.   “Usually, the gifts are worth about $25, but this year the average was probably more the $15 mark, which really showed that the community still wanted to support it. The riders were still so generous, with the cost of living and everything else.”   Amelia said the event could not happen without the MRA South team, which handles permits, police permissions and logistics to keep everything running smoothly. It has been a family affair for the Natoli family who has volunteered at the Toy Run for many years. From left, Amelia, Mark, Bianca and Felicity. Last year, more than 1500 families and 2,428 children received help from Salvos through its Christmas Cheer program. Some riders also brought food for hampers. The gifts collected this year will again be sorted at the central Christmas warehouse, divided by age groups, and distributed across the state.   Applications for the Christmas Cheer have already opened with the Salvos receiving 80 on the first day alone.   The figure has now risen to more than 700. Some of the incredible Salvos volunteers helping out at the 46th MRA South Toy Run.  “I think we are going to see a much higher demand for support,” Amelia remarked. “So, everything that we got from the Toy Run is just so greatly appreciated.”   The MRA South team operate as a volunteer-led committee organising the entire event themselves.   “They still want to support others which is really humbling because it’s going to be a tough year for us, and what we can provide really depends on what people give,” Amelia explained. “Obviously, year after year it gets harder and more expensive for them to make the event happen. But they always go above and beyond.”   And looking ahead, the future of the event looks bright.   “Tasmanian Police, Glenorchy and Hobart City Councils,   State Roads,  Traffic Management – absolutely everyone gets behind it,” she added. “We are very grateful to everyone that makes it happen.”  (From left) MRA South President, Jarrod Doyle, The Salvation Army TAS Area Officer, Major Vicki Clarke, Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor, Dr Zelinda Sherlock and MRA South Event MC, David Closs joined in the festivities of the major event that drew large crowds from across Tasmania.

Port Stephens Corps’ leadership team – Lucas and Angela Cairns (left), and Sophie and Josh Annesley (right). Three hours north of Sydney, there’s a Salvation Army Corps quite different from most others. Nestled on a large property, five minutes from the beach and across the road from a nature reserve, the corps is home to a lush community garden where chickens roam free. The sound of music and children playing filters through the breeze from the playground and the church hall, as parents enjoy barista-made coffee from the pop-up coffee van. Welcome to Port Stephens Corps!   BY LAUREN MARTIN   When Envoys Angela and Lucas Cairns and their family arrived at this Salvation Army paradise in 2022, it was perfect timing. Lucas was just two years into his recovery from a heart transplant, and two of their children had also undergone life-saving heart transplants in the years prior.   “This place is in such a beautiful location. Currently, Jacaranda trees are in full bloom, and the mango trees planted by previous officers are covered in blossoms,” Lucas described. “We prayed when we first arrived and felt we had a strong direction from God that this was going to be a place of healing and restoration.”   Lucas and Angela felt God had given them the verse for this place from Lamentations 3:21-23: “But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope, because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness oh God.” (This verse now adorns the office wall with a large mural of sunflowers).    As they got to know the congregation and the community, they began implementing programs that work together to allow God to heal and restore. Angela Cairns feeds to free-range chickens that roam throughout the Port Stephens Corps property.  “Everything works together as a village here,” says Lucas. “Every program that we do links in with the overarching vision.”   A year or so into their journey, God provided them with helpers – Josh and Sophie Annesley.   When the Annesleys moved back to Australia from the UK last year, they didn’t expect to return to ministry positions. “We had left London because we wanted to run a play café ministry, and the door to the opportunity closed,” Sophie says. ‘More than a barista’ – Josh Annesley runs the Port Stephens Corps’ Hope Village Café. When they arrived in Port Stephens and met Angela and Lucas Cairns, they couldn’t believe their eyes as they toured the Port Stephens Salvation Army site, seeing the children’s playground right next to the main building.   “At the first meeting, we said, ‘We really feel like there should be a play café here’.”   Angela and Lucas were amazed at how God works, just as they had been discussing in the months before Sophie and Josh's arrival, that very same thing.  Fast forward to now, and Sophie is a Ministry Assistant and Josh is the corps barista. “But he’s so much more than a barista!” says Lucas, “Both Sophie and Josh are a God-given gift to this place.”   Angela no longer works for The Salvation Army, having taken up a position with Transplant Australia, but remains an active member of the corps and on its leadership team.   Every week, more than 100 families access the site for ‘Joyful Noise’, a relaxed playgroup, and enjoy a coffee at the Hope Village Café. Community members also tend to the community garden and have access to the fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers that grow there. Sophie Annesley leads ‘Joyful Noise’ at Port Stephens Corps. On Tuesday nights, an existing community meal has been revamped to include people from all walks of life. “We just invite anyone! We say, ‘If you just want to have a meal, or you can’t be bothered cooking, come along!’” says Angela. “We have had families join us out of Joyful Noise, and people in the community who are in need will also come, and it mixes everyone beautifully.”   The meal includes a short chat about a Bible verse, and as attendees sit and eat around a big table, decorated with vases of flowers from the onsite community garden, conversation naturally flows.    “Everything that we do here has a faith pathway,” says Lucas. “We find that with evangelism – relationship works best.”   Friendship is a big part of the corps’ Conversation and Craft group that meets every Tuesday. “It’s a really inclusive space,” says Angela. “Some people have been coming for over 30 years, and some have just started recently, looking for community as they have faced difficulties like loss of their partners or hard things within their family.”   Envoy Lucas Cairns with the Port Stephens Corps’ community meal. The team has found that through authentic relationships, spiritual conversations happen naturally, and three families have started attending the Port Stephens Sunday service as a result.   “We have never been big believers of the concept that ‘church is just a Sunday service’. As this church has remained faithful through varied seasons, God has been faithful too. Just like our garden, we are starting to grow,” says Lucas.   Music program A new initiative that’s just kicked off at Port Stephens Salvos is a Creative School. It’s a music tuition program, targeted at families who wouldn’t be able to afford it for their children. “We wanted to take the Just Brass model somewhat, but use different instruments,” says Lucas. “We have focused on guitar and vocals.”   The Red Shield Appeal Initiative-funded program has seen the corps work with local schools to identify eligible families who might be interested, with 12 families registered. The Creative School is a trial and a way for the corps to reach more families and invite them into the beautiful space that God has created at Port Stephens Salvos. Lucas (left) with the Hope Village Café barista, Josh. There’s a sense of the ‘organic’ at Port Stephens Salvos, where corps life is “less program” and “more people” oriented. There are people who volunteer their time every week to look after the community garden, and those who look after the property by mowing and doing small maintenance projects. “It really is a village here,” says Angela.   Maybe it’s the presence of chickens roaming free or the fact that everywhere you look, you see a vista of trees that creates the peaceful, relaxed pace that permeates even the crowded playgroup hubbub. More likely, it’s the presence of the Holy Spirit moving in and through the space that creates that warm invitation for people to meet Jesus.   Please pray for Port Stephens Corps, its new Creative School, and its future plans to create an on-site retreat for people experiencing grief, loss, or complex medical situations. Some of the free-range chickens that roam throughout the property at Port Stephens Corps in the New South Wales Hunter region.

