IN BRIEF: snapshots from around the country
IN BRIEF: snapshots from around the country
22 April 2022
Hannah (left) and Harsha celebrate their enrolment as Junior Soldiers at Whittlesea City Corps with Joan Matthews (left) and Junior Soldier Sergeant Glenda Shearwood.
The Salvation Army’s Whittlesea City Corps (Vic.) recently celebrated the enrolment of Hannah and Harsha as Junior Soldiers.
Captain Susan Lamotte conducted the enrolment and included Junior Soldier leaders and prayer pals. The girls participated in the meeting by singing ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord’, with Hannah accompanying on the keyboard.
Their father, Eric, read from the scriptures and their grandparents, retired Salvation Army officers in India, Majors Lazerus and Suganthi Balan, sent an encouraging message to the girls via video.
Junior Soldier Leader Glenda Shearwood spoke about the call of the disciples, how Jesus transformed their lives causing a domino effect that continues today. Hannah and Harsha now carry on the heritage in The Salvation Army of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Brigadier Ginanaprakash, their great grandfather, was the Principal of The Salvation Army Training College in Nagercoil, India.
Farewell Geoffrey Leonard
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Celebrating 20 years of service to the Salvos are from left, Major Mark Everitt, Geoffrey Leonard and Major David Collinson.
Geoffrey Leonard AM, great friend and contributor to The Salvation Army in the Hunter region over the past 20 years, was recognised at a retirement dinner last month.
Major David Collinson, Public Relations Department (NSW), said Geoffrey began as a Red Shield Appeal committee member, then was enlisted as the Hunter Advisory Board Chairperson, a position he has filled with distinction.
“His influence and energy have been enormous with our launch events, property dealings and program initiatives in this region,” David said.
At his retirement dinner, Geoffrey spoke fondly of his family connection with the Salvos.
“My extended family were all Salvationists, but Dad was somewhat the black sheep of the family and as a drinker rarely attended the local corps or wore a uniform like his siblings,” he recalled. “I felt then that I would contribute to The Salvation Army in other ways so began volunteering at the Red Shield Appeal, and now look where I am today!”
“We acknowledge Geoffrey for his incredible service and helping us be the very best we can be with our relationships and influence in the Hunter,” David said. “May God bless Geoffrey in retirement.”
Thank God it's Friday!
The spirit of generosity has continued after Christmas dinner 2021 was transformed into an unexpected treat for some 200 people doing it tough in the precincts of Blacktown and Sydney City. Nandos Australia put on a feast for some of the neediest members of our communities, with staff working as volunteers.
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Food, fellowhip and faith with Blacktown Corps.
Every Friday, lunch is provided by Nandos at Alpha Park Blacktown in collaboration with the Salvos and One Heart, an ecumenical organisation that shares the vision of putting its faith into action.
One Heart and Salvos volunteers and staff arrive before the guests to clean and set up tables at Alpha Park.
“We want to focus on sitting with people, asking how life is treating them and getting to know them,” Blacktown City Corps team member Captain Fouzia Mubarik said. “We want people to know they have friends who care and that they don’t have to do it alone.”
In keeping with the theme of ‘Food-Friendship-Faith’, a devotion and encouragement is shared, followed with a fun activity of a lucky dip for goodies for guests to take away with them.
Captain Louise Beamish, Team Leader of Blacktown City Salvos, said she was overjoyed with the first event and how the momentum has continued.
“Doing life with those doing it tough is what we are about and this would not be possible without the collaboration of big-hearted partners like Nandos,” she said. “No truer words were spoken than those by the late Helen Keller when she observed, ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!’”
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