Where
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.”
- Christopher Reeve
PHOTO BY GREG RAKOZY ON UNSPLASH
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.
Honouring life
Most of us have faced, or will face, the death of a beloved family member or friend. Whether the death is expected or sudden, the relationship strong or fractured, the story complicated – a difficult time usually follows.
Organising a funeral at a time of loss and grief can also be challenging. There are many options for funeral services, and it can be a relief for bereaved relatives and friends to have professional assistance to guide them through the process.
Scan here to connect with The Salvation Army services
Founders: William and Catherine Booth
Scan here to subscribe to Salvos Magazine
Salvation Army World Leaders: General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn
Buckingham
Territorial Leader: Commissioner Miriam Gluyas
Secretary for Communications and Editor-In-Chief: Colonel Rodney Walters
Publications Manager: Cheryl Tinker
Editor: Simone Worthing
Graphic Designer: Ryan Harrison
Enquiry email: publications@salvationarmy.org.au
All other Salvation Army enquiries 13 72 58
Press date: 13 June 2025
Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas at Focus Print Group, Chester Hill, NSW, Darug Nation lands.
Salvos Funerals is an option for those who live in the areas where it operates. It’s a trusted, not-for-profit service owned and run by The Salvation Army. Our compassionate and experienced team helps people plan an affordable funeral tailored to their preferences, and also offers referrals to other Salvos services such as financial counselling and pastoral care.
In this edition, we also feature news stories on some of the other areas where the Salvos are working to bring dignity, hope and care to people – social housing, emergency food relief, and a bike recycling workshop.
For these stories and more, go to salvosonline.org.au
Simone Worthing Editor
Where grief meets grace
Salvos Funerals help families say goodbye
Salvos Funerals is a trusted not-for-profit service owned and operated by The Salvation Army.
Salvos Funerals contributes to the ongoing work of the Salvos in the community. As an ethical, not-forprofit organisation, Salvos Funerals continues the care that has been provided to Australians during times of need over the last 150 years.
Genuine compassion
The compassionate and experienced team that
makes up Salvos Funerals can guide people through the funeral process and provide an affordable service that is a thoughtful blend of remembrance, celebration and mourning. The team understands that making arrangements after the death of a loved one can be overwhelming, and can walk you through all the necessary steps –taking the stressful work out of planning a funeral and allowing you the time and space you need to grieve.
“What we offer is a different level of care than commercial services,” says Megan Maxwell, Operations Manager. “We can go beyond what other services might be able to do, refer people to different supports and services, link them to pastoral care. Our care goes above and beyond.
“It’s genuine compassion and not about the bottom dollar. For us, it’s about mission. It’s mission that motivates us, connecting people with community and serving them in their darkest moments. That’s the real focus. What you’ll get from us is a quality service. It’s important that our families are served well. Our theme is on our business cards; it’s genuine compassion.
Services
Salvos Funerals offers a range of services across its locations in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Perth and South East Queensland. These include:
• When a loved one has passed – initial practical and emotional support
• Pre-planned funeral
• Direct cremation
• Basic funeral and cremation
• Personalised funeral
Salvos Funerals provide real value for quality service. All prices are upfront and transparent with no hidden costs. Any profits made help support the broader work of the Salvos in the community and add to the long-lasting legacy of care for others.
Welcoming to all Salvos Funerals welcomes, and can assist with:
• Specific cultural, religious or family requirements
• Organising interpreters for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
“We work with all families differently,” Megan says. “The natural assumption is that because we’re The Salvation Army, we only serve the disadvantaged, but we serve families right across the board. There’s no one cohort of family we serve. It’s whoever finds us.”
Salvos Funerals are available 24/7. For phone details, Frequently Asked Questions, a guide for families, tips, checklists and other information,
scan the QR code at the end of this story.
Ongoing support
Grief and practical concerns don’t stop when a funeral is over. Salvos Funerals will still be there to help you deal with the grief and loss after the funeral. From pastoral support to aged care services, the Salvos can help you in many other practical ways, including referrals.
Financial assistance
The Salvation Army offers a range of support to those facing financial difficulties or looking for advice on money matters. These include financial counselling, help with everyday essentials and, in certain circumstances, a
Salvation Army No Interest Loan Scheme loan for unexpected funerals.
Spiritual and social connection
Our faith convinces us that hope, purpose and fulfilment can be everyone’s story. Our local Salvation Army churches welcome everyone to join them for a range of spiritual and social activities.
Scan here for contact and information details:
Salvos Funerals –how it all began
by Malcolm Pittendrigh
The Salvos Funerals journey began for me in 2012. I was working as the Financial Controller for the Salvos’ Aged Care team and had often wondered why faith-based enterprises like The Salvation Army had not seriously considered entering the funeral industry. What started as a suggestion around the boardroom table quickly gained support from senior leadership.