With a young daughter and a full-time job, and help from her family and her church, Lisa managed to leave a controlling and abusive relationship behind. Now, she serves others as a Salvation Army officer. Image: Getty As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are sharing the stories of women and men who have overcome incredible odds to enact change, escape violence and control, and assist others to flee imminent danger, or understand when a relationship isn’t normal. This article presents part of the experiences of an officer in The Salvation Army, as told to Salvos Online journalist KIRRALEE NICOLLE . We are calling this woman Lisa*. We’d like to warn anyone who feels they might be impacted by the issues in this story, which include coercive control and financial and emotional abuse, to please proceed with caution. When Lisa was 14, she began spending a lot of time with a friend from school. This friend had a brother who was five years older than Lisa. We will call him Ian*. Though Lisa was raised in what she calls an upper-middle class family who loved and supported her, her friend’s family offered something different. “I loved their family,” Lisa says. “It was a very different upbringing to what I had …. You could just help yourself to what was in the fridge, and their mum was in my eyes the coolest mum ever. My friend seemed to absolutely thrive and I loved it.” But Lisa was not only drawn to the warmth of the family, she was also drawn to Ian. “I was always fascinated by him,” she says. “He was a ‘bad boy’. He got caught. He did jail time. There was always this draw to the bad boy sort of naughtiness of him, and his sister adored him.” As Lisa and her friend grew into young adults, they began attending bars and clubs together on Thursday and Friday nights, and often, Ian would tag along too. “I look back now and think it’s really weird,” Lisa says. “But it was really exciting at the time …. He was always very close – making sure I was safe, [that] was my perception. In hindsight, it was more he was making sure that nobody else was coming anywhere near me because I was his. It was more possessive than anything.” One night, when Lisa was 24 and working full-time, everything shifted. She had gone out with her friend and Ian had again tagged along, but this time, Lisa ended up staying overnight at Ian’s house. “Being the staunchly loyal person that I am, that was it for me,” Lisa says. “I was in. I was in a relationship. I had been with him for one night, and therefore I was 110 per cent invested.” Lisa’s mindset was strengthened by comments from her friend, who would assure Lisa that the relationship was right, as she believed Lisa was a calming, stabilising presence in Ian’s life. “That did amazing things for my confidence,” Lisa says. “It really fed into that ‘I can fix this bad boy, I can make him better, I can help him to be the best that he can be’ [mentality].” But then, the relationship began moving far more quickly than what Lisa had anticipated. She says after just six weeks together, the demands began. Ian had been kicked out of his share house and was forced to move back in with his parents, as a nearly 30-year-old with no job. “He looked at me and [said], ‘So, if this is the way it’s going to be, when are we moving in together? Why haven’t you already organised a place?’” Lisa says. Ian then convinced Lisa that if she was fully committed to the relationship, they needed to rent a place together. In his eyes, as a full-time teacher with a good credit rating and – also unlike him, no criminal record – Lisa was responsible for making it happen. Within a couple of weeks, Lisa had found them a unit, and they had moved in. With that decision, Lisa’s dream of attaining home ownership was shattered. Things quickly turned sour. Ian convinced Lisa to leave her key card to her bank account with him while she was at work. He assured her that he would do the grocery shopping and pay the bills while she worked, as he was still unemployed. What Lisa soon discovered was that he was buying drugs and car parts rather than essentials. “It turned out that I was paying for his drugs before anything else would get paid for,” Lisa says. When Lisa would check her bank account or ask him to return her key card, Ian would accuse her of distrust. He would threaten to move out and aggressively punch holes in walls or rip items from the plaster. Eventually, Lisa would relent, reassuring herself that it was just money, and it wasn’t worth disturbing the peace over. She then got a credit card, but Ian maxed it out within a matter of 10 days. “I was on good money,” Lisa says. “But as fast as I could earn it, it was gone. He’d go and draw all my pay out and maybe leave me with $100 for the fortnight. “I got to the point where I was really anxious about it all the time. I lost a stack of weight, because I was in fight or flight mode in my body the entire time.” The pair, having failed to