Salvos and friends receive Australia Day awards
Salvos and friends receive Australia Day awards
2 February 2023
The Salvation Army and Gawler (SA) Police won the Community Event of the Year award. From left: Hon Member for Spence Matt Burnell, Town of Gawler Mayor Karen Redman, Senior Sergeant Robert Mowday, Gawler Salvation Army Administrator Cameron Brewis and Hon Member for Light Tony Piccolo. Photo courtesy South Australia Police Safer Communities.
Many committed Salvationists and friends work tirelessly in their communities – as officers, staff or volunteers – to embody and share the love of Jesus. Last month, we saw several Salvationists recognised with Australia Day Awards on a national, state and local level. Here is a snapshot of some of the Salvos recognised in 2023.
In regional South Australia, The Salvation Army, together with Gawler Police, was presented with the Community Event of the Year award at the Town of Gawler (SA) Australia Day awards for the inaugural Hope Cup Cricket match held last month.
During this match, the Gawler Salvation Army All Stars, consisting of civic and business leaders from the Gawler community, took on the Gawler Police XI in a 30-over-a-side cricket match.
Through fundraising efforts by participants, community donations and spectator contributions, over $40,000 was raised for the Gawler Salvation Army’s Red Room Project. This project aims to reduce the impact of rough sleepers in Gawler and provide them with hope and a pathway out of homelessness.
The Hope Cup Cricket match also raises important funds for better support, services and outcomes for those doing it tough in the local community.
It was an exciting match, with the Gawler Police XI (4/170) defeating the Gawler Salvation Army All Stars (7/164).
“This Australia Day award is definitely an honour and is directly attributed to the work done by everyone from the brilliant All Stars players to everyone in the community who donated or attended on the day. It is a community event that is owned by the community for the community,” said Robert Mowday, Senior Sergeant First Class Robert Mowday from Gawler Police Station.
A small representation of the Kalgoorlie youth team gathered for the awards ceremony.
In regional Western Australia, the youth team of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Salvos was nominated for the Community Group/Event of the Year Award at the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Australia Day Awards ceremony last week.
“While we don’t do what we do for accolades, it’s still lovely to receive these little bits of recognition for the team,” said Cameron Mallory, Youth Team Coordinator. “God has truly blessed us with an amazing team of volunteers.
“We were nominated as a group for everything we have achieved out in the community, from the Youth Shed to street chaplaincy, to running and or partnering with other agencies for youth engagement events and so on.”
In regional Victoria, Millie Collins, a volunteer at the Delacombe Thrift Shop, was named Young Citizen of the Year at the City of Ballarat Australia Day Community Recipients Awards last week.
Millie Collins (left), with other award winners, is an active volunteer with the Salvos. Photo courtesy of the City of Ballarat.
As well as her work with the Salvos, Millie is involved with numerous local groups and causes, including youth and families experiencing homelessness. She organised the 2021 Youth Awards for the City of Ballarat and designed and implemented an art installation at the skate park with the goal of removing the social stigma around public and private schools in Ballarat. As an Orygen/Mission Australia youth representative, Millie also helped develop a youth strategy and spoke on behalf of fellow youth on the psychological impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns.
Millie is also involved in several climate change projects and rallies and supports numerous young people through a mentoring program.
In Tasmania, Lieutenants Jess Ffrost Boyd and Craig Boyd, South East Salvos Corps Officers, at South East Salvos in Tasmania, received the Sorrell Citizen of the Year award for 2023.
Lieutenants Jess Ffrost Boyd and Craig Boyd received the Sorrell Citizen of the Year award.
“Craig and Jess’s huge contribution to the region extends past their paid work with the South East Tasmania Salvos,” according to a story in the Sorrell Council online news bulletin. (https://www.councilnews.com.au/2023/01/21201845-australia-day-awards-2023)
“They volunteer their time to groups and events to ensure they go ahead and people are supported and well networked. This includes supporting disadvantaged people, youth and other community members experiencing hardship.
“They are involved in numerous events and activities, including the men’s breakfast, Rotary, family movie nights, Sorell Community Christmas Carols, youth support activities, hosting events and getting businesses and local people involved for RU OK Day, Social Inclusion Day and food drives. They also deliver the Coffee-Tunity training for the South East area, which increases people’s confidence and gives them the skills to go on to further training or employment. Jess volunteers on the Business and Employment Southeast Tasmania Board and coordinates a local supportive women’s group.
“Jess and Craig contribute their time and energy for the greater good, no matter the day or time, to strengthen the South East region. They encourage businesses, local people and other services to collaborate for the good of supporting and including all, and their efforts have improved the lives of many locals.”
In regional Queensland, John and Sue Erbacher from Hervey Bay Corps received the Cultural Award of the Year at the Fraser Coast Regional Council Australia Day Awards 2023.
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Over the years, John and Sue Erbacher have written and published nearly 100 books.
John and Sue have spent five decades researching, documenting and preserving the local history of Hervey Bay and K’gari (Fraser Island). They have jointly written over 40 books on the area’s history and environmental books describing how different ecosystems operate and the lives of birds, insects and marine life.
Sue and John are active at the corps in a range of different programs.
Captain Wes Bust, Fassifern Corps Officer, was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of volunteers and staff through the chaplaincy program at the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, South East Region Australia Day Awards ceremony. The service’s Commissioner, Greg Leach, presented Wes with a certificate and medal.
The Others team has made every effort to cover Salvationists and friends nominated for an Australia Day award in 2023. Do you know someone we have missed? Please let us know in the comments!
Comments
Hi Marion Sampson from the Unley Corps was nominated for a citizen of the year award