Over the past two days, the Southern Regional Alliance have hosted the "Connecting the Urban Village" conference at Morphettville Racecourse. The Salvation Army have been sponsors of the event, and we also hosted a breakout session called "Spirituality and Wellbeing" - about holistic approaches to service provision. Major Susan Wallace and Andrew Elvin from our Divisional Headquarters led the session.
Speakers from around the region, plus two from the USA, spoke at the conference. The Premier, the Hon Jay Weatherall was kind enough to open the conference, and spoke to the attendees about the government's priorities as outlined from their state strategic plan. Of specific interest to the forum were the priorities that spoke of affordable housing, health and 'every chance for every child', addressing the inequities that mean some children don't have the same opportunities as others.
Other breakout sessions included conversations around the social determinants of health, the measurement of empowerment and the joining together with indigenous people.
More information will be available soon via the conference website. It was worth being involved and we look forward to next year.
Saturday 22 September 2012
Monday 17 September 2012
The Salvation Army announces Humanitarian Support role on Nauru and Manus Islands
The Salvation Army announces humanitarian support role on Nauru and Manus Island
10 September 2012
The Salvation Army has entered into a contract with the Federal Government to provide humanitarian support services for asylum seekers who will be housed and processed on Nauru and Manus Island.
Under the agreement with the Federal Government, The Salvation Army will provide counselling, pastoral care and recreational and other programs aimed at supporting the welfare and emotional well-being of asylum seekers awaiting processing.
The Salvation Army spokesperson, Major Paul Moulds, said: “While The Salvation Army remains gravely concerned about the potential impact of offshore processing on the wellbeing and mental health of asylum seekers, our primary concern is to provide the best possible care in these circumstances.
“As an organisation The Salvation Army is driven by the desire to extend compassion and generosity to any who need it, wherever they might be.”
The Salvation Army already provides chaplaincy support to asylum seekers at Immigration Detention Centres in Australia, and is currently involved in the provision of housing and support services under the Australian Government's Community Detention program.
News release taken from www.salvationarmy.org.au
10 September 2012
The Salvation Army has entered into a contract with the Federal Government to provide humanitarian support services for asylum seekers who will be housed and processed on Nauru and Manus Island.
Under the agreement with the Federal Government, The Salvation Army will provide counselling, pastoral care and recreational and other programs aimed at supporting the welfare and emotional well-being of asylum seekers awaiting processing.
The Salvation Army spokesperson, Major Paul Moulds, said: “While The Salvation Army remains gravely concerned about the potential impact of offshore processing on the wellbeing and mental health of asylum seekers, our primary concern is to provide the best possible care in these circumstances.
“As an organisation The Salvation Army is driven by the desire to extend compassion and generosity to any who need it, wherever they might be.”
The Salvation Army already provides chaplaincy support to asylum seekers at Immigration Detention Centres in Australia, and is currently involved in the provision of housing and support services under the Australian Government's Community Detention program.
News release taken from www.salvationarmy.org.au
Val - our newest Soldier
Most Sundays we have something special to look forward to at our services.
This week was no different as we welcomed our latest soldier, Val Mortimer.
Val has had links to The Salvation Army for a number of years. Her late husband, Jim, was a Salvationist for all his 95+ years. Her sister is a soldier at Floreat Corps in Perth.
But Val came to our Corps later in life. She joined in activities with Jim only 2 or 3 years ago, and has never looked back. Already Val is well pressed into service, managing the kitchen on Messy Church nights.
It's nothing but a pleasure watching more people covenant to service, and as Salvationists we love seeing it happen within The Salvation Army.
Welcome Val.
This week was no different as we welcomed our latest soldier, Val Mortimer.
Val has had links to The Salvation Army for a number of years. Her late husband, Jim, was a Salvationist for all his 95+ years. Her sister is a soldier at Floreat Corps in Perth.
But Val came to our Corps later in life. She joined in activities with Jim only 2 or 3 years ago, and has never looked back. Already Val is well pressed into service, managing the kitchen on Messy Church nights.
It's nothing but a pleasure watching more people covenant to service, and as Salvationists we love seeing it happen within The Salvation Army.
Welcome Val.
Friday 14 September 2012
Royal Adelaide Show
The Royal Adelaide Show is on. Hard to miss, really.
Thanks to everyone that has helped with our part in the show. We've had a few on the Yellow Brick Road stand giving out information to the passers by. If you were there at the right time, I believe you may have had an encounter with the spritely Betty Macsween.
Thanks to those that also stood at the gates - in some cases in wind and rain - to collect funds and help people visiting the show. I found myself helping people to the train station, calling the security guards to find some police in a hurry and sending people to ticket booths (as is often the case, my uniform was mistaken for that of a security guard once or twice. Thank goodness for the big Red Shield bibs!).
The show shows us some of the best of our community. We get to see fresh produce and learn from those that care for the land and the animals. We have fun as families and have thrill rides that give that adrenalin rush to remind us we're alive. Creativity is celebrated in the arts and crafts, musical performances and displays. Sportsmanship is on show.
It also causes me to think about our consumerist culture. How many showbag items last out the week?
