Annual Report 2005 (VIC, TAS, SA, WA, NT)

ANNUAL

T h e S a l va t i o n A r m y A u s t r a l i a S o u t h e r n Te r r i t o r y

REPORT

Annual Report for the financial year ending 2004/2005

Financial pressures continue despite surplus T he Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory has seen a major turn around in its end of year financial position, which showed a surplus of $2,745,000 for the 2004/05 financial year.

This compares with a deficit of $4,825,000 in the previous financial year. While expenditure on social programs increased by 5% to $344 million, revenue increased by 12% to $360 million. This was due to careful cost cutting and income growth. In the last financial year we have seen a 15% increase in our Red Shield Appeal to $25 million, a dramatic increase in our investment income contribution thanks to our MLC investment portfolio and a transfer of funds generated by our Employment Plus organisation. These increases more than made up for the down-turn in the contribution by our Family Stores.

There were many challenges during the year in particular the 11% increase in the number of people seeking our welfare, homeless, domestic abuse and

rehabilitation services, to name a few. This year we assisted 1,500,000 people in these ways.

Earlier this year we reached the conclusion to divest much of our aged care services. Faced with the prospect of spending a very significant amount of money upgrading facilities, The Salvation Army decided in February 2004 to cease providing mainstream care, it’s new focus being the provision of residential aged care services for those who are the most disadvantaged and marginalised. As a result we announced in March 2005 that we had signed a procurement agreement with Retirement Care Australia (RCA) in relation to 14 of the 19 aged care hostels, nursing homes, and retirement residences. Transfer of ownership of these centres took place on 1 July 2005. In addition, TriCare, a long-established aged care provider and retirement village operator, acquired the Hayville Retirement Village in Box Hill, Melbourne, on the same date.

The Salvation Army retains the following aged care centres – James Barker House (Victoria), Linsell Lodge (South Australia),

Seaforth Gardens (Western Australia) and Barrington Lodge (Tasmania), and continues to provide Community Aged Care Packages and day care centres in some locations. In addition, The Salvation Army continues to provide Chaplaincy services to those aged care centres that have been divested. A significant proportion of the net proceeds generated from the sale of the 15 aged centres will contribute to maintaining and upgrading, where necessary, the four remaining aged care centres, delivering services to the aged who are economically marginalised and general services to the elderly.

The disasters here and overseas have involved us in special relief activities and in turn the public has recognised our efforts and contributed generously to our appeals. The Tsunami Appeal saw approximately $3 million donated for the work of our relief teams in Southern India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Appeal raised $1.5 million for us to distribute to the victims in South Australia.

The working capital for the Australia Southern Territory

continues to be very lean. We have only 10 days working capital at any one time. While this is a slight improvement on last year, this remains a very tight position and illustrates how reliant we are on our many sources of income and the desire we have to ensure that every dollar is put to maximum use.

The important contribution we received from people leaving money to us in their will was more than $15 million this year.

This money is used for capital expenditure to build new centres and maintain existing facilities.

The majority of our reserves are earmarked for specific projects and cannot be spent elsewhere.

Our donors who want to see our work maintained even after they have passed away are very important to the continued development of our social and welfare services.

For the financial summary see page 5

Gateways Opening doors that lead people back into their community For full story see page 6

How to achieve 100% employment for Australia The Salvation Army’s approach to Australia’s ongoing employment issues - Page 4

Inside

Creative Opportunities provides work for Australia’s long term unemployed.

Around the nation International news Editorial opinion Fundraising Community services Territorial executive Community services Family Stores Troubled times Employment Art Life Sport

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Today’s fact In 1884 The Salvation Army opened a ‘home’ in Carlton which catered for discharged female prisoners, prostitutes and drug addicts frequenting the opium dens of the Little Bourke Street area. In its first 12 months this women’s refuge received 300 women who were in desperate need of assistance.

The issues that hit Australians hardest in 2004/05 Australians under the pump The most recent issue to hit Australians is the one packing the strongest punch – petrol prices.

These costs have been on the rise for the past 12 months and they’re not going to come down in the near future. Even though it’s fair to say that most people are feeling shorter of cash thanks to their car, or multiple cars, the real concern is with those who rely heavily on, and simply can no longer afford them.

While the top 10% of income earners live on more than $1500 per week, the bottom 10% are forced to live on less than $177 per week. Out of this meagre allowance comes rent and all the other necessities that life demands, like groceries (and these costs are increasing as a result of petrol prices too), clothes and medical assistance. Add on petrol and car maintenance costs and suddenly you’re left with nothing. Also, those struggling to live above the poverty line typically cannot afford to live near train stations because rent is higher in those areas. This means they rely on their car and it’s not a new, economical machine either.

Usually it’s an older and larger car that chews through the petrol.

When you put all these facts together, you can see that life for many Australians is extremely difficult.

Petrol prices are taking a toll on Australians and as a result The Salvation Army is experiencing an increased demand for food Continued on page 2.

Budget overview 2004/05: where our funds were spent ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Aged care and disability support Employment, education and training Salvation Army Family Stores Homelessness and domestic violence Individual and family support Children and young people at risk Addictions and substance abuse Administration and research Allocations to/from reserves

2003/04 28% 22% 17% 11% 7% 7% 5% 3% -

2004/05 25% 27% 15% 10% 6% 6% 5% 3% 3%

Change -3% +5% -2% -1% -1% -1% -

2004/05 financial year:

Financial summary - page 5

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Territorial executive Commissioner Ivan Lang Territorial Commander

In a year of natural disasters and increasing poverty, Australians have proven once again that they care for each other. We have experienced overwhelming support from a community determined to show battling Australians that they care, and they’ve trusted us, The Salvation Army, to transform lives, on their behalf. We endeavour to achieve this.

This year, we’ve recorded significant success internationally and on home soil, amidst many challenges. It’s from these achievements that we can look to the future and know that we will be there when people are hurting most. We will bring them relief but most importantly, we want to give them the spirit of optimism - the spirit that says, ‘we can.’ The Salvos say ‘thanks’ to all Australians for demonstrating the ‘mateship’ that makes us who we are. You might say, ‘thank God for the Salvos’ but we say, ‘thank God for those who generously support us.’

1 Lieut-Colonel John Jeffrey Chief Secretary 2 Lieut-Colonel Judith Jeffrey Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries

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3 Lieut-Colonel Ian Hamilton Secretary for Personnel 4 Lieut-Colonel Brian Hood Secretary for Business Administration 5 Major John Vale Secretary for Program

Commissioner Heather Lang Territorial President for Women’s Ministries

This has been a good year in Women’s Ministries and there are many women across our Territory who are committed to this ministry.

There has been growth in focus groups which identify needs in the community and meet these requirements through relevant programming.

An example of a new initiative is the program ‘Sensational Living’ designed for women who want more out of life. Excellent resources are being produced and a leadershiptraining course has been written to assist in developing women leaders.

Our mission statement ‘Transformed Women - Celebrating God’ is the central focus for every activity in which we engage.

6 Lieut-Colonel Ian Smith Assistant Chief Secretary 7 Lieut-Colonel Elaine Hood Secretary for Leader Development

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Army’s perspective, alcoholism is a major cause or contributor to people’s misfortunes. If most people saw what the Salvos experience every day, they’d begin to realise how serious the level of alcohol abuse is, in this country.

From page 1.

vouchers, clothes and monetary assistance. This means that there is a whole new group of Australians whose weekly income is not enough to survive on. Where last year they were able to just make ends meet, nowadays they’re short of money.

This is a daunting occurrence because The Salvation Army’s resources are already stretched just supporting those living below the poverty line. Now there’s a whole new band of people set to drop below the poverty line in the coming months. Solutions are small, as Vina Fernandes, manager of The Salvation Army community services centre in Doveton explains, “The budgets for this year have already been set so we can’t give people extra petrol vouchers. We are trying to help them by giving them extra grocery items, so the money they save on groceries can be put towards their petrol bill.”

Binge drinking

Australians love their alcohol. It’s the most widely used psychoactive, or mood-changing, recreational drug in Australia. We drink to relax, celebrate and have fun. We drink while we’re playing with the kids, while we’re cooking dinner, during the day and night and sometimes while we’re pregnant. This is a long-standing issue that’s affecting Australian lives every day.

This year The Salvation Army conducted research into the country’s drinking habits. The report revealed that 4.8 million people regularly drink more than double the responsible drinking level in any one drinking session. This includes more than 750,000 women who regularly binge drink and consume 9 to 30 drinks in any one evening, and more than 1.2 million men who regularly binge drink between 11 and 30 drinks in any one evening.

The sheer scale of binge drinking in this country is phenomenal and it’s affecting everyone in the

community. This type of habit can lead to domestic violence, marriage break ups, sexual and physical abuse and homelessness. Yet it’s socially acceptable to drink a lot these days so the problem is more often than not left unaddressed between family members and peers.

More specifically teenage binge drinking is an increasing concern.

58% of the time alcohol abuse is the cause for teenage hospital admissions and sadly most drug related deaths. There are teens as young as 14 establishing binge drinking habits and they’re accessing the drug from family, friends, relatives and shops where they know they’re not going to be asked for ‘proof of age’ identification.

While the teenage binge drinking ‘epidemic’ is astounding, there are also grave concerns for the number of women consuming alcohol whilst pregnant. 1.2 million women between 25 and 49 years of age drink or have drunk during pregnancy and 33% of these

mothers-to-be drink regularly.

This is quite surprising given that most medical professionals advise not to drink at all during pregnancy.

The message obviously isn’t getting through or it’s not being pushed hard enough. According to The Salvation Army report, more than 3 million women aren’t convinced that it’s necessary to abstain from drinking while pregnant. They mustn’t realise that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the most common preventable cause of birth defect and brain damage in children.

Every year, 1,000 babies are born with FASD. Symptoms of the disease show later in life and can include a lack of ability to distinguish between friends and enemies, medical fragility, emotional volatility and they can experience difficulties in mastering basic skills like literacy and numeracy.

The overall impact of mass alcohol consumption in this country is enormous. From The Salvation

The new Industrial Relations legislation – how will it help Australia?

It would be remiss of The Salvation Army not to highlight the impact the new Industrial Relations (IR) legislation will have on Australia’s youth, homeless and unemployed. The legislation is supposed to give workers and unemployed people the opportunity to define work contract details individually with their prospective or current employer. However, there’s a danger that it could exploit the vulnerable, less educated and those unwilling to sacrifice family time for work.

John Dalziel, communications director for The Salvation Army explains the Salvos perspective, “There are only 100,000 jobs on offer in Australia at the moment but 500,000 people are looking for work. This figure doesn’t include the 800,000 people receiving disability or childcare payments.

We want to see new infrastructure projects commissioned that focus on only employing those 1,300,000 people.”

From The Salvation Army’s perspective, the current debate about unemployment solutions is too narrow. Individuals, communities and government all share the responsibility of solving the problem. However, it seems that the idea of full employment no longer features in public debate about unemployment. So much so that goals for reducing these numbers aren’t being set. Yet, we regard full employment as a critical social policy objective for Australia.

International news

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A year of natural disasters

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t seems that something intangible is brewing in the world, wouldn’t you say? In the last 12 months, we’ve had natural disasters thrust upon us, one after the other. They’ve left millions of people homeless, starving and isolated, all around the world.

But there’s been amazing support from Australians, in conjunction with the local and international Salvation Army.

The worst disaster in Pakistan’s history Most recently we’ve seen the devastation a 7.6 earthquake can cause. It struck a small town 100km north of Islamabad in Pakistan, on 8 October 2005.

The death toll reached more than 35,000 and tens of thousands more were injured.

Amazingly however, aid was mobilised within 72 hours of the disaster. The Salvation Army is supplying truckloads of relief equipment in addition to food, clothing and tents. There are more than 500 Salvation Army officers and staff stationed in Pakistan.

The Australian community is helping out, in conjunction with its local Salvation Army, by donating money to help those

left homeless, disabled, sick and isolated by the quake. (You can find more information and donate money online at http://www. salvationarmy.org.au/donations

• registered and begun helping 141,528 Social Services Cases • received more than 60,000 inquiries and located 8,400 survivors.

Hurricane Katrina

“We had no food, no ice and no water to give to the 450 people that came on the first day seeking shelter,” said Liz Daigneault, service centre director for The Salvation Army in New Orleans.

She put out a plea to the local media and the community responded. “I was crying because I didn’t know how I was going to feed all these people. I left for a few hours and when I came back, the freezer was full.”

Since late September when Hurricane Katrina hit, The Salvation Army has assisted more than 500,000 survivors. Officers, volunteers and employees have worked endlessly to provide basic necessities to those left without a home and family, totalling more than 262,764 hours of work.

