volume 7 number 30 22 August 2026
salvosonline.org.au print post approved PP100001474
FROM GRIEF TO A GLOBAL MOVEMENT International Overdose Awareness Day
6 Small moments, lasting change
10 The door was always open
12 Belief that changed everything
Supporting people through addiction
God’s grace had never stopped waiting for Benn
A totally new life for the lawn-mower man
“Adversity,
which looks and feels like such a
determined enemy, can become a
valuable ally. Only
you can decide
which it will be.” - Joni Eareckson Tada
22 August 2026
Editorial What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Vision Statement Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. Mission Statement The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus by: • Caring for people • Creating faith pathways • Building healthy communities • Working for justice The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders, past, present, and future. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.
All about people Substance misuse impacts people of all ages and backgrounds. It wreaks havoc on everyone involved. Its results can last a lifetime. Tragically, as statistics (2024) show, there were 2596 overdose and drug-induced deaths – which equates to seven Australian deaths per day. Each one of those people precious in God’s sight. Each one – and those closest to them – worthy of love, dignity, compassion and support. Too many families still face blame, stigma, judgment and isolation when a loved one overdoses. For Salvos worker Sally Finn – known as Finn – meeting one grieving mother in the early 1980s who faced this blame led to the creation of what is now called International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August).
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Founders: William and Catherine Booth Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Lieut-Colonel Paul Hateley Senior Manager Editorial and Museums: Cheryl Tinker Editor: Simone Worthing Graphic Designers: Ryan Harrison, Cheryl Tinker Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58 Press date: 31 July 2026 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
We feature Finn’s inspiring story this week, as well as reflections from Mackenzie Goulding, a Salvos AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) worker who believes that even small interactions with a struggling person can lead to positive and lasting change. Benn also shares his journey through addiction, and the grace of God he found in the midst of it. Every life is precious, and God’s grace applies to us all. Simone Worthing – Editor 3
Feature
Salvos Magazine
FROM GRIEF TO A GLOBAL MOVEMENT International Overdose Awareness Day
mother whose son, Nick, had died from an overdose. Rather than finding comfort in her community, the woman was shunned and blamed. Even members of her own family struggled to show compassion. The experience left a lasting impression on Finn.
Twenty-five years ago, Salvos worker Sally J. Finn (Finn) had a simple but powerful idea: create a day when people could mourn loved ones lost to overdose without shame. Today, International Overdose Awareness Day, observed annually on 31 August and run by the Penington Institute, is marked in communities around the world. But for its founder, the day has always been about people. “At its heart, Overdose Awareness Day is a day that commemorates the death of a loved one,” says Finn, who is now a Needle Syringe Program worker for the Salvos in St Kilda, Melbourne. Her determination to establish the day was born from decades spent walking alongside people whose grief was made heavier by stigma. As a young social worker in rural Victoria during the early 1980s, she met a 4
“I never forgot the effect that the stigma of losing Nick had on his mother,” she recalls. “In a time of great and complex pain, she felt a type of disgrace that made grieving profoundly difficult. Her pain was exacerbated by people seeing Nick, not by what he was, but by what he had done.” Years later, while working in children’s mental health and then managing The Salvation Army St Kilda Needle and Syringe Program, she met countless families carrying similar stories. Time to mourn What struck Finn most was not only the devastating loss, but the isolation that followed. “There was a need to set aside one day in the calendar to acknowledge that loss,” she says. “To give people a chance to mourn without shame.” In 2001, that vision became reality. With just $750 from a local community grant, Finn and colleagues bought silver ribbons and pins and launched the first Overdose Day in Melbourne. More than
Feature
What struck Finn most was not only the devastating loss, but the isolation that followed. 6000 ribbons were handed out. Twentyfive years later, the movement spans dozens of countries across the world. Despite its growth, Finn says the purpose has never changed. For her, International Overdose Awareness Day is both an act of remembrance and a call to action. “The main focus of this day is the families and friends left behind,” she says. “It’s important that they have a day where they can mourn their loss and, even more so, take pride in the person they have lost. “It’s also around building awareness, acknowledging people living with injuries from non-fatal overdose, and challenging the stigma that continues to surround drug use and addiction.” Most importantly, Finn hopes the day reminds people that every life has value and every person deserves dignity, care and the chance to be remembered.
22 August 2026
Overdose Snapshot 2024 Drug-induced deaths reached the highest level on record in 2024 – 2596 deaths. In 2024, all drug-induced deaths accounted for 76,887 years of potential life lost, the equivalent of 31 years per person. In 2024, the number of druginduced deaths was just under twice the number of road traffic deaths (1307). The excess of druginduced deaths compared to road traffic accidents in 2024 is the largest on record. For all drug-induced deaths, the most common drugs involved were opioids (1083), stimulants (843), and benzodiazepines (696). The Penington Institute 2026 Snapshot shows that Australia is losing seven people a day to overdose.
