IN BRIEF (22 Dec) - Snapshots from around the Territory
IN BRIEF (22 Dec) - Snapshots from around the Territory
22 December 2022
Captain Steven Haworth, right, thanks students from Waimea Heights Primary School in Tasmania for their generous collection of donations during the state's Red Bag campaign.
Bundamba band upholds carolling tradition
The Bundamba Corps band delight local communities with their carolling.
Every year the Bundamba Corps band put their World War II canopy and seats on a truck, donated by the local Kennards Hire company, and head out into the suburbs to play Christmas carols.
They go to suburbs close to the corps where there are Christmas lights, and just start playing. People gather around the truck, request favourite carols, and the bandsmen hand out treats to the children (with permission, of course!).
“People tell us it is so good to see the Salvos out and about,” says Gary Rule, Bundamba Corps bandmaster. “They tell us about their connections with the Salvos. Some tell about the help given to their parents during the war, or their connections with our kids ministries. Some thank us for helping out after the floods. After a hard year, it's great to be able to spread some joy."
The band selects different areas to visit each December, but still get comments from residents saying they remember the carolling truck from years ago.
The local police give special permission for the band to use the truck for three nights each Christmas season.
Mackay community responds to Christmas Appeal
Donations from community members have made over 220 hampers possible for Mackay's struggling families.
A year of community bridge-building, and the grace of God, culminated in massive donations for this year’s Mackay Corps Christmas Appeal, according to Auxiliary-Lieutenants David and Belinda Dobbie, Corps Officers.
“We have never seen such generosity from a community before,” David says. He estimates that the appeal received cash and gifts worth over $45,000 this Christmas.
The local radio station Triple M provided significant daily coverage for the appeal, and local businesses jumped in to help. The local council also made libraries available as drop-off points.
Prochem, the appeal’s major sponsor, donated $5000 cash, and spent $10,000 at Kmart on gifts, including 39 bikes. “It was difficult storing the bikes and deciding who should receive them, but it is a nice challenge to have,” David says.
Members of the newly formed Mackay Red Shield Appeal were given the opportunity to experience that special moment when community members receive their gifts.
"It was a very emotional time for our RSA committee but important for them to see the result of their fundraising," David says.
Community members were also active in donating money and gifts, resulting in over 220 Christmas hampers being handed out to vulnerable Mackay families struggling with increased costs of living.
“With the support of this community, we can go places,” David says. “We believe only better things will happen next year.”
Doorways recognised with award
The Salvos Doorways emergency relief services recently won the above commendation at the SIMNA 2022 awards ceremony.
As Salvos, we are committed to walking alongside people, to transform one life at a time with the love of Jesus. So how we measure that impact in the space of emergency relief is crucial. The Salvation Army’s Doorways emergency relief services were recently commended for their efforts in this, receiving the Runner Up award for Excellence in Social Impact Measurement at the 2022 SIMNA (Social Impact Measurement Network Australia) awards for their emergency relief outcomes measurement.
One judge commended Doorways for their entry, stating, “The large scale of data that the service engages is commendable and produces informative insights around ER [emergency response] during a particularly interesting time [COVID-19], making this research applicable beyond the organisation.”
Another judge reflected on Doorways’ reported findings, which stated that 39 per cent of respondents were connected to local community activities, saying, “I especially liked ... the fact that the Doorways team has revised service delivery to allocate more resources for relationship-building and the development of community activities. This sort of feedback loop is exactly what we are wanting to see more of in the sector. Great work!”
Since 2014, SIMNA has recognised organisations leading and learning in the space of social impact measurement. The Salvation Army was previously awarded the 2018 Social Impact Measurement Changemaker Award for the Moneycare Outcomes Measurement Project.
A heartfelt thank you from SA/NT Division
Clare Macadam, Divisional Public Relations Secretary, speaks with Lauren, left, a client from the Salvos residential program 'Burlendi' who has turned her life around. Generous donations from four Adelaide businesses support the Army's work with disadvantaged youth.
Major Lance Jeffrey, Divisional Commander, presented the inaugural Thank You award to the Social Responsibility Project, four Adelaide businesses that had decided to partner and support the Army’s work with disadvantaged young people.