Thanks again to everyone for your help.
Thanks to everyone that has helped with our part in the show. We've had a few on the Yellow Brick Road stand giving out information to the passers by. If you were there at the right time, I believe you may have had an encounter with the spritely Betty Macsween.
Thanks to those that also stood at the gates - in some cases in wind and rain - to collect funds and help people visiting the show. I found myself helping people to the train station, calling the security guards to find some police in a hurry and sending people to ticket booths (as is often the case, my uniform was mistaken for that of a security guard once or twice. Thank goodness for the big Red Shield bibs!).
The show shows us some of the best of our community. We get to see fresh produce and learn from those that care for the land and the animals. We have fun as families and have thrill rides that give that adrenalin rush to remind us we're alive. Creativity is celebrated in the arts and crafts, musical performances and displays. Sportsmanship is on show.
It also causes me to think about our consumerist culture. How many showbag items last out the week?
Thanks again to everyone for your help.
Friday 7 September 2012
Story Sharing
Each month at our Leadership Team meeting, we share stories - good news - about how we are going as a church. Here are some of the great things happening at the moment around our centres:
• 28 at Hymns of Praise this week, including more new people!
• CSS client rang to make an appointment for prayer and anointing.
• Katie, Michelle and Vonnie have been new this month in the 10am congregation and have been a few times.
• Telstra corporate team came to do a day of volunteering in our garden (pity they were washed out).
• Toilet tour going well. Good response to the giant toilet and the petition. Lots of good conversations generated.
• New ‘My Story’ testimony time going well in Hymns of Praise congregation.
• One of our youth, ‘Tim’ went forward for prayer at the recent Divisional Youth Event.
• Great to see the growth in volunteers like Matt, who is going to take on a new role in our test and tag project.
• Kidzone have been working on ‘being on God’s team’ this term (to tie in with Olympics and Paralympics)
• Val Mortimer will be enrolled as a soldier on Sept 16. She tells us at least a dozen family and friends are coming to witness the event.
• 28 at Hymns of Praise this week, including more new people!
• CSS client rang to make an appointment for prayer and anointing.
• Katie, Michelle and Vonnie have been new this month in the 10am congregation and have been a few times.
• Telstra corporate team came to do a day of volunteering in our garden (pity they were washed out).
• Toilet tour going well. Good response to the giant toilet and the petition. Lots of good conversations generated.
• New ‘My Story’ testimony time going well in Hymns of Praise congregation.
• One of our youth, ‘Tim’ went forward for prayer at the recent Divisional Youth Event.
• Great to see the growth in volunteers like Matt, who is going to take on a new role in our test and tag project.
• Kidzone have been working on ‘being on God’s team’ this term (to tie in with Olympics and Paralympics)
• Val Mortimer will be enrolled as a soldier on Sept 16. She tells us at least a dozen family and friends are coming to witness the event.
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Give Poverty the Flush
Our foyer has been enhanced by the inclusion of a 2m tall toilet.
The Give Poverty the Flush campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the 780 million people that don't have access to clean, safe drinking water and the 2.5 billion people that don't have adequate sanitation. Every day around the world 3000 children die from preventable causes related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
People can come and take a photo on the giant toilet to share with their friends and keep the conversation going. They can sign the petition asking our government to keep their commitments in aid and water/ sanitation promotion schemes. They can educate themselves and their friends via the website or the factsheets at reception.
For more information check out www.micahchallenge.org.au or www.toilettour.org.au
The Give Poverty the Flush campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the 780 million people that don't have access to clean, safe drinking water and the 2.5 billion people that don't have adequate sanitation. Every day around the world 3000 children die from preventable causes related to water, sanitation and hygiene.
People can come and take a photo on the giant toilet to share with their friends and keep the conversation going. They can sign the petition asking our government to keep their commitments in aid and water/ sanitation promotion schemes. They can educate themselves and their friends via the website or the factsheets at reception.
For more information check out www.micahchallenge.org.au or www.toilettour.org.au
Monday 3 September 2012
Communications and Fundraising
Today we have hosted our state Communications and Fundraising team at Marion. The Salvation Army's C&F crew look after our media relations, public relations, business and corporate relations, bequests, Red Shield Appeal, planned giving and overseas development appeals. They are a critical part of the overall Salvation Army team.
We had the opportunity to introduce the team to what we do at Marion and take them on a tour of our facility. As would be the case on any given day, they ran into a range of groups. Today we had our prayer warriers meeting in the loft, the Mulitple Sclerosis group exercising in the Activity Hall, Playgroup in the main hall and CSS in full swing - not to mention the shop. The C&F guys appreciated the opportunity to see the end result of so much of their work and to talk further about they ways we work together.
We had the opportunity to introduce the team to what we do at Marion and take them on a tour of our facility. As would be the case on any given day, they ran into a range of groups. Today we had our prayer warriers meeting in the loft, the Mulitple Sclerosis group exercising in the Activity Hall, Playgroup in the main hall and CSS in full swing - not to mention the shop. The C&F guys appreciated the opportunity to see the end result of so much of their work and to talk further about they ways we work together.
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