Initially, I researched the possibilities in spare moments around my Aged Care Plus work. In 2013, we integrated the concept into the Aged Care Plus threeyear strategic plan. Later that year, we engaged KPMG (professional services firm) for an overview of the industry itself.
The opportunity appealed to the leadership as it met people at a
Salvos Funerals offer affordable funerals tailored to individual needs.
Malcolm Pittendrigh, National Director of Salvos Funerals.
vulnerable point in their lives, offering dignified care and compassion during a period of grief and sorrow. It also enhanced and supplemented an existing ministry, as many of our officers (ministers) were already conducting the church service element of a funeral.
We did some further targeted research around population demographics and major areas of investment. The information collected was positive and reinforced earlier thinking. With an ageing Australian population and increasing mortality rates, together with our public reputation and the infrastructure and assets that The Salvation Army is blessed with – the business case was starting to take shape.
In late 2015, I moved on from my finance
role, to actively pursue The Salvation Army’s entry into the funeral industry.
Precious vocation
As National Director for Salvos Funerals, I am responsible for the strategic direction of this enterprise. However, I am still involved in the day-to-day operation of serving families with honouring their loved one. For much of my 28 years with The Salvation Army, my calling has been working as a finance professional. I was intrigued and excited about exploring the funeral industry, but had not carefully considered the seriousness of funeral work, or what was involved in performing a funeral, and a ‘start-up’ one at that!
How would I cope upon seeing a deceased person for the first time? How do I address
a family member that has lost the most precious person in the world to them? What do I say? How do I conduct myself at a funeral arrangement? It was daunting! I was completely out of my comfort zone. I believe God equipped me accordingly and instilled in me a passion for serving families in this way. I certainly fumbled my way through those early funeral arrangements, but quickly discovered the most precious of vocations. I love it!
Fast forward to 2025 and we have served more than 4000 families in our brief history. Our services extend across most of New South Wales, ACT, Melbourne, Perth and more recently (from March 2025), South East Queensland … and we are growing.
Feedback from families …
“I would absolutely recommend Salvos Funerals. They were compassionate, prompt with their responses and information and offered a range of suggestions without any pressure. Meg and Megan were fantastic at a traumatic time. Thankyou Salvos.”
“Megan was so accommodating. She cared for us as a family and respected all our suggestions and wishes in honouring our beautiful mum. Everything was handled with ease, care and compassion. Allison the Chaplain is a beautiful person and
showed her happy nature throughout the service. We are so grateful to have met them both.”
“I was so overwhelmed with grief and had no idea what to do. Megan and Allison went above and beyond for my family and me. They were compassionate, listened and made my mother’s service as beautiful as it could possibly be. I cannot thank them and the Salvos enough for all the help they provided my family – not only on this special day but many times in our upbringing!”
Bike workshop celebrates five years
Salvos Recycle Bikes recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The constantly developing social enterprise is set up in the grounds of the Salvos Stores centre at Red Hill in Brisbane’s inner northside.
Brisbane Salvationist and experienced cyclist Andy Steele set up Salvos Recycle Bikes in 2020 and is still the coordinator of the enterprise today. The goal was to restore bikes to sell in Salvos Stores – a supportive partner in the initiative. The vision and focus was, and continues to be, on people – both those who work and volunteer fixing and selling bikes, and on community members who can now buy affordable bikes. Assistance from the Brisbane City Council and Salvation Army grants helped Salvos Recycle Bikes become operational.
“Every life, and every bike – even if it’s just a reflector or bell – is worth saving,” said Andy. “This is where I felt God leading me.”
Changed lives
A former aircraft engineer, Wes, who had spent several years in jail and met Andy through prison ministry, became principal mechanic for Salvos Recycle Bikes and turned his life around before returning to family in Victoria.
Damien (Damo), chief mechanic at Salvos Recycle Bikes, had completed the rehabilitation program at Salvation Army Recovery Services (Moonyah) before becoming involved with the bikes. He credits the support and sense of purpose he found there, with literally saving his life. Any profits from the sales and repair of
Damien, left, with Andy, found support and a purpose at Salvos Recycle Bikes.
the bikes benefits Brisbane Streetlevel Mission, as well as paying wages and continuing to develop the business.
“We now handle electric bikes and are getting more and more high-quality bikes that are lost, stolen or unclaimed, being donated by Queensland Police and Queensland Rail, as well as the community,” says Andy.
“Australia’s largest bicycle retailer, 99 Bikes, has come on board and are good supporters.
“We have some great volunteers, including five regulars, and we are very grateful for them. More and more program participants from Moonyah are also volunteering for shifts. There are two regular staff members.”
More expensive bikes – those with a value of $1000 or more – are sold online.