Formed as a partnership with Mellor Olsson Lawyers, Conveyancing Solutions SA, Brentnalls SA, and Halpin Wealth, the Social Responsibility Project held a gala ball that rallied the South Australian business community to raise $50,000 for the Army’s youth homelessness services.
The South Australia/Northern Territory Division has hosted a Christmas Thank You lunch in the southern parklands of Adelaide to acknowledge donors and supporters who contributed to The Salvation Army’s work in 2022.
“Today, I want to thank each and every one of you for choosing to partner with us to look beyond your own worries and concerns to help those who feel hopeless and alone, those who are struggling financially, and so many who often feel there is little hope or can see no way forward,” said Major Jeffrey.
“Collectively, and because of your support of our work, we have all been the safe place, the warm meal, the listening ear and the hope so many everyday Australians have needed during this time.”
As part of the event, Clare Macadam, Divisional Public Relations Secretary, spoke with Lauren, a teenage client of Burlendi, a Salvos residential program for people aged 15 to 17 who are experiencing homelessness.
“When I arrived at Burlendi, I knew that I was in a safe place, that there were people there who cared about my safety,” shared Lauren.
Since her arrival, Lauren has returned to school, worked a part-time job, and will soon start Year 12. “I'm getting my grades back up ... I won a well-being award ... I’ve won a couple of academic awards too. The Salvation Army has been a great community of people. It’s a safe space to share yourself, and you won’t be judged in any way,” she said.
Tasmanians roaring with generosity
Salvo volunteers were ready to collect the generous donations from the recent MRA Toy Run in Hobart. Photo Steven Haworth.
Salvo volunteers were kept busy at the 43rd annual MRA (Motorcycle Riders Association) Toy Run in Hobart, collecting donations from hundreds of participants.
Beginning at MyState Bank Arena before finishing at the Parliament House lawns, hundreds of motorcyclists strapped on a gift or two before generously donating them to the Salvos for families doing it tough.
Working together with multiple stakeholders, the event was a roaring success. And with a group of Salvo volunteers on hand to feed everyone with a barbecue after the journey, people left with full tummies and even fuller hearts.
Meanwhile, schools across the state have also taken part in their Red Bag campaign, resulting in hundreds of students filling up bags with non-perishable goods, toys, food and Christmas cheer. From kids at day care handing their bags to their local Salvos expression to older students who donated a bike, this Christmas day hundreds of Red Bags will go out to families across Tassie, courtesy of some of the state’s youngest and most generous residents.
Parramatta Corps hosts Empty Chair Service
The Empty Chair Service will support those who have suffered loss of a loved one and are finding Christmas difficult.
Having your first Christmas without a loved one can be tough.
The officer team from Parramatta Corps has organised an ‘Empty Chair Service’ for Friday 23 December to support family and friends who have lost a loved one this year.
“We want people to know their loss isn’t forgotten and to be with like-minded people,” says Major Kylie Collinson, Parramatta Corps Officer. “We have organised segments during regular services before, but this is the first time we have had a designated time to gather, reflect and support those who are grieving.”
Invites were sent to those people the corps knew had suffered loss this year, but other corps members were encouraged to invite anyone they knew from the community who needed a place to reflect.
Will’s run for hope
Will Honan plans to run a marathon on Christmas morning to raise funds for the Salvos Wishes campaign.
Will Honan has committed to running a marathon – 42.2km – on Christmas morning to help bring hope and joy to struggling Australian families this festive season.
Will has set a fundraising goal of $5000 and hopes that the marathon will help him meet or surpass his target and enable the Salvos to make more Wishes come true this Christmas.
Will chose the Salvos ‘Wishes – The Spirit of Christmas’ campaign to raise funds for as a way of helping more Australians experience the joy, family, kindness and generosity he knew growing up.
“We have always been told that not everyone is so lucky, but for whatever reason, I don’t think I ever fully appreciated that,” Will shared.
“For so many people around Australia, and globally, Christmas is not a day for celebration but a day of missing out, where Santa doesn’t come down their chimney, or where they don’t necessarily have a chimney for Santa to come down.
“To that end, any way in which I can help to share some of the privileges that I’ve had is something I am willing to do. I think the idea of putting yourself through discomfort to give others some comfort is a really cool thing to be part of.”
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