For the families, friends and communities who gather each 31 August, that message remains as important today as it was when one social worker decided that no one should have to grieve alone. Accessing help: If life is in danger: 000 Lifeline: 13 11 14 National AOD Hotline: 1800 250 015 5
Salvos Magazine
Small moments, lasting Supporting people through addiction by Mackenzie Goulding
Mackenzie Goulding is the Non-Residential Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services Team Leader and AOD Intake Coordinator for the Salvos’ Northern Victoria. She shares some thoughts with Salvos Magazine around what inspires her in her work every day, and her belief that lasting recovery and meaningful change is possible. I recently stepped into the role of Acting Non-Residential AOD Services Team Leader, supporting not only the people who access our services, but also the dedicated staff who walk alongside them. My role involves coordinating day-to-day team operations, providing guidance and support to staff, and ensuring that participants receive consistent, highquality, trauma-informed support. The heart of my work is helping create an environment where both staff and participants can thrive. 6
Our Non-Residential Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug Services work with community members aged 16 years and over, taking a holistic approach to address the underlying factors contributing to alcohol and other drug misuse. We recognise that substance use is rarely an isolated issue; it is often intertwined with trauma, mental health, relationships, housing, employment, and broader social challenges. By providing a safe, supportive and healing environment, we aim to empower participants and their loved ones to build the foundations for lasting recovery and meaningful change. Personal pathway My pathway into this work began with completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science and a Bachelor of Criminology in 2022. I then commenced work within the justice sector, where I gained firsthand insight into the complex relationship between disadvantage, trauma, offending behaviour and substance use. Working alongside vulnerable individuals reinforced my belief that lasting change is achieved, not through judgment, but through compassion, evidence-informed practice and genuine human connection. Those experiences laid the foundation for my passion for the alcohol and other drug sector, and strengthened my commitment to supporting people at some of the most challenging times in their lives.
change
22 August 2026
That passion continues to evolve. I am currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Addictive Behaviours to further strengthen my leadership capability and deepen my understanding of how we can best help those impacted by drug and alcohol issues. I believe that effective leadership requires a commitment to lifelong learning, reflection and continuous improvement. Profound impact What motivates me each morning is knowing that even small interactions can have a profound impact on someone’s journey. Recovery rarely takes place in predictable steps, and success is not always measured by immediate outcomes. Sometimes it is helping a participant feel heard for the first time, supporting a practitioner through a difficult case, or creating systems that enable better care for our community. Being able to contribute to positive change – whether for an individual, a family, or the team I lead – is both a privilege and a responsibility. It is this opportunity to make a meaningful difference that continues to inspire my work every day. As my team and I work with participants and their families, our aim is both to prevent overdose and to help people leave behind the things that hold them back so that they can enjoy a full and happy life. 7
Feature
Salvos Magazine
Salvos offer alcohol and other drugs services As one of Australia’s largest providers of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) treatment services, the Salvos offer a range of programs across Australia. If you’re looking for a place of hope, compassion and dignity to support you as you overcome your challenges, we are here for you. The focus of our services is harm reduction. We want to prevent and reduce harm for both individuals and the wider community. We want people to have better relationships with their families, friends and communities. Across Australia, we offer a range of programs including withdrawal
management, residential rehabilitation, non-residential rehabilitation, community programs and harm reduction services. Our services and partnerships are designed to respond to a range of needs and severity of alcohol and other drug use, and we aim to engage people in the least invasive types of service. We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, gender identities and expressions and sexual orientations. We are committed to providing fully inclusive programs. Recovery is not straightforward and we aim to support you during every step of this journey.
Statistics at a glance (FY23/24)
•
11,729 people assisted with AOD, gambling addiction and rehabilitation services
•
220,388 sessions of care provided to
people impacted by addiction
8
•
172,002 bed nights
•
344,004 meals
provided to people in residential programs provided to people staying in AOD residential facilities.
Scan here for more information and state contact details.
22 August 2026
News
Tiny Home with a big impact One Tiny Home. One life changed. One community coming together.
