IN BRIEF (8 Dec) - Snapshots from around the territory
IN BRIEF (8 Dec) - Snapshots from around the territory
8 December 2022
This year, Christmas Cheer is on wheels across Tasmania after Launceston Toyota sponsored a vehicle to pick up and deliver gifts from schools, businesses and events. (From left) Toyota Launceston General Sales Manager Josh Langley and The Salvation Army’s Head of PR in Tasmania, Amelia Natoli.
Christmas cheer in Tasmania
It’s a Merry Christmas indeed across Tasmania, as local businesses throw their support behind The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal. Launceston Toyota has donated a ‘Christmas Cheer’ themed truck, which will travel across the state collecting and delivering donated presents.
Captain Steven Haworth stocks up on Francesca’s bon-bon baubles and supports The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal in Tasmania.
Many of these gifts will come from the state’s Red Bag Appeal, which has seen hundreds of students fill bags with Christmas goodies and presents.
Meanwhile, local business Francesca Jewellery is selling stunning bon-bon baubles to hang on the tree. Each bauble contains a pair of sterling silver earring studs with white cubic zirconia detail, and $5 from every sale will go straight back to the Salvos Tasmanian Christmas Appeal.
“If anyone wants to buy a gift that makes someone really happy and actually supports our community as well, please make sure you stop past Francesca in the next couple of weeks,” shared Amelia Natoli, head of PR for The Salvation Army in Tasmania.
Francesca’s Bon Bon’s cost $24 and are available in-store in Launceston and Melbourne. Shop online (with free shipping) here.
Christmas on the streets of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Members of The Salvation Army in Kalgoorlie-Boulder acted as street chaplains during their town’s Christmas Street Party.
As Australia’s largest outback town, Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia knows how to celebrate the holidays. With a Christmas Street Party, a motorbike toy run and Carols By Candelight, the town’s generosity is high, and the local Salvation Army has been on hand to support people at every event.
The Salvos Street Team geared up for the Christmas Street Party on 27 November, spreading out across the day to support thousands of locals enjoying food, games, music and markets. Hosting their own Salvos stall, team members told locals about The Salvation Army’s services on offer and collected donations of toys and non-perishable items. With a Christmas tree lighting at 7.30pm followed by fireworks, the Street Team kept busy reuniting lost children with their families and chatting with locals.
Come Sunday 3 December and the community turned up again – this time on wheels. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Corps had a wonderful turnout for their annual Christmas Toy Run. Organised by Mates4Mates Goldfields in Esperance for the Salvos, bikers strapped teddies, dolls and toys to their Harleys and made a trip around town before dropping them off to new corps officers Majors Craig and Shirley Spooner.
Craig and Shirley would like to thank Kalgoorlie-Boulder for the wonderful, warm welcome they have received. “Already, we can see that Kalgoorlie-Boulder has a big heart for those who are struggling. We look forward to working together with the community,” they said.
This weekend, the Salvos Street Team will appear once again at the town’s Carols by Candelight, ready to sing, raise their candles in the air, and share the love of Jesus.
The gift of music in Tasmania
Sharing the joy of God through music is a part of The Salvation Army’s DNA, so it was a treat when expressions of The Salvation Army in the North West of Tasmania gifted the City of Burnie Brass Band with 12 new instruments.
It is the latest in a long-term partnership between the band and the Salvos. The idea started with band member Del Polden, who attends Burnie Corps, Rebecca Wells (Secretary to the Band) and Ulverstone Corps Officer Lieutenant Andrew Webb, with the aim to provide instruments to young people who otherwise couldn’t afford their own.
“As a result of this gift, we have been able to ensure that not only 12 people received new instruments, but the band are now able to begin relocating instruments so that all players have better quality instruments that enable them to play to the best of their ability,” the band shared on social media.
The City of Burnie Brass Band has been a loved part of Tasmania’s North West community for 130 years and prides itself on providing affordable music tuition and instruments to new learners through the ‘Get Brassy’ program, which is similar to The Salvation Army’s Just Brass.
“Burnie is an area of high disadvantage, and learning to play music is proven to help students who tend to disengage from regular classroom learning,” said Andrew. “The band wrote a proposal to the Army for support, and we sourced instruments through Carlene Burtado of Just Brass.”
How is that for community partnerships?
Giving back this Christmas in Craigieburn
Major Kylie Palstra thanks Salvationists at Craigieburn Corps for their generous donations during their Reverse Advent Calendar.
Sometimes giving a gift brings more joy than receiving one. Just ask the congregation at Craigieburn Corps in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. They participated in a Reverse Advent Calendar for 20 days and invited people to donate items for families in need. Placed in a box especially printed for the occasion, these will be dispersed through Christmas Cheer.