The support (both monetary and physical labour) f rom all around the world has been overwhelming. In total, The Salvation Army has: • received US$106 million in donations • served 1,395,411 hot meals • served 2,673,870 sandwiches, snacks and drinks • provided 102 ‘mobile feeding units’ (canteens) in the many areas affected • provided 10 ‘field kitchens’, capable of producing 20,000 hot meals per day (each) • distributed 30,576 ‘cleaning kits’ (broom, mop and detergent) • distributed 49,637 ‘food boxes’ (groceries)

Eyre Peninsula bushfires In January this year, South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula was scorched by some of the nation’s worst bush fires. They destroyed more than 80,000 hectares of property, 100 homes, and took the lives of nine people, not to mention the hundreds of people that were left homeless.

Immediately, The Salvation Army Emergency Services and Rapid Response Teams were dispatched from Whyalla and Port Augusta to set up emergency food vans and shelters. There were also trained counsellors sent in to

support and assist the hundreds of affected families.

Australians’ response to the Eyre Peninsula Bush Fire Appeal was outstanding. In addition to enormous amounts of clothes and furniture, the general public donated more than $250,000 in cash. One very generous donor gave $100,000.

Support from local and national television stations was impressive too. Channel 9 featured the appeal during an international cricket match and gave $10,000 to start the night. More than 1,500 people phoned in their donations during the broadcast.

The South Australian Football Club donated $10,000 and a number of corporations who wanted to remain anonymous also gave substantially.

A family 100% of donations received were escaping the Eyre distributed to the victims of the Eyre Peninsula bushfires.

Peninsula fires.

Australians had only recently given to the Tsunami Appeal, but this didn’t stop them from being very generous to those suffering at home. Much of the feedback The Salvation Army received was based on the notion that ‘we gave to the Tsunami Appeal but we must give to people in our own backyard.’ There were also many wonderful volunteers who gave their time, energy and own resources to feed volunteer fire fighters and receive donated goods. We are very grateful to all those who helped. Thank you. * A full report on The Salvation Army Tsunami Appeal was included in last year’s Annual Report.

Children in detention are finally set free

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y 1 August 2005 the Federal Government had released all children held in the custody of the immigration department.

The Government ’s more humane policy for families of asylum seekers came more than 14 months after The Salvation Army joined other churches and non-government organisations in lobbying for the release of refugees’ and asylum seekers’ children. The issue of placing children behind razor wire is a longstanding one. At the height of the crisis, 1 September 2001, there were 842 refugee children in detention throughout Australia and allied nations.

Studies have shown that children in detention centres are significantly traumatised: in

addition to taking on the everyday stress of virtual imprisonment, many have suffered and/or witnessed physical and sexual assaults. Several refugees in Australian detention centres have attempted suicide, mutilated their bodies and swallowed shampoos and detergents. Some have been diagnosed with clinical depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Salvation Army, in partnership with the Australian Red Cross, is now working nationally to provide housing, living expenses, health care, education, transport and communit y suppor t f or families who will be cared for in the community under the Government’s new residence determination provisions.

The Salvation Army currently aids more than 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers with family welfare annually, and is providing

accommodation and support for asylum seekers released by the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).

The Government and DIMIA retain full responsibility for detention compliance, security, visa and status assessments and other legal provisions.

The Army previously joined bodies such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence and St Vincent de Paul to develop a system of care for children and families outside of detention, based on their combined expertise in dealing with compliance cases and welfare provision. This was prompted by a 900-page report by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, released in May 2004, which recommended alternatives, or a ‘better way’, to safeguard detainees.

Acting executive director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, John

Wilson, noted at the time that ‘enough damage has been done to children and their families.’

It is now time to learn from this graceless period in our history and set our human rights record straight.’ Wilson added that not only would the proposed release of children into communal care be a humane act but it didn’t compromise Australia’s security and immigration processes and, tellingly, was ‘18% cheaper than the (then) current system.’

Salvation Army spokesperson John Dalziel, when calling for the change, urged political leaders to ‘create a society of inclusion and (produce) a better way of dealing with children and families seeking asylum. As welfare organisations and as people of good conscience, the fact that children and families are suffering in detention–many after fleeing dangerous situations– compels us to act.’

John Dalziel accepts a donation from Paul Donavon of Deakin University.

Chipping in when times get tough This year it’s been remarkable to see so many different community groups and individuals rallying together to raise much-needed money for people facing crises worldwide. Throughout the year, we’ve received support f rom grandparents, young couples, Scout groups, schools, universities and sporting associations, to name only a few.

The generosity and creativity in collecting money has been wonderful. In particular we’d like to thank a group of Deakin University students in Victoria, who raised funds for the Hurricane Katrina victims. Their effort collected more than $1000 and a cheque was presented to The Salvation Army by student Paul Donavon. 100% of the money will go directly to the most needy victims of the hurricane.

Editorial opinion

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The last shall be first A

t the end of the parable concerning the ‘Workers in the vineyard’ (see below) Jesus says ‘so the last shall be first, and the first last.’ This parable is all about work being given to those at the end of the ‘seeking employment’ queue as well, and paying them what they need to survive not what they are ‘worth.’

In the past 15 years The Salvation Army has seen the number of people who come to us asking for assistance more than triple to 1.5 million people a year.

Just one of the many people enjoying The Salvation Army’s Creative Opportunities employment program.

Some years ago the Salvos put out a book called ‘A Working Society’ in which we proposed 10 ways to develop full employment. That is, employment not just for those who are able, intelligent, skilled and mentally stable. We believe this is in the spirit of what Jesus taught, in his parable ‘Workers in the vineyard.’

In the last 15 years The Salvation Army has seen the number of people seeking assistance triple to more than 1.5 million a year. We estimate that 98% of our clients don’t receive an earned income but rely on government benefits and help from welfare agencies.

There are some who don’t receive any support from governments and rely totally on welfare agencies, like refugees and many homeless people.

The ever growing gap between the poor and the rich

The recession in 1993 caused a huge increase in the number of people asking for assistance. In previous recessions we also had more pressure on our resources but the level of demand returned to ‘normal’ once the recession ended.

This was not the case for ’93 though.

Since then the need increases by approximately 10% every year.

Currently, Australia is experiencing the lowest unemployment rate for three decades and yet the community has never faced more challenges. We believe one main cause is the deinstitutionalisation of mental patients. Another, the huge reduction in unskilled jobs, with machines and computers taking over tasks that are typically first jobs for the uneducated and young, and the only jobs available for those with limited education and mental ability.

Today we face the prospect of an ever increasing divide between the employed and the unemployed.

Our 5% unemployment rate hides the 8% of the population receiving a disability pension, in addition to the large number of people on single parent allowances and other welfare benefits.

Australians do care

In the past, much of the population was intolerant of people who relied on welfare but an interesting new dimension is

emerging in Australia. The paid workforce is far more tolerant of the need for welfare nowadays. We even have a significant number of taxpayers who think welfare and social issues are far more important than receiving tax cuts. According to a Newspoll survey conducted in June this year, 63% of people think welfare issues are more important than national security (59%), taxation (53%), interest rates (51%), defence (49%) and industrial relations (41%).

We think this highlights how we cannot rely on our political leaders to change our welfare philosophies in Australia, but they will follow the voters if pressure is strong enough.

There is still a perception among political leaders that tax cuts will ensure political success at the ballot box. However, once a political party loses an election with inadequate welfare policies and promised tax cuts, we will know that a new era for welfare has arrived in this country.

Budget blunders

Why is our current surplus of $13.6 billion not used to develop a fairer society which gives everyone the freedom to enjoy employment?

We should provide training for those that school has failed. And why are those who choose to give themselves to the nurturing of their children, penalised because they don’t have assets or a partner to support them? We don’t support them in their choice and force them

to ‘work’ outside the home. Why do the Salvos have to turn away more than 35 people every night from our emergency homeless centres in Melbourne alone? Why isn’t there sufficient public housing or long term low cost housing available?

Did you know that for about $5 billion a year we can turn these challenges into positives?

This figure would double current government funding, provide protected industries for the disabled and, establish skill training schemes and schools for homeless children.

It would also allow for legal aid increases for the abused, refugees and others in desperate need.

That said, this figure of $5 billion doesn’t include a solution for our biggest shame of all - adequate funding and assistance programs for indigenous Australians. They need housing, education, and especially health problems addressed. We need new indigenous leaders to show us the way to solve this blight on our nation and we must insist that our governments follow this lead.

Relying on the problem

There are other problems grossly affecting Australians which aren’t poverty-related, like domestic abuse and addictions involving drugs, alcohol and increasingly, gambling. Why should the scourge of poker machines, which exploits the vulnerable, continue to pay for health and education in all states except Western Australia?

By John Dalziel Communications Director, The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Why can’t we let those that want to gamble do so, but without causing others pain through our privatised and government licensed gambling industry? We know there are many reasons for the plight of vulnerable problem gamblers, one of them being a lack of alternative public places of entertainment, but our government is so beholden to this form of revenue that it is not fit to provide independent regulation of the industry. Poker machines are the most hated machines in Australia (source: AustraliaSCAN). We know from other surveys too that 82% of Victorians think there are far too many poker machines and that the state is far too dependent on them.

At the end of the day, it’s what people value that determines our priorities as a society. Jesus’ values expressed in the Good Samaritan story still resonate with those inside and outside the church boundaries.

To the whole of our society our message is, that voters should decide what our priorities are as a community. We get the government and the policies we deserve. As long as the majority of people believe that there are undeserving poor people and they should not be assisted as generously as those regarded as deserving, we will have governments that follow that lead.

I say there are no undeserving poor people. The last should be first receiving pay for being available just as Jesus taught.

Workers in a vineyard (Matt 20:1-16) As Jesus was telling about what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said: Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard.

After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day’s work, he sent them off to his vineyard.

About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do.

He said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went.

At midday and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.

Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?”

“Because no one has hired us,” they answered. Then he told them to go and work in his vineyard.

That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call them in and give them their money. He also told the man to begin with the ones who were hired last. When the workers arrived, the ones who had been hired at five in the afternoon were given a full day’s pay.

The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others, but when

they were given the same, they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, “The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us.

And we worked in the hot sun all day long!”

The owner answered one of them, “Friend, I didn’t cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on.

Take your money and go! What business is it of yours if I want to pay them the same that I paid you?

Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Why should you be jealous, if I want to be generous?”

Jesus then said, “so it is. Everyone who is now first will be last, and everyone who is last will be first.”

The Salvation Army Services Addiction services (alcohol, drug and gambling) Aged care • Child sponsorship Counselling • Court and prison chaplains • Disability services Domestic violence services Employment Plus • Family Stores Family support (emergency relief) Family tracing service (missing persons) • Homeless services Migrant support • Youth and children services Flying Padre

Fundraising

Red Shield Appeal sets record of $57.5 million T his year, the volunteers and organisers of the Red Shield Appeal, outdid themselves, raising a record amount of $57,498,000. This is a 16% increase on the previous financial year, which indicates a hike in community support. We’ll be looking to sustain this support, if not increase it again.

The fundraising goal for the financial year was $53 million which means that for once the Salvos can do more than what they originally thought possible.

On top of the $57.5 million, those leaving a bequest in their will to The Salvation Army donated an additional $41.2 million.

Then, there’s the $6.3 million we received from the public for Tsunami Appeal, for all countries affected by the 26 December 2004 disaster.

The success of this year’s Appeal means that Australians donated a total of $111,833,000 to The Salvation Army. This gave us the power to assist more than 1.5million Australians, an 11% increase on the previous year. It’s wonderful to see this level of support and it helps The Salvation Army to meet growing demand for all its services. We say a big ‘thank you’ to all donors and volunteers who made this impressive result possible. You have all shown what a ‘good spirited community’ can achieve for fellow Australians living below the poverty line.

Red Shield Appeal results Australia Southern Territory State or Territory Northern Territory South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia Total Southern Territory

2005 results $361,000 $4,627,000* $1,519,000 $14,002,000 $4,391,000 $24,900,000

2004 results $ 356,000 $ 3,020,000 $ 1,045,000 $12,804,000 $ 4,386,000 $21,611,000

Difference + 1% + 53% + 45% + 9% + 0.1% +15%

* This figure includes donations totalling $1,513,728 for the Eyre Peninsula bush fire victims

Total Eastern Territory

$32,598,000

$28,050,000

+16%

Total for Australia

$57,498,000

$49,661,000

+16%

2004 results $15,942,000 $29,352,000 $45,294,000

Difference -.25% +1% +.8%

Help the Salvos shield those in need.

