Leeton legends - Olive Allitt

The Salvation Army in Leeton has hosted its fair share of outstanding Salvationists. Olive Allitt was a Salvation Army officer (pictured right with Field Unit 1) who entered The Salvation Army’s Officer Training College from Deniliquin. During her career, Olive pioneered a new method of rural ministry, partnering with Elma Curtis to command the ‘Field Unit 1’, an outback ministry vehicle that the pair drove thousands of kilometres in, to minister in towns and rural communities where the needs were great and services were few. An article about her in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on 23 January 1941, mentions her work in Leeton: Sister Allitt was delighted when on her recent tours she was approached by Mr. Dart, the president of the Children’s Health Scheme at Leeton, who offered to supply her with any fruit she required to distribute among the children. The growers in this district agreed to the scheme, and the fruit is packed, free of charge, by one of the local growers. When fruit is needed at a certain town Sister Allitt wires to Mr. Dart, who has it delivered lo the nearest station.