Australia Edition 5

THE MARKET

While Australia is a wealthy country, the

unfortunate reality is that not every Australian

enjoys a life of comfort and prosperity.

Homelessness, a crisis in our ability to care for

older people, family breakdown and conflict,

alarming levels of domestic violence and sexual

abuse, inadequate provision for the mentally ill,

and problems arising from drug, alcohol and

gambling related addictions are growing challenges

faced by the community and The SalvationArmy.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The SalvationArmy - affectionately known as ‘the

Salvos’ - is one of this country’s most well-loved

organisations, with research revealing it is themost

highly thought of charity in Australia.

The Salvation Army’s ‘Christianity with its

sleeves rolled up’ ethos has endeared it to the

Australian public, in a country where religion has

always struggled to gain acceptance.

A reputation for being at the frontline of need

was largely achieved through the strong presence

of Salvation Army officers amongst Australian

armed forces in times of war. Assisting the troops,

burying the dead and dispensing cups of tea, the

Salvos were considered to be as much a part of the

fighting forces as the soldiers themselves.

The battle has not ended, and in times of

emergency and national disaster today the Salvos

are still there offering comfort and support. Recent

years have seen ordinary Australians facing

extraordinary disasters including the worst drought

on record, the devastating Cyclone Larry in North

Queensland, and countless bushfire and flood crisis

situations.

The Salvation Army’s commitment to helping

the international community was particularly

evident following the tragic Boxing Day

Tsunami in 2004. Funds donated within

Australia have supported three main projects

in southern India, which aimto provide ongoing

rehabilitation of housing needs and help restore

the livelihoods of local people, who are mostly

fishermen.

The growing battle against poverty,

addiction and despair rages daily for many

Australians and their families - one of the most

important aspects ofTheSalvationArmy’swork

is its provision of caring social and community

services from day to day.

HISTORY

The SalvationArmywas founded in 1865 in the

slums of London by a former Methodist

minister, William Booth, who wanted to make

the church more accessible to the whole

community.At

the time,manypoor andworking

class people were excluded from the churches.

Originally known as the ChristianMission, the

name ‘TheSalvationArmy’was adopted in1878

and since then the organisation’s structure has

been based on military lines.

Initially Booth’s Christian Mission intended to

gather the poverty-strickenmultitudes of London’s

East End and link them up with existing churches.

However, as such peoplewere regarded as outcasts

and were not welcomed by the wealthy and

respectable churchmembers of the day, Booth was

forced to provide a more permanent organisation

for the ongoing spiritual care of his converts.

Booth’s concern for the destitute masses of

Englandwas not only spiritual. Themore he learned

of the plight of the thousands spurned by Britain’s

industrial revolution, the more determined he was

to see lasting social change.

From the Army’s earliest days, various social

programs had grown up alongside the mission’s

spiritual ministry, including food shops, shelters,

and homes for ‘fallen’ girls.

However, these were just the first elements in a

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