Wills and Bequests results Territory Southern Territory Eastern Territory Total for Australia

2005 results $15,901,000 $29,758,000 $45,659,000

DOORKNOCK, LAST WEEK OF MAY – CREDIT CARD LINE 13 32 30

www.salvationarmy.org.au

Tsunami fundraising results Territory Southern Territory Eastern Territory Total for Australia

2005 results $2,931,000 $3,369,000 $6,300,000

Southern Territory finance summary

Other/miscellaneous donations Territory Southern Territory

2005 results $2,376,000

2004 results $2,112,000

Difference +12.5%

2004 results $37,553,000 $57,402,000 $94,955,000

Difference +23% +14% +18%

Total fundraising results Territory Southern Territory Eastern Territory Total for Australia

2005 results $46,108,000 $65,725,000 $111,833,000

Australia Southern Territory – fundraising ■ ■ ■ ■

Red Shield Appeal Wills and Bequests Tsunami Special gifts/other donations

$24,900,000 $15,901,000 $2,931,000 $2,376,000

The Salvation Army’s social expenditure continues to grow, with more people every year seeking assistance with housing, refuge, clothing, employment, food, drug addiction, and finding missing family members.

Surplus: $2,745,000 Social expenditure 1983 – 2005 �������� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� ��� �� �

Fundraising costs: 13 cents for every dollar raised

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Income: $359.7 m

Help the Salvos shield those in need.

Every week the Salvos provide 180,000 meals, 20,000 food vouchers, 3,500 beds for the homeless and 600 blankets. Imagine what that costs. Please support the 2005 Red Shield Appeal so the Salvos can continue to help shield those in need. They’re counting on it.

www.salvationarmy.org.au

CREDIT CARD DONATIONS 13 32 30

A new Chief Financial Officer Recently Greg Stowe was appointed to Chief Financial Officer for The Salvation Army Southern Territory. Stowe brings to the position more than 15 years experience in the government and commercial sectors. He’s also been with the Salvos for 12 years in a finance capacity. He is responsible for directing, controlling and administering the financial activities of the Territory, as well as overseeing the implementation of strategies and new business processes.

Stowe outlines at a high level what his new position goals are; “I want to develop the strategic planning capabilities of the Territory where possible, so that we can better meet our organisational goals.

I also want to enhance our financial

management reporting capabilities and I’m keen to provide more opportunities for staff development, within the finance area.”

When Stowe began with the Salvos, he was Chief Accountant in the finance department and recently held the position of Finance Manager. “I’m excited about my new role because in the last three years there have been significant organisational changes.

As a result, financial operations have improved greatly and I’m keen to build on this success. We also have an excellent team here at the headquarters, and within the divisions, which will only help me to achieve the department’s goals, and consequently the Salvos’.”

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Government subsidies Trading revenue Residents contributions Red Shield Appeal/other donations Investment income Legacies Miscellaneous

Expenditure/net allocations: $357 m ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Aged care and disability support Employment, education and training Salvation Army Family Stores Homelessness and domestic violence Individual and family support Children and young people at risk Addictions and substance abuse Administration and research Allocations to/from reserves

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Financial year 03/04 04/05 55% 57% 16% 15% 11% 10% 7% 8% 3% 5% 2% 2% 6% 3% Financial year 03/04 04/05 28% 25% 22% 27% 17% 15% 11% 10% 7% 6% 7% 6% 5% 5% 3% 3% 3%

Melbourne Advisory Board Members 2005 Elizabeth Alexander (Chairperson) • Cliff Breeze • Michael Coomer • Angie Dickschen • Michael Johnstone • Peter Mahon • Elizabeth O’Keeffe • John Paterson • Mark Pearce • Jane Perry • Commissioner Ivan Lang • Commissioner Heather Lang • Lieutenant-Colonel John Jeffrey • Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Hood • Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Smith • Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Hamilton • Major John Vale • Major Rodney Barnard • Major Wayne Pittaway • Major Neil Venables

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Community services

Gateways

Opening doors that lead people back into their community When one small change makes the world of difference

1. Katrina Hogan and Mark Dixon 2. Gateways family unit and playground 3. Gateways recreational lounge room 4. Gateways has six bedsits on the property

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ince its inception in 2003, Gateways Crisis Accommodation Program has assisted thousands of men, women and children - 1043 in just the last 12 months. Without the support of its 26 dedicated workers and round the clock help, homeless members of our community would be left by the wayside.

Gateways is set on a four acre property in Croydon, Melbourne.

It has five family units, six single bedsits, one disability modified bedsit, two rotundas, two playgrounds, extensive landscaped gardens, BBQs and a resident cat called Wilma who’s integral to the healing process. They’ve supported people as old as 84 and babies who are one day old. Gateways is never closed and there’s not a personal or community issue that the workers haven’t faced.

Gateways’ core business is to provide immediate housing and support for anyone who is homeless. Mark Dixon, regional manager for Gateways, explains, “If they’re homeless then we take them in and find out how they came to be on the street.

We try to peel back the layers of issues and emotional baggage

associated with homelessness to determine what the real problems are. By giving people a safe and supportive environment to work through these things you’re giving them the tools and time they need to help themselves and ultimately, to re-enter the community and live a quality life.”

A community safe-haven There are full time, part time and casual crisis support workers at Gateways, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – this is what differentiates the program from others. When other support centres close down at the end of the day, Gateways keeps going.

“Our workers take referrals up until 10pm every night and these can come through a number of avenues. They are a very skilled team capable of working with anyone, regardless of what problems they’re experiencing, what their mental or physical ability is or their age,” explains Mark.

What we take for granted In addition to connecting the homeless with vital services, support, medication and programs, the Gateways team teach basic skills to the homeless that we take for granted every day. People who end up on the street haven’t been

This year you can help fellow Australians by donating vouchers to the Kmart wishing tree.

educated about the importance of cleaning the home or how to cook a basic meal. Also, they struggle with the challenge of budgeting and good parenting. Karina Hogan, manager of Gateways, explains, “It’s not uncommon to have to sit down and teach someone the importance of not spending all their pay in one day.

We begin the educative process of helping them to budget, buy groceries and set aside money for upcoming bills. It’s very empowering for people to learn how to manage their small income so that the family can eat properly for the week.”

The definition of success The vibe at Gateways seems very upbeat and proactive even if there are 15 families there, all having just reached crisis point and all dealing with high-pressure issues like money, drugs, family breakups and mental illness. “There is a lot of emotional baggage here so we carefully manage all of that whilst conducting thorough case management for every person that comes through the door. We want to create independency. We want to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to function in our communities,” says Mark.

Lucy was a young girl notorious on the street for being aggressive and threatening. When Gateways came into contact with her, she was 22 years old and had been homeless for five years. She’d been involved in drugs and prostitution for a number of years and would talk of how she felt like she was losing her mind, literally.

Even fellow homeless people thought she was a problem on the street. She was angry and would act very strangely but inside she

Karina talks about what her and the Gateways team call success, “If the people at Gateways can see change in their life, then that’s success. If they’re enjoying time with their kids as opposed to fighting, that’s success. Seeing family dynamics change or seeing someone survive on their own for the first time in years is fantastic.

And if someone’s situation is quite dire, sometimes we even define success by the fact that they’re safe, healthy and alive.

That’s how basic some needs are.

We’ve come across people who can’t pick up the phone to make an appointment. So we take the time to show them how to do it and then they try it. It’s really empowering for them to overcome a challenge in their life, no matter how small it seems to us.”

The dawning of Christmas Christmas is a ‘high pressure’ time of year for most but for the people at Gateways, it’s a stark reminder of their homelessness.

It can be a time when people are most unhappy as the pressure to buy gifts for children grows.

Also, the fact that people spend Christmas Day there means they

You can contribute to or purchase entirely, a $30 Kmart voucher this Christmas, for families facing crises. This gives people the means to buy clothes, toys, books and household items at their leisure. You can contribute at any Kmart stores right around Australia and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

was in turmoil. She thought she was going crazy. She often felt like she was lost in a fog in her own mind and didn’t know where she was or what she was doing.

Once the Gateways team ascertained how she felt emotionally and mentally, they had an assessment done and provided Lucy with the medication she required. It turned out that she suffers from a type of psychosis.

“The difference in her personality was amazing. Once she had the right medication, she was a whole new person. She was no longer a ‘wild child.’ She dressed differently, got off the street, was pleasant to talk to, showed no signs of aggression and is very intelligent.

It’s the perfect example of how having access to the right support and medical assistance can change your life,” explains Mark.

have little or no family network.

Karina recalls, “One year we took in a dad and his two kids on Christmas Day. It’s very sad but the team here plan for the season in advance and make sure that everyone at Gateways has a gift, yummy lunch and all the support and smiles they need.”

From Gateways’ perspective, the Christmas period is not only an emotionally challenging time but a busy one. “Generally, during the season, monetary pressures peak as families begin to fall behind in paying bills and living expenses, and the next thing they know, it’s the new school year, there are books and uniforms to buy and rent to catch up on. We see a substantial increase in the number of people needing our services from December through to February.”

How you can help Although Gateways is running a top-notch program, it’s still in dire need of assistance. “Whatever people have in their homes that they don’t need, we’d love to use.

Continued on page 7.

Community services From page 6.

It will make a big difference to those trying to set up a new home. Also, we’re hoping to find someone who’s a gardener to adopt us. It would be great if they could donate some time to work in our garden and build a veggie patch with the residents. We also desperately need more public housing. This would mean that we could have a lot more people coming through our doors and out into an independent home sooner,” Mark explains.

Karina talks further of Gateways’ needs; “We’re finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the demand for food and clothing, especially with the hike in petrol prices. In recent months we’ve noticed a huge increase in the need for our food vouchers, and it has coincided with the drastic climb in petrol costs. And we expect this need to continually increase, but we’re not sure how we’re going to meet it.”

A talented ‘green thumb’ gets another chance at life Not so long ago, Chris arrived at Gateways broke because of a serious gambling addiction. During his short stay there, he turned his life around. These days Chris has a full time landscaping job and a new home.

Chris was 27 years old when he received a WorkCover compensation payout for an accident. He was paid a lump sum of more than $200,000 and within a short period of time, he’d spent the lot. He lived a short ‘life’ of excessive gambling and making extravagant purchases. Chris had gone from being a hard worker with a previous long term work history, to being long term unemployed with a gambling addiction and suffering from extreme anxieties and depression. When he arrived at Gateways he hadn’t worked for 10 years (since his accident) and had been sleeping in his car for many months.

During his short stay at Gateways however, Chris took

Chris’ handiwork at Gateways.

the first, most important steps to regaining control of his life. He was connected with a significant support network and had his income re-established. He was also enrolled in an employment /training program through which he developed new skills to find new work.

Over time, Chris’ depression eased and his anxieties ceased.

With assistance from the caretaker and staff members, Chris revamped the gardens at Gateways, utilising his creative landscaping talent.

A local business owner was so impressed with the work Chris had done he employed Chris on a fulltime basis and offered him accommodation as part of the employment package. Chris has been working with the company for approximately 12 months now. He’s enjoying life again and is positive about his future.

Baby brings new beginnings “Just after I found out I was pregnant, my boyfriend left me. I was devastated and didn’t have anyone to help me deal with the sadness and emptiness that I felt.”

- Denise Denise was a young, happy 25 year old woman when her son was conceived. She’d been living with her partner for a number of years, they both had good jobs and were enjoying life together. The two were planning to marry in the near future but, Denise suddenly discovered she was pregnant.

Although it was an unplanned pregnancy, Denise was excited and felt that she and her partner were leading stable enough lives to be good parents. Denise’s partner however, felt the opposite. He was totally shocked by the news and didn’t want Denise to have the baby. He was worried about finances and wasn’t ready to raise a child. Two weeks after they discovered Denise was pregnant, her partner left her.

In the months after, Denise began to get depressed and lonely. She had tried to talk to family members but they weren’t able to provide her with the emotional and financial support she needed. As well as trying to get her relationship back on track, Denise was working, but still battling to pay for the rent, food and additional medical expenses.

By the sixth month of her pregnancy Denise had stopped

working at the supermarket. She was bored, scared and depressed and started drinking to ‘escape.’

Denise was drinking a bottle of wine almost every night, sometimes more. She was also smoking marijuana and most nights she’d pass out on the couch. She was eating junk food and had even begun to miss her regular doctor appointments.

In her eighth month of pregnancy, Denise was kicked out of her unit with nothing more than a backpack. Luckily however, a caring neighbour took it upon herself to help Denise, taking her to the local Salvation Army crisis centre. It was here that Denise received the support she needed.

She was connected to drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and was educated about how her addictions were not only affecting her health, but her baby’s.