pay their rent, were eventually evicted from their unit, and Lisa returned home to her parents, and after staying with them briefly as well, Ian grew tired of hearing Lisa’s parents’ concerns, and moved into his grandmother’s house. Lisa’s credit score plummeted. Friends and colleagues began noticing that Lisa wasn’t ok and was eating just two-minute noodles and cans of tuna for lunch. She at times managed to pull an extra $100 from her account before Ian would drain it, just to have on hand so that if a social event arose and her colleagues went to a cafe, she could appear as if she had money by being able to purchase something small. While she was living with her parents, she and Ian began making plans to obtain another rental together. As a kind gesture, a connection of her parents offered the pair $3000 to get back on their feet. “I was highly stressed,” Lisa says. “I was finding that the bits of money I could get, I was having to hide. He didn’t know how much I had in savings, [as] I had that in a separate account, but that just dwindled and dwindled. “I remember having conversations in my head going, ‘I’ll pay the rent this week. I’ve still got $2500. I’ll pay the rent this week. It’s OK. There}s still $2000 there. In the end, I was going, ‘It’s OK, there’s still $20 in the account. I’ll be OK. I’ve got $20’. “There was a lot of shame. I didn’t want to admit that I needed help, and I didn’t know how to ask for it.” Then, Lisa found out she was pregnant. She now says this is “the best thing she could have done”. “I wanted to have a baby,” she says. “But one of the contributing factors for that was that I couldn’t afford the [birth control] pill.” Lisa’s pregnancy with her daughter was highly stressful. Now, she regularly had nurses and midwives asking her if she was safe at home, as Ian never came to appointments, and Lisa was continuing to lose weight, with blood test results showing she was malnourished. Hospital staff tried to offer her brochures on family and domestic violence (FDV), but she felt she couldn’t take it home because if Ian saw, the consequences could be severe. “I didn’t even know what family violence was,” Lisa says. “I’d lived a pretty sheltered life.” As the pregnancy progressed, Lisa found she had no money to buy any of the items the baby needed. At seven months, she began to panic. Lisa’s parents stepped in to help, providing an entire nursery for her daughter. Lisa’s other motivating factor for getting pregnant was that at the time, delivering a baby meant a baby bonus of $4000, a considerable amount amid her circumstances. “I tried really hard to protect that money after she was born, and to keep that for [my daughter],” Lisa says. “He would argue with me about it. He would give me the silent treatment. He would smash stuff. In the end, I was just like, fine, here’s $4000.” Lisa says Ian then used the money to buy new electronics and hobby gear, which soon ended up at a pawn shop. Within a couple of months of giving birth, Lisa was forced to return to work full-time, with her mother taking on most of the caretaking role with her granddaughter. But the crisis point came fast. With a four-month-old daughter and unable to pay rent, Lisa was forced to move back home. “I remember going to my mum saying, ‘You can’t tell dad this, but I need to come home with the baby, I don’t know what else to do’,” she said. “She of course [said], ‘Pack your bag, when are you coming? Do you need help?’” While still freshly postpartum and malnourished, Lisa began trying to consolidate $18,000 worth of debt from Ian’s spending habits, which had been mostly across multiple credit cards and a car loan. In the meantime, Ian continued to drain her bank account. She leaned on the support of her parents, with her mother caring for her granddaughter while Lisa continued to work full-time. Eventually, Lisa found the courage to take back her key card and retain control of her own finances. But Ian wasn’t about to leave her alone. “There were a lot of pushback moments,” Lisa said. “Multiple times a week, he would turn up at the house and [demand] $100, a meal, [or a ride somewhere]. “He’d turn up in a taxi and he and refuse to pay the [driver]. I’d have to go out and pay the taxi [driver], otherwise there [would be] an alteration happening on my parents’ front lawn. “I had a bit more strength to be able to say no.” But Lisa still hadn’t realised the extent of what staying in the relationship was doing to her life. “I kept telling myself, ‘There’s so many other people worse off’,” she says. After about a year spent living with her parents, Lisa reached a crucial decision. Ian had demanded she organise a birthday party for him. The time passed, but Ian didn’t show. When Lisa called him to find out where he was, he admitted he had gone to a strip club instead. “I remember physically feeling like a switch had gone off in the back of my head and I just went, ‘I’m done’,” Lisa says. With her