Photo: Southern Peninsula News, Mornington Photographer: Yanni Dellaportas
That’s the vision behind a new initiative on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula: a single Tiny Home with the power to change a life for people aged over 55. Driven by compassion, collaboration and a shared commitment to tackling homelessness in a region facing a critical shortage of accommodation, the initiative was the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Dromana, which donated the Catalyst Tiny House Project to The Salvation Army Homelessness Services. Stepping stone Designed as a stepping stone rather than a permanent solution, the accommodation will be available for a person experiencing homelessness for up to six months. Throughout that time, Homelessness Services will work closely with the tenant to help them transition to long-term housing and get them on their feet. The project began when the Rotary Club of Dromana approached The Salvation Army with a simple idea: to donate a Tiny Home to someone experiencing homelessness. Rosebud Salvos was identified as the ideal location. Dromana Association President Simon Brooks built the Tiny Home using Australian-made products wherever possible, with donated and subsidised time, labour and materials from local businesses, and donations from local service clubs and the community.
Major Mal Davies officially opens the Catalyst Tiny House Project with Simon Brooks (Dromana Association President) and Greg Fitzgerald from the Rotary Club of Dromana.
Positioned alongside the Salvos, the Tiny Home allows the tenant to engage with the faith community if they choose. During their stay, the tenant will also pay subsidised rent. Although only one Tiny Home is currently planned for this site, those behind the initiative hope it will be the first step towards something much bigger. The program will be reviewed every six months, with tenant feedback playing a vital role in refining the model and shaping its future direction. For the full story, go to salvosonline.org.au – Lerisse Smith 9
Faith Talk
Salvos Magazine
The door was always open God’s grace had never stopped waiting for Benn by Kirralee Nicolle
Benn Nicholson is a cadet (trainee Salvos pastor) at Ingle Farm Salvos north of Adelaide.
then moved into the mining sector where he worked both in cranes and as a poly welder.
But when it comes to God and the church, he hasn’t always felt he belonged.
“That whole lifestyle – you work hard, but you also play hard,” Benn says.
Addiction to multiple substances, homelessness, broken relationships and unknowing participation in a fringe religious sect gradually shaped Benn into someone he had always feared he might become.
Looking for more In his early 20s, Benn began participating in a church group which seemed to offer a new way of life. Previous members of the group recently testified to a government inquiry about cult-like control practices within the group.
After starting his career on building sites as a labourer, Benn worked in precast yards as a crane operator and dogman,
Having had minimal exposure to religion, Benn
believed what he was experiencing was a normal church environment. But Benn says he eventually left that church for personal reasons as well. “I was still a young man, and I was missing out on nightclubs, girls, partying and all this sort of thing,” he says. “I fell away because I hadn’t finished living the way that I wanted to live.” But living the way he wanted to live eventually left Benn in a very vulnerable place. Addicted and homeless By his late 30s, he was selling drugs and dealing with addiction to ice and cigarettes. He eventually found himself jobless, homeless and living in a shipping container. His health was suffering greatly. “I felt isolated,” he says. “I felt alone. When you’re living in this shipping container … you actually feel like you’re buried. Everyone else is getting on with their lives and
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22 August 2026
Faith Talk
raising families and building careers. “And here my life’s become this. “My mother would help out where she could, and the door was always open,” he says. “I’d go back home and sort my life out and then go back into the world.” But his mum noticed her son slipping into deeper and darker places. “There was a point where Mum said, ‘Look, I’m not giving you any more money or helping you with this,’” he says. This felt like a new low for Benn. So, he decided he needed to radically change his life. He locked the shipping container and caught a bus to his mother’s house in Coffs Harbour.
Benn set about a process of change which, eight years on, continues to shape his life. He began attending the Narcotics Anonymous program at Coffs Harbour Salvos, and also Sunday services. Today, Benn embraces a life and faith that holds complexity and nuance. He likes to sit in a dark room and ponder God’s presence, but also listens to heavy metal. He finds great joy in serving others, but also takes medication for depression. Though he felt distant from his artist father growing up, Benn embraces the artistic gene he has inherited and likes to paint for enjoyment. “Growing up, I was afraid of who I would become
one day; and now I am that man, and I like who I am,” he says. “I feel that the God of love is a little bit like my mother,” he says. “The door’s always open. There’s always an opportunity for repentance. “That’s what salvation’s always about, isn’t it?” Scan here to read the full story l Benn (right) pictured at one of his earlier places of employment. i Benn (left) with his mum and brother. Images supplied.
