IN BRIEF (10 Nov) - Snapshots from around the territory
IN BRIEF (10 Nov) - Snapshots from around the territory
10 November 2022
Julia Roper (Worship Arts Victoria) conducts the choir at the Seniors Celebration at Waverley Corps.
Fun and fellowship at Seniors Celebration
Major Matt Reeve and the Melbourne Red Shield Band performing during the Senior’s Celebration.
More than 260 people gathered for an array of entertainment at this year’s Seniors Celebration at Waverley Temple Corps in Melbourne, led by the Adults’ Ministry Seniors Team.
Held on 13 October, special guests included the Melbourne Red Shield Band, under the leadership of Graham Roper, poet Cameron Semmens and Head of Mission Support Major Matt Reeve.
Julia Roper (Worship Arts Victoria) led the choir, which was formed primarily for the day, and Marilyn Hewitt (Ringwood Corps) led the worship team. Lunch was included, and market hall stalls consisted of displays by Public Relations, Salvos Funerals, Publications, Lindsay Cox from The Salvation Army Museum, Cameron Semmens, Ian Southwell, Salvos Stores, Melbourne Staff Band and Melbourne Staff Songsters.
A poetry competition was held before the day, and the winner, Neville Philpott (Preston Corps), was announced during the concert. An offering was taken, which raised $672 for the Making It Happen Project, with a challenging reflection brought by Major Matt Reeve.
This year’s Seniors Celebration was a valuable opportunity for communities to gather again after the distance of COVID-19 restrictions, made possible by a network of volunteers who worked behind the scenes.
Salvos Stores go green for the sales
Salvos Stores will treat customers to 30 per cent discount online between 18-28 November.
Salvos Stores this year is participating in ‘Green Friday’ – an online retail event that promotes shopping more sustainably over the Black Friday sales period. From 18-28 November, Salvos Stores will be offering an online 30 per cent discount*, giving shoppers 10 days of deals.
“The extended sale period will give shoppers the opportunity to think more consciously about what they buy,” said Sarah Keogh, Salvos Stores Customer Experience Coordinator.
Black Friday (25 November) and Cyber Monday (28 November) is a huge sale event that sees most of Australia's major retailers offer some of the biggest discounts and deals of the year. Australians spent about $8 billion over the sales weekend last year.
“It’s understandable that Australians want to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, especially with the cost of living on the rise. However, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the Black Friday frenzy without stopping to think about the impact of our purchases,” Sarah said.
Of the 100 billion garments produced annually, 33 per cent will go to landfill within the first year of purchase. Whilst Black Friday sales may save us money in the short-term, the cycle of overproduction, overconsumption, and wastage that they feed into has major long-term costs to the planet. This is where Green Friday comes in.
“We at Salvos Stores believe in combining purchasing power with sustainability, circular-economy thinking, and social good,” Sarah added. “That’s why we are partnering with Green Friday to encourage our customers to limit the environmental impact of their purchases.
“Starting a week before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Green Friday allows shoppers to browse second-hand and sustainably made gifts and bargains before seeking them out at mainstream retailers. This way, you can shop more mindfully without sacrificing the joy of a great deal.”
* Discount applies to clothing & accessories online only at salvosstores.com.au. Enter code "SALVOSNOV30" at checkout to redeem.
High Tea at House 49
Eva Lawler (left), Ruth Palmer, Lieutenant Marika Haupt and Major Zane Haupt at the House 49 High Tea Fundraiser.
The Salvation Army in Darwin recently held a High Tea Fundraiser at its House 49 hostel in Mitchell Street for Property Council of Australia members.
The high tea was a valuable opportunity for the Army to give insight into how the hostel is operated and the kinds of support available to residents. Information was also shared about the Army’s Doorways program, which offers emergency relief to those in need.
The Hon Eva Lawler MLA, Treasurer, Minister for Education, Territory Development and Infrastructure also attended.
Ruth Palmer (Executive Director PCA) gave invaluable support to the Army in her efforts to raise considerable funds on the day for House 49.
House 49, which underwent major renovations last year, provides short to six-month accommodation for singles over 18 at risk of homelessness. Residents have access to its Street 2 Home, Doorways and Positive Lifestyle Program services, which are designed to assist people back into mainstream society and out of poverty.
