IN BRIEF: Snapshots from around the territory
IN BRIEF: Snapshots from around the territory
29 April 2022
The Melbourne Staff Band took part in the Anzac Day parade on Monday, marching from the Shrine of Remembrance and through Federation Square in Melbourne. Picture courtesy of Melbourne Staff Band.
Sunraysia celebrates corps merger
(Top left) Divisional Commander Lieut-Colonel Kelvin Merrett awards Colour Sergeant Ritchie Mayne for 21 years of service. (Top right) Junior soldier Sienna cuts the anniversary cake with Shirley Whitecross. (Bottom) Lieut-Colonel Kelvin Merrett and Area Officer Major Jenni Frost unfurl the new Sunraysia Corps flag.
It was a memorable occasion when Mildura Corps and Red Cliffs Corps in north-west Victoria merged to become Sunraysia Corps earlier this year.
Victoria Divisional Commander Lieut-Colonel Kelvin Merrett officially announced the new name and took part in the flag unfurling ceremony. But before the transition took place, a century’s worth of celebrations was to be had! Not only did the former Mildura Corps celebrate 130 years since it was founded in 1891 – celebrations were delayed by a year due to COVID-19, but the community also gathered for the former Red Cliffs Corps centenary celebration.
Two new adherents were welcomed into Sunraysia Corps during the celebrations, which the burgeoning Filipino Life Group also participated in. Colour Sergeant Ritchie Mayne received a certificate of appreciation for 21 years of service at the former Mildura Corps, and the merger was celebrated with a cake especially baked by long-term corps member Shirley Whitecross.
Majors Debbie and Rod Serojales, together with the Corps Leadership Team, are looking forward with great anticipation to what God has in store in 2022. Their focus is ‘Connect’ as they intentionally connect with Christ, community and within the corps.
Melbourne Staff Band march
Fans of brass banding were delighted on Monday when they spotted the Melbourne Staff Band on ABC Television. The band participated in the city’s Anzac Day parade, finishing at the Shrine of Remembrance. The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) were also on hand, setting up 12 stations and serving more than 3500 cups of coffee and tea to retired and current servicemen and women. Thirty SAES volunteers from corps across the state, from as far away as Wyndham to Brunswick, served at the event.
Thirty SAES volunteers from across Victoria travelled to the Shrine of Remembrance to serve retired and current military at this year’s Anzac march.
In Western Australia, an army of SAES volunteers set up at Langley Park, Perth, for the annual Anzac parade. They served more than 1300 hot dogs over the day.
Corps across the country also took part in local Anzac services. In NSW, the Parramatta Corps Band played at their local dawn service, while Wollongong Corps had the privilege of marching, complete with the timbrel brigade and brass band. In Victoria, Box Hill Corps held a community Anzac concert, and in Kaniva, Lieutenant Alice Edge led the local service. And while the rain held off marching in the Queensland town of Nambour, the corps band were still able to play during the Woombye Dawn Service. In Tasmania, a team from Hobart Corps also donned the fluorescent vests and served hot drinks and snacks during their local commemorative service.
Kids hear about God’s Big Story at divisional camp
(From left) Divisional Children’s Secretary Naty Keung, Lieutenant Heather Stamp (Portland Corps Officer), Mission Events Coordinator Tanya Mead and Divisional Commander Lieut-Colonel Kelvin Merrett embrace the energy at the divisional children’s camp in Cowes.
Kids across Victoria had a ball at the first Divisional Kids Camp in three years. Held at CYC in Cowes, Victoria, more than 75 young people gathered from as far as Frankston and Ashburton to Portland and the Bellarine Peninsula.
This year’s theme was ‘God’s Big Story and Me,’ and between games, food and learning about Jesus, kids from years 3-6 and their leaders had a stellar time.
In compiling the briefs, some information and images have been sourced from corps Facebook sites.
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