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A piece of history returns to Rochester

A piece of history returns to Rochester

A piece of history returns to Rochester

6 November 2017

Rochester Home League members with the quilt - many of whom were part of the original group who created it: Janet Easson, Norma Ives, Irene Ellis, Pam Joyce, Jan O’Neill, Shirley Parker, Lynette Brown, Barb Schmidt, Kath Moore, Heather Kyriacou, Lorraine Harris (Corps Sergeant Major), Sally Bogie (Home League Secretary), Elsie Weston, Shirley Weston, Marj Thompson and Win Ralph.

By Ben Clapton

In 1972, the Rochester Salvation Army Home League in northern Victoria commenced a fundraiser for “Overseas Service”. They sold squares of a quilt for $2 each and the donor’s name was added to the quilt.
 
Wendy O’Neill did the hobby text and pictures, and the quilt was donated to Major Mavis Marion prior to her appointment with her husband Edwin as Territorial Leaders in the Indonesia Territory. Mavis was eventually promoted to the rank of Commissioner.

The quilt eventually passed into the possession of Mavis’ daughter-in-law Cathy Marion, a soldier of the Floreat Corps in Perth and a family friend of Lieutenant Liesl Clapton, the current corps officer of Rochester.

Cathy organised to have the quilt returned to Rochester Corps. On its arrival, the Home League enjoyed the memories that it sparked, and was able to place all but two of the names on the quilt.

The quilt will be displayed in the Rochester Corps hall as a reminder of the many lives that have been transformed in the town by The Salvation Army.

Lieutenant Ben Clapton is the corps officer at Rochester Corps in Victoria.

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