Denise was in the care of the Salvos for about three months and in that time, she kicked her drug and alcohol addiction and acquired the skills a new mother needs. She was also put through a thorough medical check up and began to rebuild her relationship with family through special counselling services. “It was such a relief to be with the Salvos. I was feeling so isolated and I couldn’t help myself at all. I wasn’t even brushing my teeth. And then I was kicked out of the house. If it hadn’t been for my neighbour taking pity on me, I would have ended up walking the streets. I didn’t want to go home at that stage and I didn’t get any support

The Melbourne Toy Bank

Ros and the team at the Toy Bank work ‘round the clock’ at Christmas organising toys for kids all over the country.

Every Christmas the Melbourne Toy Bank distributes more than 15,000 toys to Victorian children living below the poverty line. It’s made possible by just two full time employees and a handful of volunteers. During the year, these dedicated workers unwrap, categorise and pack thousands and thousands of toys that you, the community, have generously donated. Every day they take calls f rom different welfare centres throughout Victoria seeking assistance for the coming Christmas. However, even though the warehouse is full, the Toy Bank simply cannot meet the demand.

Most years the Toy Bank is short approximately 2000 gifts.

“It’s terrible, but we have to stop taking orders for toys weeks before

Christmas because we simply don’t have enough items to go round,” explains Ros Lomax, an employee at the Toy Bank. “The need continues to grow and although we get marvellous support from the community, it’s not enough.

We need more people to think about buying that one extra gift at Christmas for a child that may otherwise go without.”

That said, without the Toy Bank, 15,000 children or more would go without a gift at Christmas. Inside the warehouse are Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, soft toys, jigsaw puzzles, books, computer games, board games, Matchbox cars and toy prams, to name only a few things. Come Christmas Day, children throughout regional and central Victoria will have gifts

from my friends. I wouldn’t have thought there were people out there who would help me just because I needed it. But the Salvos did. They listened to me, put me in touch with counsellors, gave me a place to stay and helped to rebuild a life with my family. If it hadn’t been for them, I probably would have had the baby on the street. I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

By the time Denise’s baby boy was born she was on her feet again. She was receiving government support, was back living with her parents and her spirit had lifted dramatically. It seems at this point that the baby is unaffected by Denise’s past drinking and smoking habits but the medical profession states that often the effects on babies don’t show until they are a toddler or older. Denise prays that she didn’t cause harm to her son but will have to wait and see.

The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Annual Report 2004/05 Publisher: The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory, 5 Hamilton Street, Mont Albert, VIC 3127

under the Christmas tree thanks to the Toy Bank’s amazing employees and volunteers, and just two trucks and two vans.

The Toy Bank also supplies gifts to women in prison and at crisis centres where possible, using the donated goods from chemist suppliers. It also receives and distributes food donations all year round.

Ros tells us what she loves about her job: “I started out as a one-

day-a-week volunteer, now I work five days a week, seven days during the busy times. And although it’s absolutely crazy in here towards the end of the year, I couldn’t think of a more inspiring place to be.

We’re surrounded by thousands of generous gifts and we make sure that those needing a toy get one.

Christmas is such a challenging time of year for most people, so I feel happy to be able to help any way I can.”

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication, the publisher assumes no responsibility for error or omissions or any consequence of reliance on this publication. © 2005 The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Editorial Director: John Dalziel Editorial Contributors: John Dalziel, Ivan Lang, Brian Hood, John Vale, John Jeffrey, Heather Lang, Ian Hamilton Senior Writer and Editor: Frances Ward Designer: Francene Collings-Pearce, Designgrant Financials desktop publishing: Jeremy Norgren, Velocity Graphics Printer: John Herrod and Associates

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Around the nation

People at the grassroots At The Salvation Army Public Relations Department we continually try to communicate to the community exactly how their generosity is helping fellow Australians. We do this by staying connected with the people working at grassroots level, giving support to people facing crises.

We have hundreds of Salvo support centres in the Southern Territory and they all assist thousands of people every year. Some offer emergency housing, while others provide drug and alcohol rehabilitation services. On the whole they offer all of us a variety of vital support services.

Most of the time however, we’re the go-between, receiving information from the centre managers about the people they are in touch with, the tools they need to do their job better and how they’re faring in a difficult economical climate.

This year, we’re connecting you with the centre managers directly. Below is a series of comments and thoughts about the last 12 months from managers around Australia.

VICTORIA

Shepparton Pathways Accommodation and Support Services “Like all Salvo centres, the last 12 months have been hectic. But it’s been successful. By this I mean that we’ve helped many people through crises and it’s wonderful to see them enjoying life again. For example, we recently assisted a 19 year old girl with finding a house and a job. She’s back on her feet now, undertaking a business administration traineeship and is working as a receptionist at Shepparton Pathways.

“Also, this year we extended our emergency services offering. Now we have housing and job seeking assistance, material aid, financial counselling and youth services, all under the one roof. This makes it much easier for people to get the help they need in the one place, which saves on travel expenses.

“At the end of the day however, the Shepparton areas we service are huge so we need a lot more support from the community, not just from locals but all Australians.”

- Craig Kelly

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Perth Family Support Services “I firmly believe in Jesus’ words ‘What you have done for the least of these you have done for me.’

These words consume my actions to do what I love to do and the soup run is apart of that. My aim is to show people there is a better way of life and to help people find it by providing relevant material and practical help.

“Every year we help around 27,000 people. This could be in the way of food, blankets, clothing or support services. What we are most well known for in WA however, is our ‘Soup Run.’ Every day we serve between 75 and 120 homeless people and it’s thanks to a huge amount of volunteers, ranging from students to managers of restaurants, to real estate agents and shop assistants. It’s to these people that we give thanks.”

– Captain Colin Eldridge

NORTHERN TERRITORY

‘Top End’ Drug and Alcohol Services “In the last year there are three people, that come to my mind, who have benefited immensely from our program. They have certainly come out the other end in a very positive way.

“One 53 year old gentleman by the name of Greg who had a huge amphetamine addiction completed the program. After some time back in the community he started to work as a volunteer driver for The Salvation Army. He then decided that he needed to get his relationship with God on the right track so in November he became a soldier in the Darwin Corps.

He just keeps getting better and better.

“Bruce a 56 year old gentleman from the bush with a raging alcohol addiction completed the program in the middle of 2004, after drinking for 40 years. He has spent the better part of this year regularly attending the Darwin Corps, and has also started to work within The Salvation Army Homeless Mens Shelter, as a supervisor.

“The last gent I want to mention is a little younger than the last two guys, but he was one person that I thought would never make it through the program. He proved me wrong. Wally is 42 years old and has spent a great deal of time living in the ‘long grass’ up here in Darwin.

(The ‘long grass’ means living in the open areas around the city.) Wally has been living rough this way for the last ten years. When he came to us, his health was very bad, he had tropical sores all over his body. Wally was determined to do something about his plight to homelessness and completed the program earlier this year. He has moved into his own flat now and works as a volunteer gardener for us to help keep him busy. It has been a very positive time for us up here and I can only hope that it will continue.”

– Ross Webster

Messages of encouragement from those who have donated to our services.

TA S M A N I A

Tasmanian Bridge Program “This year we helped 524 adults from across Tasmania who had drug and/or alcohol addictions, through our outreach and residential programs. But we lost government funding for a family support worker this year, which will leave a large hole in the services we offer to the community. It also means that The Salvation Army has to invest a large portion of its Red Shield Appeal with us, to maintain existing services. In effect, it means we’re going backwards. On top of this, we’ve just received reports that identify a growing need to provide specialist services focused on helping youths and women with residential rehabilitation issues.”

– Andrew Verdouw “I am feeling good about myself and putting the skills I learned at the Bridge into action. I have a new found confidence and purpose. I respect myself and have too much to lose if I pick up a drink.”

– Quote from Bridge Program ‘client’

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Salvo Care Line “Of the 10,118 people who sought emergency accommodation through Salvo Care Line in Perth in the period July 2004 to June 2005, 6822 (67%) were referred to a service or agency, and 3296 (33%) were not able to be assisted. The main reason that we were unable to assist was lack of government supported emergency accommodation.”

– Ric Dale

VICTORIA

Social Housing Service (Barwon South West) “Our 35 dedicated staff members offer two innovative services to the community. One is focused on helping men find a home after they are released from prison. We work in conjunction with Barwon Prison to do this. The other service I refer to is in partnership with the Grovedale Motel. It operates as a not-for-profit motel for homeless

people. Guests can stay for up to a week and receive help finding permanent housing from the staff who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Local volunteers help with overall maintenance and cook bbqs every Sunday for motel guests. It’s completely self-funded and has assisted 6,642 people during 2004/2005.” – Brett Bedson

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Family Tracing Service “Our aim in life is to facilitate reconciliation within families and assist with reopening communication. Our ministry is very much about “bringing families back together.” Just to give you insight into how critical our work is, here are some figures to think about: - On average, any conclusion (resolved family tracing case) could change the lives of up to eight people - 159 successful case resolutions could affect up to 1,272 people - 19 enquiries during the 2004/05 period involved people who’d been 56 years or more without contact.

“The people we help have many reasons for wanting and needing to get in touch with family. It can be because they want to renew contact, to say ‘sorry’, they may want to know what happened to a family member even if it means they are now deceased. And sometimes, people just need to at least know that they have tried to get in touch.

“It is indeed a great privilege to be asked to become involved with those who are looking for, and also those who are missing from, their families.” – Kathy Smith

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Kununurra Community Outreach Centre “What has given me great joy and encouragement this year is seeing five kids from The Salvation Army’s Kununurra Youth Group giving their hearts to Jesus and making

their Junior Soldier promise. These children (aged 10-14 years) have no Christian support in their families, and have taken this major step in their young lives trusting in the Lord, and The Salvation Army for their guidance and Christian nurturing. It is so wonderful to see God at work in people’s lives! He is just so amazing.”

– Gillian Lefmann

VICTORIA

The Positive Lifestyle Centre Team

Positive Lifestyle Centre “Our Positive Lifestyle Centre is founded on the mission ‘to change the world one life at a time’ and ‘to see lives changed in beautiful ways.’

Since its inception in 1993, we’ve been helping more than 3000 people every year to overcome challenges as a result of their childhood, the environment they live in and their parents’ upbringing. We show them that they are good people and that there’s always support available to them, to help turn their lives around.

“The Positive Lifestyle Centre is one of many centres that ‘walk’ people through the Salvo Positive Lifestyle Program. It’s an amazing program that’s seen much success and we’ve recently become the Training Centre for all those wishing to be a facilitator of the program. We see this as a compliment to the work we do here. “ W ithout our dedicated volunteers and, students studying to become counsellors, helping our full time employees to do their job, we’d have turned away hundreds of people this year. It’s my dream to see this place totally funded by government some day.”

– Suzanne Maxwell

Community services

Alcohol, a part of Aussie life, say youth Do you think you drink too much?

Cheryl Probably, if you think that two glasses of say, wine, is enough.

But no one sticks to that do they?

Bec Sometimes, but sometimes I’ll only have a six pack at parties and I reckon that’s behaving myself.

Tim In my parent’s eyes I’d drink too much (if they knew) but I don’t if you go by how much everyone else is. I’m pretty average I think.

Jack Probably yeah. But if you’re not drinking everyday and just on weekends, then it’s not really a prob you know?

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n light of recent research about youth binge drinking, we took the time to speak with some everyday teens and young adults about their drinking habits.

The interviewees were five youths aged between 16 and 22, a mix of males and females. Following is a transcript of the interview.

Do you guys think that Aussies drink too much as a nation?

Cheryl Probably, but I think people love it too much to give up.

Jack Nah, but I think we drink a bit.

Nick We do drink a bit.

Tim Nope. That’s just what we’re like. We love a drink!

Is alcohol drunk in your homes every night?

Cheryl Most nights, yeah.

Dad loves a beer.

Jack Yep. Nick Yeah, we do.

Tim Not always.

Bec Most nights, yeah.

For those of you that are underage, have you two tried alcohol yet?

Bec Yeah, I have a few beers at home and at parties, yeah, usually at parties.

Tim The first time I had a drink I was at a party…I was ‘bout 14.

That’s when everyone starts to have a try. I don’t know one person who waited until they were 18 to try a beverage.

Do you all have a drink regularly?

Tim Most weekends, I don’t really drink during the week…unless it’s the (school) holidays and there are some parties happening.

Bec Every weekend….is that regular?

Cheryl Yep, most nights I’ll have a drink of wine. Not much though, a coupla glasses, but I guess you’d call that regular.

What do you like to drink?