“We asked people within our congregation to join in, as well as anyone else who joined our community, Thrift Shop, ‘mainly music’families, volunteers, other groups that use our building, and members of the community through our connect desk at the local shopping centre,” said Corps Officer Major Kylie Palstra.
“With a normal advent calendar, you open a little window in the advent calendar each day to receive a treat, either a chocolate, toy, or beauty product. A reverse advent calendar focuses on giving rather than receiving. You start with an empty box, and each day for 20 days, you add an item into the box to donate to families in need!”
All up, an impressive amount of non-perishable goods, toys and bon bons were collected. A very Merry Christmas to all involved!
Victor Harbor fundraiser achieves significant impact
The Business Victor Harbor Council Candidates Q&A Forum was held at the Hotel Grosvenor in the South Australian town on Friday 14 October. It raised more than $8000 for the work of The Salvation Army local corps.
Organised by long-term supporter Rob Heaslip of South Coast Realty, the fundraiser included donations from 14 local businesses and activities, which included a raffle and auction. These much-needed funds will support the corps in undertaking a variety of community supports, including:
(From left) Rob Heaslip, MP David Basham, Daryl Girdlr and Major Lance Jeffrey.
- Hope Garden –a garden space to build a healthy and caring community –providing produce to support those doing it tough;
- Laundry and showers – washing powder, toiletries and towels provided;
- Brunch @ The Salvos – a place to connect with food, coffee and a chat;
- Chirpy Chickens – playgroup for children aged 0-5;
- Soul Café – a church service where all are welcome to have a meal, get to know each other and talk about the Bible and its place in our lives.
Divisional Commander Major Lance Jeffrey attended the event, along with Community Support Program Team Leader Karen O’Neill, Victor Harbor Salvos Treasurer Ivan Dohnt and Public Relations Secretary (SA/NT) Clare MacAdam.
“There are many occasions when a community member turns up in need of something that government funding cannot pay for, and the money raised at this event can be spent to help address these needs,” said Major Lance Jeffrey.
“Our dream for the future is to continue identifying needs and to respond in the best way possible. We’re so very grateful for the support of these Victor Harbor businesses. This will make a significant difference to how we support this community.”
Community Connect Open Day for Anti-Poverty Week
Salvos and representatives from various agencies who took part in providing stalls at the Community Connect Day in the St George area of Sydney.
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Several Salvation Army departments were represented, including Moneycare, Alcohol and Other Drugs Services, Aged Care, Rockdale Salvos, OASIS Linked in Youth, and Doorways.
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Growing women’s ministry in Whittlesea
One of the tables at the Christmas brunch.
The Women’s Ministries group at Whittlesea Salvos, north-east of Melbourne, continues to thrive, with 80 ladies participating in their Women’s Ministries Christmas Brunch last week.
Food was shared as the women focused on the theme of ‘Christmas Around the World’ – and there was no shortage of fun, games and laughter!
“Our theme for the day was based on Jesus coming as a light to this dark world, and each lady went home with a beautifully decorated candle and encouraged to be a light to others,” said Corps Officer Captain Susan Lamotte and Women’s Ministries Secretary Glenda Shearwood.
What a beautiful reflection of God’s diverse and inclusive Church!
A quarter century of service
Yogi Jai loves her role as lifestyle coordinator at Maybanke Aged Care Centre.
Yogi Vai celebrated more than 25 years of service at The Salvation Army Maybanke Aged Care Centre in Sydney’s inner west on 7 December. Yogi was originally an assistant in nursing before progressing to her current role of lifestyle coordinator.
“A lifestyle coordinator is the person who helps bring all the residents together for activities,” Yogi explained. “The activities we have are individually tailored and have been tried and tested amongst the residents. We have seen some vast improvements in some residents who have been reluctant to participate, coming out of their shell.”
Yogi notes her role largely involves “planning, organising and executing meaningful activities that residents enjoy and that enhance their quality of life”.
Lifestyle activities are also inspired by the opinions of the Centre’s valued residents. “I pre-plan a month in advance and see what was successful over the last few months,” Yogi shared. “In our monthly residents’ meetings, we discuss what activities they enjoy and have a suggestion box on what they’d like to see in the monthly programs.”
The recent ‘Maybanke Olympic Games’ was a hit with the residents, from the ‘opening ceremony’ to the final awarding of medals. “The residents enjoyed the friendly competitiveness,” said Yogi. “From balloon volleyball to darts and quoits, our residents all have a sport in which they excel and enjoy playing.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Yogi’s role changed to focus on ensuring residents felt connected with their families.
Yogi finds her role incredibly rewarding. “My inspiration for doing my job well is seeing the residents happy. There is no better feeling than seeing our residents smile and enjoying themselves.”
The Maybanke Aged Care Centre recently celebrated its 28-year anniversary.
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