– Simone Worthing
Building a community, not just a home
The Salvation Army has unveiled a new, purposebuilt social housing complex in the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
The 16-apartment complex, developed in partnership with Homes Victoria as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, offers a range of one- and two-bedroom units for singles, couples and families requiring safe, spacious and affordable housing.
The building cost a total of $9.2 million,
with The Salvation Army contributing $2.4 million.
Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, who oversees The Salvation Army in Australia, spoke about the history of The Salvation Army’s housing work and how it now manages 2000 homes, housing a total of 3000 people each night. She said that the focus of The Salvation Army’s tenant engagement model was to build community, not just homes.
“We’re trying to find
The social housing complex opened last month in Melbourne.
spaces where people can feel that they are loved and respected and have real dignity,” she said.
– Kirralee Nicolle
A circle of blessing in Wagga Wagga
When Wagga Wagga Salvos (NSW) were recently blessed with 1000 frozen meals from food charity Second Bite, staff and volunteers hit the phones to share the love.
“We’ve built great partnerships with other organisations, it’s fantastic,” said Wagga Wagga Doorways (emergency relief) Coordinator Jen Fowler, explaining that many of the frozen meals were distributed to other not-for-profit services.
“Some organisations in this area aren’t getting much support from anywhere else, so we are helping to boost them up.
“We might just randomly get a pallet of pasta sauce turn up, so we distribute some to community members, and we also send it down to an organisation called Care Van,” said Jen.
“They have a commercial kitchen and cook frozen meals they come back to us … and go out as hot meals to the homeless.
Wagga Wagga Salvos support those in need by sharing resources.
“So, it’s a circle [of blessing] that keeps spinning around – it’s really wonderful.”
– Lauren Martin
A handful of ‘good’
Heart-warming act of a group of boisterous boys
by Dean Simpson
The six teenage boys were creating a bit of havoc on their bikes outside the Woolworths store.
Shoppers entering the store had to dodge the boys as they rode in circles, chugging down Red Bull energy drinks and yahooing at each other.
I watched the scene unfold while serving as a volunteer collector outside the Woolworths store for the recent Salvos Red Shield Appeal campaign.
People watching
Standing in one spot for a few hours is an intriguing exercise in peoplewatching. The ebb and flow of shoppers parking their cars and then heading into a supermarket is a surprisingly captivating experience.
Most people are in a hurry. They are the ‘head-down’ people. They are on a mission, and nothing, not even my cheery hello, is going to deter them. Shop and go.
Then you’ve got the ‘eye-contact’ people. People who respond to my cheery hello, forage for some coins and throw them into the donation bucket before striding into the shops.
Next, you’ve got the ‘amblers’. People with time on their hands. They want to interact, have a chat and will often pull out the credit card and use the tap ’n’ go machine.
And then you’ve got the boisterous boys. Nothing to
do except make a nuisance of themselves, oblivious to their interruptive behaviour.
But it was the boys I was drawn to.
Making contact
After witnessing a few near misses with shoppers, a couple of whom had scolded the boys for their bike antics, I decided to intervene and make contact with them.
Armed with a large bag of Fruit Mentos, I caught the boys’ attention and offered them the lollies. They swarmed around me as I dished out handfuls of the sweets, each boy making a comment or two: “Awwww, thanks mister.” “Awesome, I love Mentos.” “Yeah, cool can I have some more?”
I engaged the boys in some light banter, complimented their bikes, and carefully suggested that they take things down a notch or two and allow shoppers to, well, get into the shops without fear of being run over.
After I made my way back to the donation stand, I was struck by how quiet things had suddenly become. I noticed the boys in a kind of huddle, much like the one you see during a timeout at a basketball game.
I was intrigued as the boys, whispering to one another, began rummaging through their backpacks and pockets.
Something good
Then one of the boys, probably the ringleader, walked over to me with his fist clenched. My curiosity was piqued. He emptied a handful of coins into the donation bucket, and, with a smile, said he hoped this would “help the Salvos a bit”.
And with that, they all rode off, waving happily back at me while still chewing on Fruit Mentos, and took their mischief somewhere else.
But my heart was warmed.
I’m not sure what compelled the bike boys to donate to the Salvos. Perhaps they wanted to repay my kindness after I gave them lollies. Maybe they realised they were being disruptive and felt guilty. Or perhaps it was something else.
I’m not sure the boys would ever sit down and analyse their donation, but in that moment of monetary unity, I’m certain they all wanted to participate in something good, something that God stands for. And in their small, generous act, I saw God at work.
Called to comfort
Funeral celebrant brings hope to the final goodbye
by Sue Davies
In March 2021, I took an early retirement after 26 years as a Salvation Army officer (minister). Not long after, I established my own funeral celebrant business and have spent the past four years running it. In many ways, this work is simply another expression of the same desire I’ve had during my life – to walk with people through life’s most vulnerable moments, and to bring comfort, hope and presence during grief.