Jack Breezers and UDLs mostly. I hate wine, it just doesn’t do it for me.

Cheryl I used to drink a bit of gin and vodka but I’ve discovered wine lately and it’s cheaper so my friends and I are going through that at the mo.

Tim Mostly beer, we usually go in on a slab or two depending on how many of us there are. Or sometimes we’ll buy a bottle or two of spirit and mixer and drink that.

Nick A bit of all of what they said.

Whatever’s cheapest most of the time.

Bec I like beer but then again we’ve often bought one of those casks of wine to share cos they’re cheap.

Who drinks more (in terms of quantity) guys or girls?

Nick Girls! For sure. I swear there’s always some chick at a party that’s had way more than any of the blokes.

Tim I must admit I’ve seen girls get more (drunk) than guys at parties but I think it’s cos they can’t hold as much (alcohol)…also, girls drink stronger drinks….guys drink beer.

Cheryl It seems to be pretty even from what I’ve seen.

How much do you drink in say, one night out on a Saturday?

Cheryl We’ll often drink more than a bottle of wine each on the weekend, sometimes two. Depends on how big the night turns out to be. When you’re out from 8 o’clock til 5 the next morning, and you’ve been on the go that whole time, you would’ve probably drunk more.

Tim I’ve drunk almost a whole slab by myself once. I was pretty sick the next day but I reckon that’s a fair effort.

Bec I usually just grab a six pack of UDLs (vodka mixer drinks)…that usually does me.

Do you enjoy it? What are the effects you feel?

Bec I like it. When you’re hyped up it’s great to feel that little bit numb from a few beers and then you have a few more and then you feel chill or hyped..I think it depends on how you’re feeling before you start drinking… but either way you just feel great.

Jack You have so much more confidence, you know? And when everyone’s having a drink and everyone’s a bit drunk it’s great.

Everyone’s mixing and carrying on…..it’s funny. People do stupid stuff, it’s hilarious.

Nick Once you’ve had a few you’re laughing and feel so good. You feel…numb, yeah, and it makes you and your friends closer and stuff.

Surely you’ve all seen the bad side effects of drinking too much though?

Nick Yeah, but we’ve all been there and made an idiot of ourselves and no one really notices and remembers anyway. They’re all drunk too.

Bec I saw one guy fall off a balcony once, that was pretty bad. But it was funny too cos he was being an idiot trying to walk on the railing. What do you call bad though cos you see people vomiting a lot but that’s not really that bad….

Cheryl I think when you’re out in the pubs and bars and stuff now you see a little more dangerous things happen cos of drinking, like when people have their drinks spiked. I know a chick that was so sick because someone had spiked her drink with something. Luckily she was sent home in a taxi but it could have been dangerous if she’d lost her friends and been left there alone.

Tim Apart from that stuff though, it’s all pretty harmless. Sometimes there are fights but I haven’t seen anything serious with knives at one of our parties.

How do you know when you’ve had too much to drink?

Bec Umm, you fall asleep?

Nick Yeah, you have to go to the toilet and you’re sick…then you know that you’ve had a bit. But then I’ve seen some get straight back to it.

Cheryl If you can’t talk and you’re boring then you’ve had enough I reckon. But most people I know just keep going.

How would you define an alcohol addiction?

Bec When you just have to be drunk all the time and you lose your family and your job, that’s when you need help and you’re fully addicted.

Nick Like I said before, technically you might be called an addict if you can’t go one day without a drink but really I think it’s when it starts affecting your life badly.

Cheryl I think if you can’t go a day or two without having a sip then you probably have a low case of

addiction, but nothing to worry about.

Jack When you’re drinking hard liquor all the time, you know, like Jim Beam straight or when you’re sitting at a bar by yourself on a Friday night….

Tim Addicts are the older ones that you see getting around (drunk) and drinking straight spirits….or when you’re trying to hide it from family.

What effect do you think alcohol has on our nation?

Tim Well, I don’t think it affects people that badly…the level of alcohol that kids my age drink isn’t really a problem because we’re young and not addicted. I do hear a bit on the news every now and then though about how many people are homeless from drinking problems….so I guess when you look at it like that you could say that it’s a bit of a problem. No one should be homeless.

Cheryl Positive and negative. I mean, it’s a social thing that most people like to do so what’s the problem, but I can see that it would be a big problem for those having trouble at home with money and stuff. There’s really two sides. And the negative is probably less than the positive effect it has.

Bec There are people who don’t know when they’ve had enough so that can mean that alcohol causes problems at home but really I think that if someone is going to end up homeless or something then it’s going to happen regardless of alcohol. It’s probably not a totally positive thing for Australia, but it has a pretty positive impact too.

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Family Stores

Family Stores generate income of $53 million D uring the financial year 2004/05, the 205 Australian Family Stores generated an income of $53 million. This is a fantastic contribution to The Salvation Army’s budget, especially when you consider that the average price of a Family Store item is $5.

There have been so many generous people in the community who made an effort to donate their unwanted furniture, clothes and bric-a-brac. More to the point, it indicates that there’s a growing need for second hand items among the general public.

Every dollar spent at our Family Stores help those in our community facing crises. Our Stores also provide employment opportunities and help the community ‘get smart’ about

managing their hard waste.

More than 1600 volunteers assist in the Stores and hundreds of community members come through our doors every day.

There were 31 new stores opened this year, just in the Southern Territory and we’re planning to open another 30 during the next year. There are 36 trucks that conducted more than 150,000 pick ups to collect more than 450,000 items of furniture this year.

Not only do our 729 employees, 1,749 volunteers and 500 ‘work for the dole’ participants spend hours sorting and pricing donated goods, they provide top-notch customer service too. Here’s just a few of the inspiring letters we’ve received from our ‘visitors’ during the year:

go , of week a the op shop nderwear a couple t to say a d y d te n la a d u just w I s. o “To the kin ou caught stealing the lv Sa I lived on ly ns to the I’m the gir ly gave me direio From the age of 14 g in m bo kind ture. ended up y hate and you so riated your g . Kilda. I all St u a in ct I a te I u ch rs ago. prostit a ea how mu y s a lf a ed lar or a h a rk rg d wo ne and an a bu o th t r u er e o b stres an th a a l r many oth a hooker, ddi unti eally learn ff I’ve r ’t a heroin a h is y I bame n id d stu ic orked, I chers and s, stealing  use I’ve always w ds g vou to work the stre n a ie fr  b y t m u gh gh u u o o n r thief; b e th fo g sk ills. Even still youn er than a survival sk t that bause I’m t food rath I’ve got as much u o h it w gh o u g o lise always th that. Somim I de me rea os are not going do t you ma Salv e Th I couldn’t m getting at is tha r. d to being vouche a I’ r t a fo h I’m so use ith sk W . a  to re n st help. o e rs e next pe (or sleep w me’. work on th right as th ay and tell me to ght if I didn’t take e w meone lik is u a o e th to help ‘so always t to turn m e ere n v a th I’ w t t a a ld th u ent th tion e wo self-suffici at I needed, no-on iven me the revela exist and the  ke you s both g men) for erosity ha , that nice people li n e g of ct so re o Your a m en ere but ev help out th a bad lace. ll ’t a world isn nk you enough.”

I can’t tha one

pressed by s very im a w I y she se u beca as the wa r e w t t It le . e is or h ing t Park st re what “I am writ bers at the Noble didn’t ca d n a h m is e n x times ff m efi register si of your sta om the start to th r e h h g throu e fr greeted m as. In fact, I went g lady. said w nice youn I y r e in v sk ie” and I A r n ou . n n A col “ so y id m ing for and she sa r” and with that while wait what her name is sta r the movie – n u I asked he g r ou nie, get y me”. er service. “as in An e she said ‘that’s ic custom st a t n a f r smil re so nice.” ded on he fantastic ere who a e commen h b t o t t r ou e h le I want e are peop that ther d se a le p s I wa

Who needs trucks???

Noble Park Cluster staff thought the following was worth sharing!

This gentleman was ‘caught on camera’ as he left the Doveton (Vic) Family Store transporting his latest purchase!

Disposal costs drain Family Store budgets Although The Salvation Army’s Family Stores have had a good year, the annual cost for rubbish disposal is enormous. The total amount spent on getting rid of people’s waste was more than $1.5million, just for the Southern Territory. Even more alarming

is the fact that this figure has increased by 30% during the last couple of years and it’s for two reasons: 1. Some genuine donations are becoming rubbish due to theft/pilferage and bad weather

During December alone, The Salvation Army will assist more than 300,000 Australians.

We will: • give more than 250,000 toys • serve 8,000 Christmas dinners • provide 10,000 people with shelter • give 150,000 food parcels and vouchers • provide refuge for hundreds of abused Australians Please give generously to our Christmas Appeal.

The Salvos shield those in need by giving 3,500 homeless people a bed every week.

Help transform the lives of Australians living in poverty.

www.salvationarmy.org.au

CREDIT CARD DONATIONS 13 32 30

2. People are dumping rubbish at Family Store sites The Salvation Army ask you, please consider carefully what you donate to Family Stores. If it’s not usable, clean and a genuine ‘gift’ then please dispose of it yourself, thoughtfully.

Allen Dewhirst moves into position of CEO for Family Stores

Earlier this year, Allen Dewhirst was appointed to CEO for The Salvation Army Family Stores. In his new role, he will be responsible for the development and success of more than 200 Family Stores nationwide.

Previously Dewhirst was the managing director for a marketing company where he consulted to high profile companies such as National Australia Bank, ANZ, Telstra and Australia Post. Prior to this he had been responsible for leading and developing the local Hertz Rent-A-Car operation, as managing director.

During recent years Dewhirst was the President of the Australian Marketing Institute and was the first Australian to become an Honorary Fellow of the Japan Marketing Association.

He’s also co-written an industry recognised book called “How to write a marketing plan.”

Dewhirst was born in England, grew up in South Africa and moved to Australia with his wife and two children in 1978. Both husband and wife were born into Salvation Army families.

Family Stores

11

From tin shed to the busiest Family Store in town Back in the early 1900s the Abbotsford Family Store was a workplace for men recently released from prison, who were struggling to find work. Today, it’s one of the most popular Salvation Army Family Stores. Every day between 200 and 300 Melbournians step through its door in search of anything from a leather couch, a pair of Country Road pants, the latest Bryce Courtney novel or antique cup and saucer.

Val Kennedy, manager of the store, shares her experience sorting and selling the recycled goods; “It’s truly amazing the sorts of items we have donated to us. Although we can be given things we can’t sell, most items are in good nick and are sold quickly. For example we had a great brown leather couch here that we sold for about a thousand dollars recently. It was in perfect condition and the people who bought it got a real bargain.”

It does however, take Val and her team of workers and volunteers time and ‘an eye for a bargain’ to sort through the piles of bric-a-brac, clothes, furniture and books left out the back of the warehouse every day of the year. These items are all then cleaned up, priced and displayed in the enormous shop front for the next lucky buyer. On average five people work ‘front of house’ in the shop, while six others spend their day in the warehouse sorting goods, marking prices and picking up bits and pieces from houses.

Val has been working for The Salvation Army for 13 years.

She started working casually in the Williamstown Family Store

warehouse but quickly moved into a managerial position, moving around the state helping to establish other Stores, and training employees.

The sheer volume of quality clothes, shoes, books, CDs and furniture at the Abbotsford Store is astounding. You quickly appreciate why there are so many locals (and people not so close by) wandering the aisles. “I’d say the fastest moving items are clothes. We have a huge selection here and they’re all in good condition and most of them are good brand names. It’s hard to imagine how someone would come to toss out a new season handbag or top, but people do. There’s never a shortage of quality labels on our racks,” says Val. “We often get unusual items too!”

Val continues. “Recently I found a solid brass bowl, which was quite unusual looking and very heavy.

We had it valued and it’s estimated to be worth between three and five thousand dollars! Someone mustn’t have meant to put it out or they didn’t know what a little gem they had in their hands. It hasn’t been claimed though, so we’re going to put it on “e-bay” and we’ll see what we get for it. Hopefully we get the right price because it would be a great ‘leg-up’ for the Army and its cause.”

When the average item costs about $5, it’s hard to imagine how many goods Family Stores collectively pick up, sort, clean, price and sell to generate an income of $53 million last financial year!

Manager Val Kennedy loves working with Family Stores.

Pudding helps the Salvos do their job

Putting an end to our struggles T

The Moffat family ‘thank God for the Salvos’ every day.

hanks to the Salvos, says John Moffat, anxiety and stress are a thing of the past. This time last year things were really bad for our family.

