Salvos get message across at Red Shield Appeal launch in Sydney
By PETER McGUIGAN
The Salvation Army kicked off its annual Red Shield Appeal in Sydney on Friday 28 April with a strong message to the people of Australia: ‘So nobody struggles alone’.
More than 400 people attended the launch, a luncheon event held in Doltone House, Pyrmont. Attendees included parliamentarians, corporate leaders, prominent philanthropists and senior Salvation Army personnel. Before its conclusion, $900,000 had been raised.
It was an amazing start to the appeal, said MC Joe Hildebrand, who, with co-MC Jessica Rowe, had held the crowd’s attention with salient commentary about the vital work of the Salvos, dotted with good humour.
Following a Welcome to Gadigal Country by Uncle Allen Madden, Captain Kim Haworth, NSW/ACT Divisional Commander, officially opened the event, encouraging attendees to partner with the Salvos in their quest to see that “nobody struggles alone”. NSW Premier Chris Minns then brought his message of support for the appeal via video.
“It is my great pleasure to help launch The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal,” said Premier Minns. “Every 17 seconds, the Salvos help someone in need. Whether it’s through hardship or homelessness, domestic violence or addiction, times of crisis or isolation, the Salvos are there for people … The Red Shield Appeal is an opportunity to dig in and support their life-changing work in all of our communities.” He then announced a $225,000 donation to the appeal from the Premier’s discretionary fund.
Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas later brought a special announcement to the launch. The Salvation Army had appointed the National Australia Bank (NAB) as its new banking partner. Miriam thanked previous banker Westpac for its more than 100 years of support and introduced Ross McEwan, NAB CEO, who was the keynote speaker for the launch.
During an interview with Jessica, Ross revealed his excitement about the bank’s new relationship with The Salvation Army. “[The Salvos] hold people and support them until they can stand on their own,” he said.
“And they are going through a big transformation. When you see some of the projects they’re doing, they are huge transformations. And these are some of the things that society should be doing, and we are asking this organisation to do it.”
Following a tendering process last year, the NAB was chosen by The Salvation Army as its new banker because of its ability to digitise its banking and support its work.
“We have a lot of things in common,” Ross said. “We are there to serve our customers. And we will serve [the Salvos] like they serve their customers. We believe we can bring a lot of attributes around helping with funding, helping with development ... We saw this as a great cause, not just as a banking relationship.” Ross then announced that NAB would contribute $300,000 to the appeal.
Testimony and recognition
Following the interview, well-known Australian singer and Salvos ambassador Samantha Jade and her ensemble made a powerful contribution to the launch with the songs ‘Halo’, ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.
Tears were then evident around the luncheon tables when testimonial speaker Dianne Wells told her story of the devastating results of physical and sexual assault in her early years and the subsequent impact of substance abuse and addiction upon her life. She said the Salvos had saved her life through a 12-month recovery experience at its William Booth House in the heart of Sydney.
The experience gave her a new trajectory and resilience in her life that was still with her many years later. Not only that, but she is making her own contribution to bringing transformation to the lives of people through “reimagining relationships and sex education delivery for Australian primary schools [based on] collaborative partnerships between parents and teachers – creating a safety net for all future little Diannes and all Australian children”.
In moments of recognition, Miriam presented two awards for outstanding contributions to the work of The Salvation Army. Sheba Nandkeolyar, CEO of MultiConnexions, received the Eva Burrows Award. Ms Nandkeolya had organised the multicultural launch of the Red Shield Appeal for more than 20 years resulting in millions of dollars of media coverage for the Salvos at no cost to them.
Energy company AGL received the Others Award for its outstanding support of The Salvation Army over many years, including its current efforts to oversee solar power installations at more than 850 sites across Australia.
In her closing remarks and prayer, Chief Secretary Colonel Winsome Merrett thanked all participants and donors, including launch sponsors Steadfast, Azora and Mirvac. She also acknowledged members of the organisation’s Board of Governance, its Sydney Corporate and Philanthropic Advisory Group, and the many thousands of Salvo officers, employees and volunteers.
Colonel Merrett recognised the courage of Dianne to tell her story. “We hold your spoken word to us today as a sacred trust,” she said.
Other significant gifts were announced at the launch, including $100,000 from long-term supporters Belinda Hutchinson AC and Roger Massy-Greene AM
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