parents’ help, Lisa began to rebuild. They changed the locks on the house, set up security plans and dealt with a swathe of abusive messages from Ian. Then, she began wading through the complicated process of obtaining custody. Though the relationship only spanned a four-year period, Lisa says the damage was immense. Over the years to come, Ian would continue to harass Lisa and her daughter, and Lisa was forced to take out intervention orders. Turning point Just a few years later, Lisa’s life transformed when she met her loving husband, Justin*, a Salvationist, and together they began attending a Salvation Army church. While Lisa was initially very wary of joining a church, she says there was “no judgment”, and she was afforded complete privacy and freedom to share her story in whatever timeframe and setting in which she felt comfortable. As a single mum, she says she felt completely welcome and as if they were part of a family. After a short time, Lisa and Justin made the decision to become Salvation Army officers and went on to have more children. Lisa says she feels very lucky to have escaped the relationship with Ian when she did. “In a lot of ways I’ve dodged [the full extent of it],” Lisa says. “I got out in the nick of time, but the only reason I got out was because I had a baby, and because something in me said, ‘I don’t want her to grow up and think this is normal’.” As a Salvation Army officer, she regularly draws on her experiences to care for others. “I’ve been able to look a woman in the eye and go, ‘I get it’,” she says. “Quite often I say to them, ‘I don't totally understand your story because all our stories are different, but on some level, I get what you’re saying, because I’ve lived something similar’.” As well as emotional support, Lisa has also been able to assist with practical advice – safety tips, referral to services, and the deeper conversations where she can discuss with someone that their life matters enough to get help. But she is always careful to let them make decisions at their own pace. “At times, our past story can be difficult and [some] parts we [may] wish never happened or we want to delete and forget,” she says. “But it’s actually really important to acknowledge it and to carry it because it helps to helps us to understand who we’re becoming or who we have become, and who we continue to become. “I carry that quite deeply for myself. I don’t tell my story for my own gain, but I tell my story to be able to show people that you can come out the other side, and that there is hope. We have to do some pretty hard work and confront some pretty big demons to be able to work through it, but it’s possible and we can.” Lisa says without the support of her family, her church, and all others who assisted along the way, she may not have been able to recover from the experience of coercive control. She says she can look back now and see “glimmers” throughout her story. “Jesus was present in all of it,” she says. “He may not have chosen for those things to happen to me or for me, but he was there with me – in it and feeling it and experiencing it – and I draw comfort from that.” *Not their real names To read the Daily Prayer Guide prepared for the 16 Days of Activism campaign, please see here .

General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham will return to International Headquarters, London, after Christmas. General Lyndon Buckingham has posted an update on his health to Salvation Army ‘friends’ around the world. The General suffered a medical incident while celebrating the 95th anniversary of The Salvation Army’s work in Hong Kong in October. He was admitted to hospital where he received treatment in the form of heart angioplasty to clear a blocked artery. He responded to this procedure well and was told to expect a full recovery. He has been recuperating over the past couple of months in his home country of New Zealand with his wife, Commissioner Brownyn Buckingham. The General writes: “Time for an update! Commissioner Bronwyn and I continue to be humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and prayers directed to us over these past weeks. We are so grateful to you all. Thank you! “The recovery has gone extremely well. I am feeling strong in body, mind and spirit, and we are energised about the next chapter of our ministry and service. We will return to London following Christmas with our family. “I express again my gratitude to Commissioners Edward and Shelley Hill for their leadership in these days. “Wherever you are in the global Army, we pray God’s richest blessings over you during this Christmas season. “Thank you for your prayers. I thank God for His healing power." Leaders and staff at IHQ are looking forward to seeing the Buckinghams in the New Year. “We are grateful for General Lyndon Buckingham ’ s recovery and look forward to welcoming our international leaders back to IHQ in January. We wish them continued blessings.”

