A gem of partnership in Emerald
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A gem of partnership in Emerald
18 April 2022
Ben* delivers donations to the Sapphire Family Store on the Gemfields as part of the Salvos’ partnership with Emerald Community Corrections.
Offenders on court-directed community service hours are benefitting from a partnership between The Salvation Army and Emerald Community Corrections in Queensland.
Captain Jisook Wunderlich, Central Highlands Corps Officer, said the partnership began mid last year when the first of several offenders were given the opportunity to work off the 200 hours of their supervision order.
Under the supervision of Captain Marcus Wunderlich, the offender, Ben*, performed various tasks, including sorting and bagging donations for the Emerald Family Store, tidying the corps library, gardening, and helping in the store.
“He really came at the right time for us. We were changing our carpet after 20-odd years, so he came when it was just Marcus and me. We had to move everything out of the [building], so he joined us at the right time,” Jisook said.
She said the corps had wanted to set up a functioning library and resource centre of Bibles and Christian titles, “and he set it all up”. Having finished the library, he asked to borrow some books.
Along with having worked at the Emerald Family Store, he also worked at the Sapphire Family Store, about 50km west of Emerald at The Gemfields: “The [staff] at the Gemfields Family Store really appreciated him.”
After finishing his required ‘hours’, Ben offered to make himself available to help out at the corps and its other mission expressions when not involved on the orchard where he worked.
Jisook said the corps recently needed to move a piano from Blackwater to Emerald and called Ben, who was happy to help. “We just treated him as one of our volunteers,” Jisook said. “We accepted him for who he is. He is a hard worker.”
Since Ben completed his supervision order, Jisook said other offenders had been part of the program and had worked at the corps.
Larissa Stewart, Emerald Community Corrections District Manager, said the initiative enabled offenders to give back to the most vulnerable in the community, with the partnership with the Army being one of several in the town.
Larissa said the initiative allowed the person to develop a routine, gain positive work habits, and improve their self-esteem.
*Name has been changed
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