Telling the story
When sitting with a family to plan a funeral, the first thing I do is simply listen. I gently begin the
conversation with words such as “Tell me about your person” and “What made them who they were?”
Sometimes there’s silence and tears because the grief is still sitting so close to the surface. Eventually, the stories come – some funny, some painful, some deeply moving. They help me shape a ceremony that tells the story of a real life – full of depth, character and meaning, and not just a timeline of events.
As someone with a background in faith, I’m always attentive to where God might already be
present in the family’s story – even if they don’t use that language. I might ask, “Did your loved one have a particular belief or sense of something beyond this life?” Or I might offer a simple reflection about hope or
Sue Davies, funeral celebrant.
peace, especially if it’s a comfort to the family. Not everyone wants a religious service, and I always respect that, but I do believe that God is close to the brokenhearted – and sometimes, just a few quiet words of reassurance can help carry someone through.
Families just want their person to be known, to be understood, and to be remembered with warmth and honesty. They want to hear their life echoed back to them in a way that feels real. That’s what I work hard to create. I love to pay attention to the details – the way he always read the newspaper before breakfast, the way she danced in the kitchen, the phrases they said all the time, the things they stood for.
I don’t want to avoid the hard parts. Sometimes, the story is complicated. Sometimes, there’s been estrangement, suffering or a loss that feels far too soon. In those moments, I try to speak truthfully, but always with care. There’s always a way to honour a life, even when it’s been messy or difficult.
Sacred ground
Conducting funerals is something I never take for granted. Every time I stand at the front of a chapel or garden or graveside, I feel the honour of being involved. This is sacred ground. There’s a silence in those first few moments, a stillness that reminds me why I do this. It’s about honour, dignity and presence. I speak slowly, with care, trying to hold the emotion in the
room while giving people something solid to lean on. I see my role as more than just delivering a service. I’m there to carry part of the load, to give shape to the chaos of grief, to hold people steady for a little while. It’s deeply relational work – and it’s also deeply human.
At the heart of it, I still feel like I’m doing ministry – just without the Salvos uniform.
The same compassion, the same love, the same sense of calling is there. I often think, if I can help someone feel less alone in their loss, if I can help a family walk away feeling like they’ve done their person proud –then I’ve done my job.
This work is hard, but it’s beautiful. And it’s a privilege I never take for granted.
Cheese and ham loaf
Ingredients
2 cups self-raising flour, pinch of salt, pinch of cayenne pepper, 1 tsp mustard, ¼ cup chopped ham/bacon, ¾ cup grated cheese, 1 egg, 60g butter, 2/3 cup milk, extra ¼ cup grated cheese
Method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Sift together flour, salt, pepper and mustard.
Add ham and cheese.
Lightly beat egg and melt butter.
Stir egg, butter and milk into the dry ingerdients, mixing to form a soft dough.
Spread into a greased loaf tin and sprinkle extra cheese on top.
Bake for 50 minutes.
☺ Believe in Good: Tips
July 11 – Cheer Up the Lonely Day
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
– Desmond Tutu
Take time this week to visit an elderly person or make friends with a person new to work/town.
Quiz
1. Who is the most famous video game character?
2. What is Luigi’s occupation in Super Mario Brothers?
3. In what video game are golden rings used as life-energy and money?
4. Who is the elven, sword-wielding hero dressed in green in the Legend of Zelda series?
5. What was the first home video game console?
6. What company produces Sonic the Hedgehog?
❓ Did you know?
The teddy bear was named after American President Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Co-founders of Apple –Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne – all worked for video game giant, Atari.
Autophobia is the fear of being alone.
Have a laugh
Why do pandas like watching old movies?
Word search
What does Pooh Bear call his significant other?
Where do polar bears go to vote?
Because they are in black and white. Hunny. The North Poll.
What is as big as a bear but weighs nothing?
What did the man at the teddy bear factory do?
Its shadow. Just stuff.
Tum-Tum
On which page of this week’s Salvos Magazine is Tum-Tum hiding?
Answers
Tum-Tum: is hiding behind Sue on page 12.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog 4. Link 5. Odyssey, 1972 6. Sega
Quiz: 1. Mario 2. Plumber
Words are hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, forwards and backwards. Enjoy!
Bars
Biscuits
Bittersweet
Block
Bonbon
Brownie
Cacao
Cakes
Candy
Chocolate
Chocolatier
Cocoa
Comfort
Confection
Dark
Fondant
Fudge
Ganache
Glaze
Icing
Milk
Mousse
Pudding
Sugar
Texture
Treat
Truffle
“God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!”
Matthew chapter 5, verse 4 Contemporary English Version