My wife, Bernadette, and I owed $4,500 in rent, we owed money to the electricity and gas people, and had other bills that we just couldn’t pay. The only reason our kids didn’t go hungry was because I am a chef by trade. I was also struggling with bipolar disorder and other health-related issues and was addicted to speed and heroin.

We’d been going to The Salvation Army for help for a fair while, because a lot of our money was spent on things other than food, and when we didn’t have anything to hock we’d have to go and get food vouchers.

But last year the Salvos put us onto a program called Towards Independence and we met a lady called Karen Sheffield who helped us so much.

Karen helped us, not so much with food vouchers but with our financial problems. She spoke to the person who owns our house and rang up the gas and electricity

people and organised for us to pay off our bills using direct debit where possible. This made me feel like we didn’t have anything to worry about any more, because we would have gas and electricity and somewhere to live. It took away a lot of stress from our lives, which is something I don’t deal with very well, and let me focus on other things.

I ended up working for a Salvo men’s hostel, and I guess it was my way of giving back, because people from the Army had got me back on track, and because I knew what some of these guys were going through I thought I could probably help them. Karen also came to court with me when I breached my probation and was a good advocate for me. She acted as a mediator for us with other organisations in town when we needed her to and helped me get on proper medication for my illness.

Things now are so much better.

We owe less than a $1,000 on our rent, and our bills are all paid on time. Our house is chock-a-block full with things we’ve never ever had before and looks absolutely

beautiful. And with the kids, where before it would usually take us to the end of winter to get them any warm clothes, this year we got everything ready early.

Bernadette and I are both back at work, which is something we haven’t done in a long time, and the kids are happy and healthy and winning awards at school.

I’ve also been clean (from drugs) for more than a year, and I know that I’m strong enough now that I don’t need the stuff any more because I’ve got other buzzes, like my kids, in my life. Now I’m a lot more patient and I’m just so happy all the time because I don’t have to worry about financial things any more, thanks to the help I received from Karen and The Salvation Army’s Towards Independence Program.

Once again The Salvation Army has cooked up a storm, with thousands of puddings hitting towns and cities across Australia for the festive season!

They’re packed full of sultanas, dates, treacle and spices and every dollar you spend on a pudding will be used to support families facing crises this Christmas.

The Salvation Army pudding continually receives the thumbs up from the food experts…

Coles’ supermarkets will be selling the Salvo 500g pudding ($12.90) or you can order our 900g pudding ($19.95) online at www.salvationarmy.org/christmas or by calling (03) 9326 5211.

“With a good dark fruit character typical of the traditional style, this is the sort of pudding you’d expect to find sixpences in!” - feedback from the Epicure pudding tasting team in 2003.

The Salvation Army’s Towards Independence Program focuses on helping males and females over the age of 18 years of age with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. For more information please contact the referral counsellor in Adelaide on (08) 8227 0351.

*900g S alvo P udding

12

Troubled times

Compassion on the line He may be anonymous, but Ric Dale gives Salvo Care Line all his heart and mind.

I

t’s 11.00pm: I nose the car up to the gate, slide down my window and punch the numerical code I’ve been given into the postmounted keypad. After the gate trundles open, I roll forward into the darkened, near-empty car park.

On my left is a discreet building, nondescript in this semi-industrial Perth suburb. After parking, I can’t help but take a furtive look around before I step up to the door and press the doorbell.

The air of mystery dissipates when Ric Dale, manager of Salvo Care Line, which is housed inside, opens the door and good-naturedly shows me into the offices. ‘It’s not a counselling service,’ he informs me moments later. ‘Our primary role is referral. ‘Twice a day we find out from about 30 hostels around Perth how many spare beds they have. In the morning we do a ring-around for a bed count; in the afternoon we do another bed count. And then on the basis of those figures, when people ring us we tell them where there are vacancies that suit their age, sex and circumstance.’

With 60% government funding and the remainder coming from Red Shield Appeal funds, it’s certainly considered a necessary service. And while ‘referral’ doesn’t sound as lifeaffecting as ‘counselling’, Ric knows how vital the service is. ‘Most of out

callers don’t call for counselling,’ he says. They’re either calling for a bed, welfare assistance, or they’re just lonely and want someone to listen to them. ‘More than half our calls come from people who ring us on a regular basis; some ring us two to three times a day (and some have been calling for as long as 12 years).

The majority of these have a mental illness and already work with a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker. ‘What they ring us for is to have another human being who will listen to them and won’t try to analyse them… They’ve probably worn out their family and their friends. So these telephone services are really the only places they can go.’

It’s unhealthy for both caller and listener to allow such relationships to flourish, so a 20-minute time limit has been imposed on these callers, plus a ‘whoever answers is who you get’ policy, so that callers don’t ask to speak to their preferred staff member. As you can imagine, this sometimes leads to irate responses (hence the need for relative anonymity). The need to be compassionate notwithstanding, Ric says the vast majority of staff and volunteer stress stems from encounters with regular callers.

The Salvation Army’s Bridge Program focuses on helping males and females over the age of 18 years of age with drug and alcohol rehabilitation. For more information please contact the referral counsellor on (08) 8227 0351.

But such stress comes with the territory; especially when you consider the current shortage of homeless accommodation in Perth.

On the night I was with Ric there are 20-odd vacancies indicated on the office whiteboard; that, says Ric, is unusually high. Telling someone who calls the line in desperate need that there’s nothing you can do to help them can be a devastating experience. Therefore it’s no surprise that strength of the heart and mind are prerequisites to landing a gig at Salvo Care Line.

‘When we interview volunteers, two things we require are maturity and emotional health. We’re very upfront about that.’ Once volunteers are trained and on-shift, a multitiered debriefing process exists to protect their wellbeing and prevent burnout. Primarily this involves those on shift ‘chatting’ informally about calls. (Formal counselling processes are also available, though rarely required.) It’s an effective system. Despite the demands of the role, several of the Salvo Care Line’s volunteers have clocked between 500 and 800 hours, with one volunteer recently hitting 1,100 hours.

Do the math (volunteers typically work in fortnightly five-hour-shifts) – that’s a considerable commitment.

What Ric finds most astonishing

is that the majority of volunteers are not Christians, let alone Salvationists. ‘I look at (volunteers who aren’t Christians) and I see them caring more than I see a lot of Christians caring about the community,’ Ric observes. ‘I see a lot of Christians caring about people in their church…but they don’t look outside into the community. ‘So here are these non-Christian people who are caring for the community just because…why? God isn’t their motivation. But they’re still doing it.’ To be distinctively Christian

among people like these is a genuine challenge, Ric accedes. The real challenge, then, is for he and the few other Christians involved in the service to ‘be Christ’ among them; to be the proverbial ‘yeast in the dough.’

I think having non-Christian people in our social programs is great,’ Ric says, ‘ as long as you’ve got a nucleus of Christian people who are genuinely in touch with the holy spirit and being moved with him, among them.’

To maintain Ric’s anonymity we have not run his photo with this article.

Down, but definitely not out In his battle with HIV, Jeffrey Robertson found help and acceptance in God.

In 1996, after two years of illness, I was diagnosed HIV positive. At the time I was living in the western suburbs of Sydney, was married with two children, a Christian and a regular church attender, but as you can imagine this diagnosis was lifechanging. I felt I couldn’t go near my children because I was afraid of giving it to them and my wife had the same kind of fears. There was also the question of whether they had already been infected and, if they were, what would we do? When I later found out that my family was okay I was so relieved. I was also angry because I didn’t know where I’d contracted the disease. I was especially angry with God and kept asking him ‘Why did this happen to me?’. Eventually I turned my back on him. When my wife left, later that year, I basically gave up on everything and my life started spiralling downhill, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

For the next five years I went through a period of depression and drinking, and was basically just waiting to die. Finally I suffered a complete emotional breakdown and

was unable to talk or communicate with anyone for about 18 months.

In 2001, I moved to Victoria to try to get my head together, and eventually ended up at The Salvation Army Bridge Program in Warrnambool. The staff at the program helped me deal with a lot of my issues and I started to move forward emotionally, but I was still fearful of people finding out about my HIV. I was also confused about my Christianity. Looking back I know that God was with me all the way, but at the time I just wasn’t aware of his presence.

After I finished the program I started working there but then, because of my fear of people finding out about my health, I did a very stupid thing—I betrayed someone, a staff member of the program Judy Brown, who’d been trying to help me, and I fled. Later I rang her and apologised for what I’d done. In response she showed me so much grace and forgiveness that I went back to Warrnambool and began to work through the issues regarding my HIV status. It wasn’t easy; people said and did some terrible things to me. Judy was also harassed simply because she was supporting me, but through it all

she never once said ‘If it weren’t for you this wouldn’t have happened’.

All along she just kept showing me the love of Christ. Her example brought me to the point of realising that I needed to ask God to come back into my life, which I did in November 2003.

From that moment on, my spiritual life changed dramatically and during the past three years I have come to fully understand the wonderful impact of having Christ in my life, reading the Bible and talking to God on a regular basis can make. However, during the same time, I deteriorated physically and am now confined to a wheelchair as a result of a couple of HIV-related strokes. Five years ago, if my health had been as bad as it is now, I would have been drinking myself to death, but now I know God is with me and he has given me the most amazing peace. I’m no longer afraid of dying, because I know that when it happens I will go to a better place.

I’m also no longer afraid of people knowing about my illness. In fact I now speak at schools and TAFE colleges about what it’s like to live with the disease. I could never have done that before.

Employment

Pro-active change

By Major John Simmonds CEO, The Salvation Army Employment Plus

Resources in each Employment Plus office include: - Computerised job search kiosks where candidates can search the national job vacancy database - Job search phone, for candidates to make direct contact with employers - Workspaces, including tables, chairs, newspapers, faxes and photocopiers

T

he Salvation Army Employment Plus is the largest ‘Job Network’ provider in the country. It owns 14.7% of Australia’s network, which means it’s twice the size of its nearest competitor. Recently, the Federal Government extended the organisation’s ‘Job Network’ contract for three years, to mid- 2009.

Employment Plus is a national organisation consisting of 93 sites and 1,650 employees. In the last financial year we have referred more than 168,000 people to jobs and placed more than 72,000 people in employment. In addition we also established opportunities for a high number of special needs groups including 21,000 mature aged, 31,000 youths under 21 years and nearly 43,000 highly disadvantaged people.

The challenges of 2004-2005

Amidst success however, we faced significant changes during the last 12 months.

Firstly, the Federal Government introduced the ‘ Workforce Participation Scheme’ in May 2004.

This is increasing the number of job candidates we see by 30,000. These candidates have significantly greater needs (in terms of preparing them for employment) than our 120,000+ existing candidates, many of whom are disadvantaged.

Secondly we’ve experienced an increase in the demand on consultants’ counselling time and the need for specialist training and skills.

Consultants now have to be equipped to assess, place and manage some of the most disadvantaged candidates in the country who have very specialised needs. This means that our consultants are now handling fewer cases.

Overcoming hurdles To combat these issues, Employment Plus is pro-actively

strengthening its existing programs, creating new programs and improving employee productivity by introducing new technology and specialised training for consultants.

We’ve already instigated a training and development program for our existing 1400 consultants, to better equip them to deal with these changes. We’ve almost finished the enormous task of automating and aligning nationally, our administration processes, to give consultants more time with employers and candidates.

During the last year we recruited a national ‘Workforce Participation’ team of 80 consultants, 30 of which are trained to work with indigenous people seeking employment. We anticipate employing approximately 600 new consultants to manage the influx of candidates coming via the ‘Workforce Participation Program.’

Employment Plus has relaunched its successful ‘Mission Project Partnering’ initiative, which combines a selection of services and resources. This funds new projects such as accredited training and life skill mentoring programmes, to address candidates’ social, emotional and spiritual needs as well as their practical need for job skills and employment.

What our ‘network’ looks like

Each Employment Plus office is clearly signed and located in a high profile position. The offices are equipped with a range of resources to provide quality and professional services to candidates and employers.

- Computers, to prepare resumes and cover letters, or respond to jobs online - Candidate resource rooms - Training rooms - Interview facilities for employers to use when required

The Employment Plus spirit

Not only is our heart in the right place, but our business is on track too. The Salvation Army Employment Plus continues to perform above the national average success rate for ‘Job Network’ providers. This is strong evidence of our passionate belief that all people are employable. No matter who comes through the door, we work with them to build their skills, confidence and hope, so they too will find a job.

For us, success is more than just placing candidates in jobs. We seek to secure sustainable job placements for candidates – it is these jobs that best demonstrate how we assist unemployed people to become economically self-sufficient.

We also evaluate the success of Employment Plus through our ability to help people develop improved confidence, self esteem and connection with their community. These are immeasurable qualities that we strive for.