Members of the Family Violence Team meeting with Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja AO at Sanctuary House. Image: Supplied The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign reminds us that change is not only necessary, but possible. This year, The Salvation Army’s Policy and Advocacy team continued to drive systemic reform in the family and domestic violence sector. We’re proud to showcase some of our key initiatives informed by the voices of lived experience and our frontline services. BY JAIMIE JONES Letters to ministers In the lead-up to the 16 Days of Activism, The Salvation Army engaged with each Commonwealth, State and Territory Minister responsible for the prevention of family and domestic violence, highlighting the key areas of need in their jurisdiction. We pressed the need for immediate and meaningful investment in: 1. Increasing the stock of crisis accommodation and housing pathways. We know that safe and stable accommodation is essential to support the safety and recovery of victim-survivors. 2. Specialised services for children and young people, who are victim-survivors of family and domestic violence, or whose behaviour can be violent. Children and young people need to be engaged and supported as individuals, with responses that are culturally safe, promote their participation and are tailored according to age and development. 3. A suite of programs for persons using, or at risk of using, violence. Programs should not be limited by time or jurisdiction and maintain engagement for as many years as is required to make long-lasting change. 4. Strengthening workforce capacity. Sustained investment is needed to ensure the family and domestic violence sector is well-resourced to support those impacted by violence and support the wellbeing of staff, particularly in regional and remote areas. The Social Justice Stocktake 2025 The Salvation Army’s Social Justice Stocktake 2025 surveyed almost 16,000 Australians to provide a snapshot of the social justice issues causing concern across the nation. You can read the full report here . Concerningly, almost one in eight respondents identified that family violence was an issue in their own lives. The Stocktake provides tangible actions to address family violence, read more here .  South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence  Our family violence services had the privilege of meeting with Commissioner Natasha Stott Despoja AO for a second time at our Bramwell House service (now Sanctuary House), to share our insights and recommendations. This followed The Salvation Army’s significant submission to the Royal Commission. We were pleased to see a number of our recommendations reflected throughout the Royal Commission’s final report. The Salvation Army also provided a formal response to the Royal Commission report directly to the South Australian Minister for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.   To read submissions on family violence from the Policy and Advocacy team, click here .

The Salvation Army quickly mobilised and deployed teams to impacted areas after Cyclone Ditwah. Salvation Army teams quickly mobilised after the South-Asian nation of Sri Lanka was struck by Cyclone Ditwah on 28 November, which left catastrophic flooding, landslides and loss of life in its wake. It is the most severe cyclone to hit the country this century. The human impact has been heartbreaking. Over two million people have been affected, the death toll has surpassed 600 and over 200 individuals remain unaccounted for. More than 75,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, and persistent rainfall continues to destabilise hillsides, especially in the central mountainous areas, placing communities at further risk. Salvation Army teams were deployed to the hardest-hit areas to provide urgent assistance, while support continues to expand to other affected regions. Teams helped provide immediate relief and assess future needs of impacted communities. In collaboration with government disaster response teams, The Salvation Army has distributed hot meals and clean drinking water. Local centres have opened their doors to shelter families who have lost everything. From Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa, Salvation Army teams have assessed urgent needs and delivered essential supplies to help communities begin the long process of recovery. Close coordination with government authorities ensures the organisation’s efforts are aligned with national response plans and directed where help is needed most. Medical support Beyond food and shelter, The Salvation Army is responding to urgent requests from Sri Lanka’s national health services, including to support blood donation camps that are working around the clock on replenishing critical blood supplies. With floodwaters limiting access to hygiene products there exists an increasing risk of water-borne illnesses. Responding to this problem, The Salvation Army is distributing hygiene kits whilst aiding medical teams working to safeguard community health. The Salvation Army is committed to helping meet long-term needs after the cyclone. “Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our response,” said Colonel Nihal Hettiarachchi, leader of The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka. “Many young Salvation Army members are working tirelessly to help families clean and repair their homes, offering comfort and practical support during an incredibly difficult time. Their dedication reflects the true spirit of rebuilding together and embodies The Salvation Army’s mission to serve others in Jesus’ name. “We remain committed to standing with the people of Sri Lanka, restoring dignity, meeting essential needs and helping rebuild the lives of those who have lost so much.”

