Greensborough puts the kettle on for Defence Force families
Greensborough puts the kettle on for Defence Force families
27 July 2022
Representatives of Greensborough Salvos and the Red Shield Defence Services celebrate the launch of ConnectiviTEA at Greensborough Corps while community member Keira McDougall cuts the cake.
Life can be full of upheaval for the families of Defence Force personnel – but it’s a little less lonely when they connect with similar families over a cuppa.
Since 2011, The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS), in partnership with the Australian Defence Force, have run such a community in Adelaide. Called ConnectiviTEA, it has now grown beyond state borders – and Greensborough Corps in Melbourne’s north hosted the first Victorian event earlier this month.
“The need to belong cannot be minimised, and the purpose of ConnectiviTEA is to create the opportunity and space for people to connect with like-minded people experiencing similar circumstances,” explains Major Gai Cathcart, RSDS Senior Representative in Adelaide.
That need for connection drove Keira McDougall to help start ConnectiviTEA in Greensborough. Attending the Adelaide ConnectiviTEA event run by Gai for three years, her husband was posted to Melbourne, and she missed the sense of friendship and belonging in her new hometown.
Reaching out to Gai, the wheels started turning. Gai created a package enabling Keira to start and facilitate the group locally – and it soon became apparent that with the support of Greensborough Corps Officer Captain Allison Footer, Greensborough Salvos was the ideal place to host the group in partnership with RSDS.
“The corps people and I have been looking for a way to connect with Defence Force families in the area, and this seems like it might just be the answer,” said Allison.
Collaboration followed when the trio – alongside The Salvation Army’s Community Engagement Team, RSDS Chief Commissioner Brett Gallagher and Area Officer Major Claire Emerton – coordinated the Victorian expression of the ministry. And the partners of Defence Force personnel are already reaping the benefits. On 12 July, they were invited to attend the launch of the Greensborough ConnectiviTEA and were joined at the opening by Salvation Army leaders, supporters and Defence Force representatives.
Gai hopes that this is just the beginning.“It is my hope and prayer that ConnectiviTEA will exist wherever there is Defence Force personnel. This will help with consistency and familiarity of language and connection and help dismantle the negative effects of loneliness and isolation, as defence families move around the country,” she said. “It is also a great opportunity for The Salvation Army to fulfil its mandate to engage and collaborate with the local community.”
We’ll toast a piping hot cup of tea to that!
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