Everyone at Employment Plus is very proud of their work. It gives hope, dignity and a future to many Australian individuals, families and communities. At The Salvation Army Employment Plus, we never give up.

Join the Army for a day.

The Salvos need your help. They need 100,000 volunteer collectors.

Call 13 32 30 or visit our website to volunteer for just a couple of hours as a collector for The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Doorknock.

Volunteer Line 13 32 30 www.salvationarmy.org.au DOORKNOCK, LAST WEEK OF MAY

Barry struggled to find work and a quality life Barry grew up in the outskirts of Sydney. He had a relatively normal upbringing in that he had parents and two siblings, went to school and had plenty of friends. By the time he turned 19 he was working at a local bottleshop and spending all weekend with mates, enjoying the nightlife Sydney has to offer.

During that year though, Barry lost his job because he’d started turning up for work late and one day he even fell asleep out the back. He was out on the town with friends every night spending all his money, drinking a lot and was beginning to try speed and ecstasy. There were about six teenagers in the friendship circle that constantly partied together, Barry explains, and every single one of them lost their part-time job that year.

That was a big turning point because suddenly they didn’t have an income to support their party habits.

Soon Barry started dabbling in shop lifting to support his 24 hour leisure time, which meant that most of the time he was looking over his shoulder wondering if the police were

going to catch him. And then one day, the cops did catch him, just after he’d stolen some jewellery. They threw him in the ‘lock up’ but luckily for Barry the shop owner didn’t press charges.

This incident was a wake-up call for Barry’s family and for Barry himself. By this stage he’d been living ‘hard and fast’, partying and stealing for about one year. Being in the slammer brought home to Barry just how ugly his life had become. It had changed from being a series of fun nights out with friends to a lifestyle of theft and drug abuse. It was then that Barry and his family sought help and counselling from a local Salvo centre.

In the course of 12 months, Barry tamed his life immensely and began to work again with the help of the Salvos’ Employment Plus program.

The people there re-taught him the skills needed to apply and interview for a job, and they helped him to find a career path for the long term.

All of this support gave Barry the confidence and structure he needed to get his life back on track. Now he works as an assistant computer programmer while studying a relevant degree at TAFE. He still maintains regular contact with Employment Plus support staff, keeping them up-to-date with how he’s enjoying his new life.

13

14

Art Classifieds

Art and soul F or a decade Jo Darvill has been helping kids reach their potential.

Jo Darvill knows what it means to have one’s creative impulses frustrated by outside influences.

The Melbourne-based volunteer, mother of two and visual artist vividly recalls that as an impoverished art student, money or, more to the point, a serious lack of it, constantly thwarted her artistic aspirations.

It may have been sheer survival that led her to take on a part-time position at the inner-city Prahran high-rise estate adventure playground 12 or so years ago, but it was insight that kept her there and, later, altruism that encouraged her to take the first steps in a new career direction.

‘Down at the playground I saw lots of terrific talented kids who could never reach their potential because of their environment,’ she explains. ‘I would often see children who came from two or three generations of unemployment who never had a hope of getting a job.’ Something in her, she says, ‘just snapped into place. I knew I had to do something for those kids.’

But how could she, a struggling artist, possibly help? A period of soul-searching followed, and soon Darvill and her partner at the time, renowned artist David Larwill, had their answer. They

would stage an art exhibition and auction, with all proceeds going directly to the kids. Artists for Kids Culture (AKC) was born.

‘Back in the early ’90s there was this art movement (in Melbourne) called Roar (which has since disbanded),’ she explains. ‘And Roar’s members each donated a painting. It was probably the last collection of their work as a group, so it was a very valuable collection.

Certainly, today, it would be worth more than $50,000.’

‘Unfor tunatel y, in our inexperience we raffled the work off and embarrassingly only made $2,000 or $3,000. All that money went in a flash. We were just flying by the seat of our pants, and consequently all the bikes we bought for the kids were stolen by their older brothers not long after and hocked in the second-hand shop, so we kind of didn’t do that again.’

That first auction was the start of a steep learning curve, says Darvill, who adds they knew they needed to get better ‘at doing the fundraising gig.’

And what strides they’ve made. ‘A few years ago we started making some serious money,’ says Darvill. ‘We had some particularly good artists. Last year’s auction raised a staggering $120,000 and the year before we got $100,000.

The money has already made a big difference to the lives of kids in need.’

Jo Darwill believes every child deserves a warm loving life.

The exhibitions aren’t just cash cows, however. Alongside 70 works from wellknown Australian artists (such as Tim McGuire whose work went for $200,000 at a recent Sotheby’s auction in London) are 30 pieces produced by the kids. ‘We bus them into the exhibition so they get to see it with their families and then they get the experience of seeing their works go for between $50 and $450. They have ownership of that money.’ Art isn’t the only pastime AKC funds. We don’t dictate to the kids what to do, says Darvill.

‘It’s important for them to come to us and be able to say, “Well, I’m actually interested in soccer rather than art”.’

Two Melbourne teens, who represented Australia in the recent Homeless World Cup, got their first pair of soccer boots and uniforms thanks to AKC funds.

A wholly non-profit, office-less organisation run by volunteers, all money raised by AKC goes directly to kids who live in several inner-city estates and, recently, as far afield as Turkey Creek, 160 km out of Alice Springs, and even Tibet.

Being at the helm of a volunteer organisation and the primary carer of a five and a two-and-ahalf year-old, as well as still doing ‘little bits and pieces of (personal) artwork’ can be hard to juggle but, says Darvill, it’s nothing compared to ‘those poor mothers in the estate. It’s hard enough managing kids period, let alone on a small income in a high-rise flat. ‘(My role) requires somebody who’s probably a bit irritating. People describe me as a person like a dog with a bone. I’m relentless. I don’t give up. Probably if it was too easy I wouldn’t be so determined. I’d be sitting back with my feet up.’

Multimedia for marginalised youth The Salvation Army has contributed more than $300,000 towards ‘Youthworx,’ a Melbournebased three-year project using radio broadcasting and media arts to help 100 homeless and disadvantaged young people each year.

The aims and methods of the new project are similar to The Salvation Army’s streetradio.net, a Sydney-based internet radio station project run by the Oasis Youth Support Network. ‘ Youthwor x wil l off er experiential learning and skills training in eight-week courses for participants mostly aged between 15 and 25,’ explains

project director David Mackenzie.

‘Participants will be encouraged to stay connected to the project thereafter, with 40 youth going through the program at any one stage.’

The project, housed at the Salvos’ property in inner city Collingwood, will commence with radio and the internet and may subsequently include television and film production.

The project’s hands-on training opportunities and experiences may subsequently help young people find employment.

Youthworx project manager Ken Young says the facility was ‘still waiting on a lick of paint and a lot of wiring – then we’ll install a demountable sound studio….

My vision is to give young people from outside the mainstream the opportunity to have a voice, and

to gain employment skills and confidence.’

Keith Waters, director of social services for the Salvos’ Melbourne Central Division, said the funds come from the Red Shield Appeal and selected Salvation Army centres will recruit Youthworx participants.

‘Youthworx is a recognition that education and vocational training opportunities for young people are an important pathway out of disadvantage,’ explains Waters.

‘Often with the young people we see in our social programs there is little opportunity for self-expression through the arts or multimedia. Youthworx will provide that, helping to build up their own levels of self-confidence and self-awareness.’

Mackenzie, a Swinburne University academic, is a long-

time partner with The Salvation Army in social research, specifically youth homelessness.

‘We have learnt that you can achieve more together than you can separately. These kinds of partnerships are vital in effecting change.’

Youthworx is a joint venture between the Salvos, the Melbourne youth radio station SYN FM (90.7 FM), the Victorian offices of housing and youth, and a federation of government and academic bodies including a partnership between Swinburne University (Melbourne), Q ueensland University of Technology, Edith Cowan University (Perth), Australian National University (Canberra) the University of Wollongong (NSW) and Charles Darwin University (Darwin).

Community-spirited businesses wanted Join our corporate donors’ program and achieve benefits for your business – through increased customer loyalty and staff morale and having your name associated with The Salvation Army’s extensive range of community services.

In partnership with The Salvation Army, you can support the community through cash gifts or donations, cause-related marketing, payroll deductions, staff fundraising, volunteering, gifts in kind and pro bono services.

Phone: Northern Territory (08) 8981 8188 South Australia (08) 8379 9388 Tasmania (03) 6278 7184 Victoria (03) 9895 6248 Western Australia (08) 9227 7010 Sponsor a child The Salvation Army’s child sponsorship program assists thousands of needy children in developing countries around the world.

Just $20 a month allows The Salvation Army to provide food, medicine, housing, clothing, and education. Funds are sent to Salvation Army officers who provide the children with a safe and spiritual environment in community centres, mission hospitals, schools and village churches.

Visit: www.salvationarmy.org.au/ childsponsorship Furniture The Salvation Army Family Stores home collection service picks up unwanted furniture in good condition for sale through the Stores.

For furniture collections call 13 16 40.

Food Bank To donate bulk non-perishable food items to our Food Bank contact: Victorian Relief 4/2 Somerville Road Yarraville Victoria 3013 (03) 9362 8300 Overseas aid Contribute to The Salvation Army’s work in developing countries by calling: The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory donor enquiry line (03) 9895 6270 Workplace giving program The Workplace Giving Program offers a way to support our vital work in a simple, effective way. You can arrange for your employer to deduct as little as $2 a week from your pay and transfer it directly to help the Salvos. It’s fully tax-deductible and you can be confident your money will go towards providing life-changing care and assistance for Australians in real need.

Contact: Tony Armstrong (03) 9895 6247 Become a Salvos Partner When you become a Salvos Partner for as little as $20 a month, you’ll help provide a future for the homeless, food for the hungry, help for families in crisis and training for those without jobs. It’s only through regular committed giving that the Salvos can count on helping Australians in need, day in day out.

Contact: Sandra Haffenden (03) 9895 6262 Are you missing a loved one? ..then let The Salvation Army help you.

The Family Tracing team specialises in reconnecting families who have lost touch with each other for myriad reasons such as job transfer, immigration, conflict, travel and family breakdown. The Family Tracing unit began operation in 1885 in England and is focused on bringing families back together. It has a success rate of more than 75%. All avenues of investigation are strictly confidential and no information relating to the missing person will be revealed without their consent. For more information or to launch an enquiry please contact your local Salvation Army centre.

Life

Aussie Salvo receives Army’s highest honour Mr John Dalziel is one of Australia’s influential ‘voices,’ constantly engaged in community debate. He’s batting for Australia’s marginalised, less educated, disabled, mentally unstable and young. John has been an advocate for these people and as a result he’s received The Salvation Army’s highest honour - the Order of the Founder.

Since the award’s inauguration in 1917, only 24 Australians have received the award. John received the honour for his ‘exemplary spiritual leadership as a local officer, impeccable moral character and

his contribution to enhancing the reputation of the Army within the Australian community.’ The Order of the Founder is rarely given and every nomination is carefully scrutinised by a panel of senior leaders at the Army’s International Headquarters in London.

For the last 15 years, John has been the Salvos’ Communications Director and spokesperson.

Technically his career began with the Salvos 30-odd years ago when his advertising agency was approached to assist with the Red Shield Appeal (RSA). It was at

this time that John and his team created the slogan “Thank God for the Salvos” and initiated the Army’s first RSA national TV campaign.

Since then, the Appeal has grown from $350,000 to more than $58 million.

As Communications Director, John has tackled every issue affecting Australia’s most marginalised and he still is. His career has seen him build strong relationships with media, government, community groups and other Church leaders.

The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory – Public Relations Offices Major Wayne Pittaway

TPRS

Melbourne

Office: 03 9895 6200 Fax: 03 9899 2340

Bram Peck

DIR

Greater Melbourne & Gippsland Office: 03 9895 6286 Red Shield Neighbourhood Fax: 03 9897 1273 Appeals Office

310 Elgar Road Box Hill VIC 3128

Major Lyn Cochrane

DPRS

Northern Victoria

Office: 03 5443 4288 Fax: 03 5441 6079

PO Box 973 Bendigo VIC 3552

Major Heather Jenkins

DPRS

Western Victoria

Office: 03 5331 3088 Fax: 03 5332 2929

209A Dana Street Ballarat VIC 3350

Captain Mark Kop

DPRS

South Australia

Office: 08 8408 6937 Fax: 08 8338 3361

39 Florence Street Fullarton SA 5063

Warren Palmer

DPRS

Western Australia

Office: 08 9227 7014 Fax: 08 9227 7134

333 William Street Northbridge WA 6003

Stuart Foster

DPRS

Tasmania

Office: 03 6228 8422 Fax: 03 6278 7193

27 Pirie Street New Town TAS 7008

Major Ritchie Watson

ROPR/RO Northern Territory

Office: 08 8981 8188 Fax: 08 8941 2966

49 Mitchell Street Darwin NT 0800

The Order of the Founder

John Dalziel is awarded for his exemplary Salvationism and his spiritual leadership as a local officer of outstanding influence.

