Salvos on song in Glenorchy, thanks to hardworking mayor
By KIRRALEE NICOLLE
Glenorchy City Corps in Tasmania has seen a sharp rise in Red Shield Appeal donations in the past few years, thanks to the help of Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas.
Bec was appointed Red Shield Appeal Area Chair three years ago, and this coincided with a shift from doorknocking and collecting in shopping centres to utilising more strategic connections to spread the word.
The year before her appointment, the corps raised about $15,500, then in her first year they raised $17,000, then $24,500 and this year, the corps amassed almost $26,000 in donations.
Corps Officer Captain Jeff Milkins said the corps was very grateful for Bec’s efforts to raise the profile of The Salvation Army in the area.
“She’s just been an absolute godsend to us in the work that she’s done,” he said. “She has taken on the role of Red Shield Appeal Area Chair voluntarily over the last three years and has completely reshaped how the Red Shield Appeal is approached. She is a wonderful support to The Salvation Army’s work – a hard-working mayor in our community.”
As part of the Red Shield Appeal, Bec and Jeff also organised a function at Government House Tasmania on 29 June, hosted by the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC. The event raised $11,000 towards the appeal, thanks to donated auctioned goods, including a painting by local artist Stuart Clues, which sold for $3500.
Bec said she was very thankful to the governor and the generosity of local business owners for the appeal’s success and that she looked forward to seeing the funds used to provide meals, alcohol and other drug care and youth work to those needing extra support.
She said it was important to use connections and networks rather than relying on doorknocking and tin-rattling. She said that, particularly following the catastrophic bushfires of 2019 and 2020, donors were more likely to give generously to efforts such as the Red Shield Appeal, where they knew funds were staying local and not largely allocated to administration fees.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved,” she said. “At a basic level, it’s that everyday support the Salvos provide to those in need in our community and knowing that people won’t go hungry that motivates me to support this cause.”