Sunday school children from across Ukrainian corps enjoyed a safe and happy winter camp. The Salvation Army in Ukraine would like to thank everyone who prayed (including Australians!) for the safety of the Sunday School children from corps across the country attending the recent winter camp. Leaders and staff shared how the camp was “a wonderful place in the middle of the forest, with many activities, entertainment, competitions, new acquaintances, emotions, impressions and gifts. It's great that kids can just be kids and spend their childhood without the sounds of sirens and explosions.   “We are doing our very best to make this happen, and with God, with faith in him, it is possible.”   Sunday schools continue to operate in all Ukraine’s corps. Children from the corps, as well as local communities and internally displaced families, attend.

Salvos in WA turned out in force to march on behalf of the Graceville Centre for women. BY ANTHONY CASTLE     Salvos joined global commemorations for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women  at the launch of 16 Days of Activism in Western Australia on 25 November.   The Salvation Army provides services in Western Australia to support women facing family and domestic violence.    The day began with a community expo showcasing organisations dedicated to supporting women and children affected by family and domestic violence. Service providers shared resources, prevention strategies, and frontline experiences, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, long-term action. Each year, The Salvation Army in Australia assists more than 7000 women and children experiencing family violence.    The Salvation Army’s Perth City (ALT) team showed support for the dedicated family domestic violence practitioners from the Army’s Graceville Centre. The Graceville Centre has three services in Western Australia, providing assistance for women affected by family and domestic violence incidents.  Salvos marching through the streets of Perth (left) and hosting a stall raising awareness of The Salvation Army’s services.   Attendees later gathered for a rally where survivors shared stories of resilience and recovery. The rally also featured a solemn reading of the names of those who lost their lives to family and domestic violence in the past 12 months. A silent march followed through Perth’s city centre, honouring victims and raising public awareness of the thousands who continue to experience violence and suffer in silence.   The Salvos collaborate with services such as the police, financial counsellors, and courts to provide personalised support to women and their children. The Salvation Army continues to work alongside community partners, survivors, and support services to ensure safety, dignity, and lasting change for women and children across Western Australia.    If you or someone you know is safe now but needs help due to a family violence situation please see our  Find help now  page for details on referral services in your state.    You can also call the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line – 1800RESPECT – on 1800 737 732.

The Hope of Christmas calls to us – who is this baby, born 2000 years ago on Christmas Day? And why are people still worshipping him today? Lean in and discover Jesus – whose birth changed the course of history for all time, making him no ordinary child.

Commissioner Miriam Gluyas addresses those gathered for the official launch of God’s Sports Arena in Papua New Guinea and the announcement of team Hope and a Future 2026. BY SIMONE WORTHING “How proud are we of the young adults of Papua New Guinea,” said Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, Australia’s Territorial Commander. Miriam was recently in Papua New Guinea as part of the selection team for the 2026 Hope and a Future program participants.   “Not only have the Hope and a future participants run a marathon, gained an education and grown spiritually, but they are now leading beautifully.” The team that was chosen for the 2026 program and some mentors (left) and runners and supporters (right) who turned out for the selection trial. Now in its 11th year, the program is modelled on four key pillars – faith, fitness (training for and running the Gold Coast Marathon), education and leadership. It aims to give young Papua New Guinea nationals – most of whom are already serving in their corps – the opportunity to develop into future leaders in their churches, families, communities, workplaces and nation.   