Of impeccable moral character, John Dalziel has been the face and voice of The Salvation Army in the Australian media. In clearly delineating the ethical standards and compassionate ministry of the Movement, he has enhanced the reputation of The Salvation Army with the Australian community at large.

LETTER SCRAMBLE

26-28 Prospect Street Box Hill VIC 3128

TPRS = Territorial Public Relations Secretary, DPRS = Divisional Public Relations Secretary, RO = Regional Officer, ROPR = Regional Office Public Relations, DIR = Director

Thank you to our donors The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory acknowledges the support of the many individuals, corporations, trusts and foundations that give so willingly to the Red Shield Appeal.

Without their generosity we would be unable to deliver our social services and programs.

In 2004/05, our major corporate, trust and foundation supporters were: A A Holdings Pty Ltd - A B C Giving Tree Committee - A G Cowley Trust - Adelaide Bank Charitable Foundation - Adelaide Football Club - Advance Bricks & Pavers - Advertising Federation of Australia - AER Foundation Ltd - AGL - Ahrens Engineering Pty Ltd - Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundations - Alinta Limited - Allens Arthur Robinson - Alpha Magnetics Pty Ltd - Amelia Eliza Holland Trust - Annetta Adami Charitable Trust - Annie & John Paterson Foundation Ltd - AON Risk Services Australia Limited - Arts Projects

Australia - Assoc Beneficienza Calabrese in SA - AWB Limited - AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd - Bell Charitable Trust - Bulleen Village Pharmacy - Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd - Burswood Inter. Resort Casino Caravanning Australia - Channel 7 Adelaide Pty Ltd - Channel 9 - Christian Radio Inc T/a Life FM - Christmas Party for Special Children - City of Bayswater - City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters - Clive & Diana Pty Ltd - Clough Offshore Corporate Golf Day - CMV Foundation - Colin Bisdee Trust Allocation Collier Charitable Foundation - Collingham Pty Ltd - Commander Australia Limited - Connect Community Foundation -Consolidated Chemical Company - Crommelins Machinery - CSR - Daniel Scott Estate - Data Mobility Voice Pty Ltd - David Taylor Galt Estate Department of the Premier & Cabinet Detmold Packaging - Dibbs & Massie Foundation - Drakensberg Trust - Electel Resources Pty Ltd - ElectraNet Pty Ltd - Eltrak International & Staff Pty Ltd - Enjo Pty Ltd Estate Late David Fereday Allen - Estate of Anna M White - Examiner Newspaper Pty Ltd

- Fagg’s Mitre 10 - Flaming Rhino Design Pty Ltd - Flinders Charitable Foundation - Ford Motor Co of Aust Ltd - Frank & Hilda Perry Trust - G P Smith Equipment (Vic) Pty Ltd George and Linda Sobee Bequest - George W Vowell Foundation Ltd - Gideon Lang Foundation - Glyde Metal Industries Pty Ltd - Goldman Sachs JBWere Ltd - Government of South Australia - Government Of Victoria Government of Western Australia - Graeme Johnson Pty Ltd - Guthrie Family Charitable Trust - Healesville & District Nursing Home Helen Macpherson Smith Trust - Hills Transplants Pty Ltd - Hilton White Bequest HS Sales & Contracting Pty Ltd - Hugall & Hoile Ltd - Hugh Williamson Foundation I.N.C. Corporation Pty Ltd - Independent Gaming Corporation - Inner Range Pty Ltd Inner Sense Life Training - J Boag Clothing Pty Ltd - Jack Brockhoff Foundation Ltd - Jack Family Charitable Trust - Jayleaf Holdings Pty Ltd - JB Hi Fi - JDV Limited - Jennifer Hutchins Charitable Fund - Jenny’s Shoppe - Jobs Statewide - Joe White Bequest - John & Betty Laidlaw - Joseph Herman Trust - Kel & Rosie Day Foundation - Kilwinning Nominees Pty Ltd - Knispel Fruit Juices Pty Ltd - KPMG

Foundation - Lionel R V Spencer Trust Lotteries Commission - M K H Industries Pty Ltd - Main Roads Pty Ltd - Mallesons Stephen Jaques - McEwan Foundation - McGregorWest Pty Ltd - McLaren Vale Bocche Club Members - Melbourne Airport (Management) - Mike Carney Toyota - Moreland Bowls Club Inc - Multan Plastics Pty Ltd - Myer Community Fund - N P & J I Cretan - Namarrgon International Pty Ltd – Name - National Australia Bank - NJ Horton & Grace Horton Charitable Fund - O’Brien Contracting Pty Ltd - Onesteel Whyalla Steelworks – Orica Orphan Australia Pty Ltd - Overseas Glass Agencies Pty Ltd - Paper Agencies (Aust & NZ) Pty Ltd - PB Foods Ltd - Pitcher Partners - Pressfast Industries Pty Ltd - Print Force Australia Pty Ltd - Qantas Airways Ltd - R E Ross Trust - Reece Pty Ltd - Ritchies Stores Pty Ltd - Robert Clark Memorial Trust - Russell Allport & Co Pty Ltd - Savings & Loans Credit Union - Segue Portfolio Partners Pty Ltd Seven Cares Children’s Foundation Inc Seventh Day Adventist Church - Shell Company of Australia Limited - Shire of Roebourne - Silvant Nominees Pty Ltd - Smith & Smith Cabinet Makers - Smith & Smith

Manufacturing - Snowy Nominess Pty Ltd South East Australia Gas Pty Ltd - Southern Cross Television (TNT9) Pty Ltd - Spring Hill Pastoral Pty Ltd - State Government Of Tasmania - Stratco S A Pty Ltd - Swan Plumbing Plus - Swan Transit Operations Pty Ltd – Tasfreight - Tasmanian Community Fund - The Advocate Newspaper - The Bowen Foundation Inc - The Dagda Trust - The Danks Trust - The Good Guys - The Hayden Way Pty Ltd - The Marian & E H Flack Trust - The Mars Stride Trust - The Media Alliance Pty Ltd T/as - The Miller Foundation Ltd - The Orloff Family Charitable Trust - The Pratt Foundation - The Stan Perron Charitable Trust - The Wearne Charitable Trust - The Wyllie Group - Tieco International (Aust) Pty Ltd - Toll Priority (c/oToll Transport Pty Ltd) - Tower Trust Limited - Trust Company of Australia Ltd - UBS Investment Bank - Varian Australia Pty Ltd - Va-Vite Pty Ltd - Warrambo Holdings Pty Ltd - Westpac Banking Corporation - Whyalla Electrical Discounters - William Angliss Victoria Charitable Fund - William J Turner Pty Ltd - Wonteco Pty Ltd - Woodside Energy Ltd - Worley Parsons - Wythenshawe Pty Ltd - Yamboon Pty Ltd Zoltans Pool Products Pty Ltd

15

Sport

Winning on and off the field

Celebrating the win.

A chat with Broncos’ Brad Thorn and Scott Minto, north of Tweed River

W

hile he was raised

by Christian parents (both are preachers at Rockhampton’s Christian Outreach Centre), Scott Minto only became a Christian three years ago.

Unhappy with how he was living his life, Minto gave up alcohol ‘cold turkey’ and got into following Jesus’ teachings and helping others.

He’s also dead keen to compete again (‘I’m raring to go,’ he declares) since his injury last season. While he prefers to play centre, the Broncos’ rich playing list means Minto’s happily training and playing on the wing, and establishing himself.

Minto balances his life out with hospital visits and church.

The Broncos have recently

commenced attending meetings at the Salvos’ Red Hill drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre, talking with guys who are down but not out. The experience, he says, is mutually beneficial.

When it comes to faith he says ‘a lot of the boys are open to talking about God and stuff and they’re curious about why I became a Christian.’ While he occasionally cops good-natured stirring and honorifics such as ‘Saint Scotty’, Minto takes it as a sign of acceptance; he loves his life and clubmates, and wouldn’t change his life for quids.

Being a public Christian and a footballer can be an uneasy mix at times (AFL Fremantle Docker Shane Parker’s pre-final sledging

by St Kilda’s Fraser Gehrig as a ‘Bible-bashing [chap]’ is a case in point), but it would take a foolhardy opponent, or a highly inebriated barracker, to taunt the Broncos’ power forward Brad Thorn about his Christianity.

When it comes to on- and offfield pressures, the laidback secondrower says stresses dissipate through exercising faith and ‘confidence in yourself and your players; knowing that you’ll go out and do your job.’

Mateship is crucial, being able to trust your team mates is an essential aspect of success. In football, as in life, trust has to be earned and repaid. It’s a part of what makes a successful team, just as clearly as it

is part of living a life of integrity and worth.

There’s life lessons aplenty in that observation. Thorn says he’s learnt to train hard and trust in God and his mates. After three grand final wins with the Broncos (counting both Rugby codes he’s played in a grand final each year since 1999) he knows what he’s on about.

The seasoned warrior has another two years on contract with the Broncos, and God knows how many seasons he’s yet to play, fearlessly ‘taking the ball up’ and launching his body at adversaries like a human battering ram. Through it all Thorn’s head, despite the scrums, the big hits and hard knocks, is screwed on tightly.

‘Whether you win or lose you give 100%, but you know that football’s not the “be all and end all.” You’re not playing for sheep stations,’ he laughs, ‘and you know God still loves you regardless.’

The dual footy code champ (Thorn left the Broncos’ a few years back to successfully play Rugby Union and represent the All Blacks before returning) is a thoughtful commentator on what it takes to succeed in the big games-and the reality of being a flawed human being.

‘You hope that God’s nature will come out for your time on the paddock,’ Thorn says slowly, ‘by showing courage, perseverance and a good, honest work ethic.’

The ‘Salvo Hawks’ (pictured left) handed the AFL’s Hawthorn a premiership for the 2005 season by winning the D-grade final by one point. Ian Dicker, the current AFL Hawks’ president, presented the premiership cup to the Salvo Hawks at St Kilda’s Junction Oval, in Melbourne at the end of the season. Playing in the Victorian RecLink’s Australian Rules competition, the Salvo Hawks (one of only 12 football clubs Australiawide to be officially affiliated with Hawthorn) narrowly defeated the Western Port Warriors after a seesawing contest – with three minutes to go the Hawks were 10 points behind.

RecLink players come from all walks of life but share a common struggle against homelessness and addictions to gambling, alcohol and other drugs. Co-founder and team manager David O’Halloran explains, ‘Salvo Hawks are a funnel to help people come back from being disadvantaged. Most of our players wouldn’t get a chance to

play in a regular team because they lack social skills to relate in such a team. However, this competition gives them a start and, from beginning as players here, people have completely turned their life around.’

O’Halloran paid tribute to the Hawthorn club, with its four-year support of the Salvo Hawks.

‘We play our home games at the Hawks’ ground, Glenferrie Oval,’ he added. ‘They help us out with barbeques and personnel support and Ian Dicker, former AFL coach Alan Jeans and former AFL player Geoff Ablett provide tremendous encouragement.

‘The Salvo Hawks team is just one of the recreational activities for the homeless and those affected by addictions organised through The Salvation Army EastCare program. All the things we do together give us time to look at the deeper things in life and God is at the top of the list. Without God I wouldn’t be here today.’

But when someone comes in with a dirty tactic in a tackle, be it a low-blow or a head-high shot, or a litany of other types of skulduggery, Thorn concedes it’s difficult to avoid retaliating. Turning the other cheek can be tough in football, as it tends to invite concussion.

‘Often I do try to knock their block off,’ he admits, ‘and that’s just it. Being a Christian, I know I’m not perfect. There are moments on the paddock when things get heated

but I believe (there’s sense in) showing respect to your opponent, shaking hands after the game and moving on.’

Regardless if God is a footy fan or not, you get the distinct impression the best things that happen on football’s big days - the bravery, the triumphs of the will, the love of life and vitality that swells from players’ deeds - provide the creator a few choice moments to smile down on his creation.

Over Christmas the Salvos provide 150,000 food parcels and vouchers, accommodation for 10,000 homeless people, refuge for hundreds of victims of abuse and Christmas dinner for 8000 people with nowhere else to go. Please support The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. With your help there’ll be signs of hope this Christmas.

Credit Card Donations 13 32 30 or salvationarmy.org.au

SALRED214

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