IN BRIEF - Snapshots from around the territory
IN BRIEF - Snapshots from around the territory
11 August 2022
The Salvation Army will provide soup and essentials to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community through the Goldfields Soup Patrol Van starting in September. The van will run in collaboration with multiple mining companies, The Salvation Army and The Rotary Club of Boulder. Pictured are Perseverance Drilling manager Andrew Ross (left) and Minnovare director Michael Beilby. Photo courtesy Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner.
Goldfields soup van back on the road
A warm cup of soup goes a long way, especially when delivered straight to you in the Goldfields Soup Patrol Van. The relaunched initiative involving The Salvation Army will begin in September in the Western Australian community of Kalgoorlie-Boulder to provide essentials to 9000 residents in the area who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. The Salvation Army will provide service delivery, giving out meals and connecting with locals while on ‘soup patrol’.
“The invitation to experience the Kingdom of God extends to all who are involved in the soup patrol – from those preparing meals and those receiving meals to people who volunteer and companies that contribute,” said Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps Officer Lieutenant BJ Baillie.
Beginning in 1998 and closing in 2019 due to lack of funding, the Goldfields Soup Patrol Van delivered more than 195,000 meals to people in the area. Now, thanks to collaboration and funding by mining companies Minnovare, Northern Star Resources, Perseverance Drilling, Silver Lake Resources and Robit, in addition to the Rotary Club of Boulder and The Salvation Army, the initiative is back on the road.
Christmas toy drive wraps up with 80,000 gifts
The National Servicemen’s Association donated a whopping five tonnes of toys to The Salvation Army. Photo courtesy Rob Carew, Star News Group.
Christmas in July couldn’t have been more successful in Victoria after The National Servicemen’s Association toy drive resulted in nearly 80,000 gifts that will be wrapped and ready for Christmas morning.
Held at the Dandenong RSL and culminating on 9 July, a mammoth effort from the association meant that nearly five tonnes of toys were collected, ranging from teddies and books to bikes and more.
This year was the 19th annual toy drive, and donations will be shipped to Salvation Army expressions across the state to ensure no child is left without a little extra Christmas cheer.
Blokes Church back on the table at Ingle Farm
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Showing off collections like slot cars can be conversation starters at Blokes Church at Ingle Farm Corps.
‘Blokes’ and ‘church’ are two words that often don’t get used together, but the Ingle Farm Corps in Adelaide has found a way to combine the two effectively. Once a month, up to 15 men meet at the church, put on the coffee machine, fire up the barbie and share conversations under the banner of ‘Blokes Church’.
“It’s a time to hang out and chat,” said Major Peter Jones, Ingle Farm Corps Officer. “It’s really important for the men to have a safe place to grow.”
Men from the corps can invite their friends. Some are partners of women who regularly attend Sunday services. For a few men, it’s their only church experience. There is no message, and everyone is free to talk about whatever they like, but the corpsmen are ready to have faith conversations.
“They also get to share their other passions in life, such as one man who brought his slot-car collection to church and explained how they work,” Peter said. “Months later, the guys are still talking about it.”
Peter said that the men in the corps promoted the idea of restarting Blokes Church at the beginning of this year after COVID disruptions.
Shieldy set for City2Surf comeback
The Salvation Army mascot Shieldy at the finish line of the City2Surf at Bondi.
A group of Salvos and supporters are getting ready to walk, jog or run in the City2Surf event in Sydney on Sunday (14 August). The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but a virtual fundraiser was still held.
This year the event is back to being held on the famous 14km course from Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach. Billed as the world’s largest fun run, more than 80,000 people are expected to participate.
Andrew Hill, Community Fundraising General Manager for The Salvation Army and a regular entrant in the run, said, “The Army team is excited to get back together and enjoy the colour and excitement on the day. We usually have a team of 50-60 participants.” He said the Army had been part of the event since 2010, having raised more than $150,000 in that time.
The Salvation Army Community Fundraising team hopes to raise $10,000 as a Charity Partner in the event. To support them, people can register to take part and fundraise by choosing the Army as their “charity of choice”.
Registrations close at 5pm on Saturday 13 August, and all ages are welcome. Army participants receive an invitation to the pre-race breakfast at Sydney Congress Hall, located at the start line in Sydney’s CBD. Those who raise over $100 will receive a Salvos Strider singlet to run in. Supporters who are unable to participate can donate to help the team reach their target.
Tackling homelessness in Victoria Inner West
Sunshine Salvos Corps Officers Captains Colin and Phuong Reynolds with Inner West Metro Area Officer Major Rebecca Inglis at the Homelessness Week event at the corps.
Salvation Army expressions and services from the Victoria Division Inner West Metro region gathered at Sunshine Salvos on 4 August to coincide with National Homelessness Week. “It was a productive time of collaboration and recommitment to our part in combatting homelessness in our local communities in the west,” said Area Officer Major Rebecca Inglis.
Focusing on the theme ‘Keys to home,’ Salvo expressions worked together to raise awareness about and provide practical support to those experiencing homelessness. This included youth services, homelessness services (Foley House), Aged Care services (James Barker House), Sunshine Corps, Doorways, Moneycare, Family Violence and a prison chaplain partnering with IPC Health and Western Health. In addition, free haircuts were available to the public, as well as COVID-19 vaccinations from Western Health, hamper packs, free warm jackets, soups, a community art project, and pets were catered for.
“We thank our City of Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen for attending in support of this event,” said Rebecca. “We really do things better when we do them together!”
Christmas starts early in Karratha
A bootload of toys and other gifts donated by the Karratha Bikers Association as part of its Christmas in July appeal.
Christmas Cheer started early in the remote Western Australia town of Karratha with local motorbike riders donating $2000 worth of vouchers during their annual ride. Held on 23 July, riders covered more than 50km, starting at Point Sampson Tavern and Wickham’s OB Club before riding to Dampier Mermaid and finishing at the Karratha Bikers Association Club House.
With plenty of toys also donated for families doing it tough, Karratha Corps Officer Major Pam Marshall expressed her thanks to the Karratha Bikers Association, which has supported the local Salvation Army corps for three decades.
“The Karratha Bikers have been brilliant over the years with their support to The Salvation Army Christmas Relief work,” said Pam. “They do their toy ride in July for us to miss the cyclone season and the extreme 40-plus degree days of a toy run in December.”
“We are often faced with not enough vouchers for food, and these vouchers that the Karratha Bikers provide help us to be able to help those extra families who come seeking support at Christmas.”
Donating vouchers and toys is instrumental in the region, as The Salvation Army in Karratha does the majority of the Christmas food and toy relief in the area.
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