More than 80 young people applied for the 2026 program from all over Papua New Guinea, with 10 positions available. Participants must run well and be a regular and involved church member, endorsed by officers and youth leaders. Australians Bill Hunter, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas and retired officers Majors Heather and Kevin Unicomb, who served in Papua New Guinea, are always warmly welcomed whenever they visit PNG.   “The trial day was challenging but positive,” said Envoy Bill Hunter, head coach for the program and leader of The Salvation Army’s church God’s Sports Arena (GSA). “Around 140 people came out, including many past Salvos Striders. There was a lot of support and practical assistance – and we even started on time!” Selecting next year’s participants was challenging, and a task shared with the Australian support team: Captain John Raga (Territorial Youth Secretary for the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory); Australian officer Major Deon Oliver (Secretary for Programme); the 2025 Hope and a Future team, and other runners and mentors from previous years.   “We’re happy with the 10 people chosen on their merits,” said Bill. “They represent a cross-section of corps across the territory, too.”   GSA launched in PNG Bill announced the 2026 team at the now monthly God’s Sports Arena service at Boroko Corps in Port Moresby (PNG capital), where 180, mainly young people, were in attendance. As well as congratulating the young adults chosen, Bill reassured those who weren’t selected, that “this year wasn’t your time, and God has something else in store for you”.   The original pioneers of Hope and a Future (2014) coordinated and led the GSA official launch service. Bill Hunter announced the Hope and a Future 2026 team at the official launch of God's Sports Arena in PNG. “We just sat back and let them run it and they were inspirational,” said Bill. “ So much unity, encouragement, love, faith, support, energy, enthusiasm and singing in the building. I’m so blessed and privileged to be part of this outstanding project.”   God’s Sports Arena has been operating casually in Port Moresby for a few years but is now organised and structured. “The meetings are monthly, run by different teams,” Bill explained. “Colonels Chris and Tilitah Goa, territorial leaders, are so happy that this is happening.”   Commissioner Miriam was “delighted” to be a part of the official launch of GSA in Papua New Guinea. “   “Prepared by, led by, inspired by the first team to do the marathon, and now to share it wider. To have 180 people there. Stunning,” she said.   Hope and a Future has funding for the 2026 program but currently, not beyond that. “We are working on it and hope we can secure what is needed to continue this important and impactful program well into the future,” said Bill.   Meet the new team To meet the 2026 team, click here . GSA expands to NSW God's Sports Arena also crossed another border and officially launched at Dooralong Transformation Centre in the Central Coast region of NSW on 19 November. (As well as in PNG, the GSA also runs weekly in Brisbane and twice a month on the Sunshine Coast). “I was at the Queensland men’s camp a couple of months ago where Marty Robinson, Salvation Army prison chaplain in NSW, was guest speaker,” explained Bill. “God had put on my heart to not talk to Marty directly about GSA, but he came up to me and said that he was looking for a different kind of church, and so I shared it all with him. Marty wanted to grab it and go with it right away!” Martin (Marty) Robinson and Bill Hunter share a light moment at the launch of GSA at Dooralong. Marty agrees. “I am one for not putting God in a box, so as Bill started telling me the story how he started GSA, he had my full attention,” he said. “Straight away, I knew that this was the encounter I was meant to have, as I had prayed on the plane on the way to Queensland. It’s an amazing ministry. “We had an awesome, great first GSA at Dooralong Transformation Centre on 19 November, and I am honoured to be a small part of it of this great ministry. ” Bill said that the atmosphere on the night was “wonderful - plenty of energy, fun, laughs, singing, love, encouragement, faith, hope, sin binnings and banter.   “Around 30 people on program attended, and 10 supporters from local corps. A big shout out to Marty Robinson for initiating and organising - great job, brother! As always, our mantra is ‘Love, Encourage and Don’t Judge’.”   Dooralong Transformation Centre will close in February 2026, but the plan is to continue running GSA at nearby Miracle Haven. Bill and his team will mentor Martin and those involved over the coming months. READ MORE :  'Full surrender' sends Marty to prison to serve as a chaplain. It was an exciting atmosphere as God’s Sports Arena kicked off at The Salvation Army’s Dooralong Transformation Centre on 19 November.