Bands in the Round hits right note in Geelong
The Preston Citadel Band onstage at the Geelong Bands in the Round event.Brass bands are part of the lifeblood of The Salvation Army, and we see them cross generations in the Victorian city of Geelong. So it was no wonder the fourth ‘Bands in the Round’ event held at the Geelong Corps was such a success last Saturday.
Bands and musical expressions from Geelong, South Barwon and Preston Corps and the Melbourne Red Shield Band all performed at the historic corps on Moorabool Street, with people travelling up to two hours each way for the event.
Capped off with a combined performance and including a display from The Salvation Army Museum about the well-known Salvation Army composer of early last century, Arthur Gullidge, it indeed was a celebration.
Organised by the National Worship Arts team to raise funds for Salvation Army music ministries in Papua New Guinea, Bands in the Round events have already been held in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, with a final event to be held in Brisbane this Saturday.
International guest hosts workshops
Andrew Blyth taught workshops for brass and vocalists while visiting Perth Fortress Corps.It’s a long flight from London to Melbourne, so when Andrew Blyth, Head of Music Editorial for The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom Territory, arrived on our shores in October, he was put to good use!
Spending time at Box Hill Corps in Melbourne, he led massed songster and band practices for Salvationists across the region. Ministering with the Melbourne Staff Songsters and the Melbourne Staff Band, Andrew also spent time in the rural Victorian town of Warragul at an event honouring Major Howard Davies.
Capitalising on Andrew’s invaluable experience, Worship Arts also flew him to Perth Fortress Corps. Spending time with the Perth Fortress Band, he hosted a practice session and shared thoughts on his compositions ‘Immeasurable’, ‘In God’s Presence’ and ‘Faith on Track’.
Prior to a Saturday evening concert, Music Together, which featured performances by the Perth Fortress Band and the corps songster brigade, Andrew also tutored vocal and brass workshops. While in town, he found time to join the Silver Threads Band at a primary school community program run by Healthway. Sounds like a packed trip Down Under!
Women refreshed after North Queensland retreat
The group of women that attended the retreat on the Atherton Tablelands.
Many women travelled huge distances to attend the only women’s retreat in Queensland this year.
“The opportunity to worship together, care for each other, talk and share was a real highlight,” said Major Michelle Oliver, Area Officer for North Queensland. “The women were able to share things that they probably wouldn’t share in a mixed-gender group.”
Women’s Refresh North Queensland was held in the Atherton Tablelands at the end of October. Women travelled from as far away as Mt Isa and Mackay, which are both about 1000km away.
The Queensland Women’s Refresh retreat on the Atherton Tablelands was a spirit-filled time of worship, workshops, fun and fellowship.
Sixty-eight women attended the retreat, with a focus on the theme, ‘Loving him, loving me, loving you’.
Electives on leading women’s ministry and crafts augmented the corporate worship, and keynote presentation times. Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane led a workshop on the spoken word, and several of the ladies shared their poems during one of the Sunday sessions. A trip to local markets also proved popular.
About $3000 was raised for anti-trafficking programs and Christmas gifts in the Eastern Europe Territory from a silent auction, craft stall, homemade quilts, and a special offering on Saturday.
The retreat had a strong multicultural component, with women from Papua New Guinean, African and Asian backgrounds represented, which added a special atmosphere to the weekend, according to Michelle.
A Booth family sing-along in Carindale
Since our early days, Salvationists have loved to sing a rousing chorus. And it’s no wonder, as the Booth family were ardent lovers of music.
So to celebrate our musical heritage, The Brisbane Chapter of the Historical Society is hosting ‘The Songs of the Booth Family of The Salvation Army’ on Saturday 12 November.
To be held at Carindale Corps from 2pm, Major Cec Woodward (pictured) will host an interactive presentation. And there may even be some singing involved!
For more details, visit the Facebook event here.
Book it in: Victorian Family Fun Day
The Salvos Kids team in Victoria has planned an epic final family fun day for 2022!
Lock 26 November into your calender for a day trip to the Gumbuya World theme park, at 2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong North. Running from 1-5pm, tickets are $10 each.
Register here: https://salvationarmy.typeform.com/gumbuya2022.
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