Radical changes “I had like $20 to my name,” Benn says. “It was either I buy something to eat or buy a pack of cigarettes. I thought, ‘If I buy cigarettes now, when does it stop?’ So, I stopped cold turkey. I stopped smoking, [and] I stopped using drugs, all in one go.” 11
My Story
Salvos Magazine
The belief that changed everything
A totally new life for the lawn-mower man by Hannah Brabrook
Nearly 20 years ago, Nathan Stafford walked through the doors of The Salvation Army’s Foster House in Sydney at one of the lowest points in his life. Homeless, battling addiction and facing the prospect of jail, Nathan couldn’t see a way forward. Today, he is a devoted husband and father, a successful businessman, and a social media personality known for travelling around Australia mowing lawns for free and helping people in need. Most people know him as ‘the lawn-mower man’ – the guy behind Nathan’s Lawns and Gardens. But Nathan is quick to acknowledge that his life could have turned out very differently. Returning to Foster House recently, Nathan reflected on the role the Salvos played in helping him rebuild his life. “I lived in this place just over 20 years ago,” Nathan said. “I was homeless, doing some silly stuff, and I came into here before getting my life on track. I spent about three months in here. I’m very grateful for this place.” h Nathan established his lawn-mowing enterprise in 2010. Photo courtesy of his website. hh Retired officers Majors Peter and Ruth Dollin shared a heartfelt message with Nathan. 12
Rock bottom Nathan recalls being in a desperate state when he first arrived at Foster House. “Not good,” he said. “I was looking at possibly going to jail, or I was up at a
22 August 2026
My Story
bridge going, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore.’ That’s the reality.” A chance encounter led him to The Salvation Army. Someone he met on the street gave him a phone number and encouraged him to make contact. What happened next changed the course of his life – he met Foster House workers, Salvation Army officers, Majors Peter and Ruth Dollin (now retired). “She just gave me a hug and said everything was going to be all right,” he said. “I needed someone that understood,” he said. “They weren’t there to judge me. They were there to explain that there was a better life out there and that I had a really good chance to change and live the life everyone deserves to have.” During his return visit to Foster House, Nathan was surprised by a video message from the pair. “We are so proud of you, Nathan,” Ruth said in the message. “We’ve seen you come from being in a very vulnerable space to now being a man, a dad and a lovely husband.” Asked what message he would send back to them, Nathan’s response was simple: “I wouldn’t be here without you two. I’m very thankful.” Nathan believes his story proves the difference one person can make when they choose to believe in someone. “They saved my life,” he said. “I couldn’t see how I could get out of this, and they just backed me the whole way.”
Sharing hope Today, Nathan is sharing that same sense of hope with others. “If you’ve lived the life I did and been able to get back over that line and change, it’s very important to give back and show how grateful you are for it.” Nathan believes that services like Foster House play a vital role in helping people rebuild their lives and build positive futures. “I’ve seen firsthand the many people that have come through here who have probably been written off like myself and been able to change their lives.” As he walked through Foster House once again, Nathan’s story served as a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of compassionate support, practical assistance, and of people who refuse to give up on others. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in someone. For Nathan, that belief changed everything. Hannah Brabrook is a Media Relations Officer with The Salvation Army. Scan here to watch The Shield That Changes Lives: a Salvos Special
Accessing help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 If life is in danger: 000 13
Taste of Life
🍳
Leftovers toss
💡
Salvos Magazine
Quiz
1. Which breed of dog is Beethoven? 2. What are the names of the parent dogs in 101 Dalmatians? 3. Which breed of dog is Lassie? 4. Which cartoon dog has the same name as a dwarf planet? Ingredients
5. What colour is Clifford?
1 clove garlic, crushed; 3 tbsp oil; 1 tbsp vinegar; seasoning to taste; pinch mustard; 2 cups cooked rice; 250g cooked chicken, chopped; 125g ham, chopped; 1 capsicum, chopped; 1 large tomato, chopped; 1 tbsp sultanas; 2 tbsp chopped walnuts.
6. Which breed of dog is Scooby-Doo?
Method
🔍
Mix garlic, oil, vinegar, seasoning and mustard and pour over rice. Mix in all ingredients.
7. What is the name of the toy dachshund in the Toy Story movies.
Tum-Tum
Serve hot or cold.
☺
Believe in Good: Tips
“Sometimes an angel arrives in the form of a smile, a moment, or an unexpected kindness.” – Samuel Hart 14
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
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2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 9 Contemporary English Version
“My gift of undeserved grace is all you need.
How does a dog stop a TV show?
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My power is strongest when you are weak.”
Bible byte
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What kind of dog doesn’t bark? Why do dogs float?
What kind of dog does Dracula have?
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Have a laugh
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Quiz: 1. St Bernard 2. Perdita and Pongo 3. Rough Collie 4. Pluto 5. Red 6. Great Dane 7. Slinky Dog I am: a penguin. Tum-Tum: is hiding in the bag on page 8.
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I can be a little blue or an emperor. I can be small or large. I am black and white, but can have a touch of yellow or red. I eat krill.
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Who am I?
Take Five
Sudoku 2026 Puzzle #6
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