Salvation Army Emergency Services

The Salvation Army can be counted on to be at the front line when disaster strikes. When the Mt Mulligan coal mine near Cairns experienced an explosion on 16 September 1921, killing more than 70 miners, The Salvation Army was there. In her book, Booth’s Drum, The Salvation Army in Australia 1880-1980, Barbara Bolton wrote that Commandant and Mrs Sydney Smith, of Cairns, and Major Renshaw rushed to help. Mrs Smith cared for children and cooked meals while the miners’ wives waited for news of their husbands. The Commandant enlisted extra volunteer rescue workers, discussed the needs of widows and orphans with the mine manager and visited families to comfort and provide practical help.

Floods in 1974 saw Cairns Salvation Army hand out 1000 hot meals at the showgrounds to 700 people from Normanton. Further floods hit north Queensland in 1979, with The Salvation Army’s War Cry reporting that the local officers, Lieutenant and Mrs Ron Scott, were busily engaged in assisting with the feeding programme organised by the State Emergency Service, At Sarina, the newly formed Red Shield Service Unit was alert and “on the job” to assist stranded motorists.

In more recent times when Cyclone Yasi cut a path of destruction through Far North Queensland, The Salvation Army was there. Salvationist Gwen Hammerton and her Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team were the first volunteers to reach Tully after the cyclone had devastated the area. Gwen coordinated initial relief efforts – feeding stranded residents, holiday-makers and emergency services personnel. In the years that followed, The Salvation Army remained present, providing financial support, counselling services and standing side-by-side with those who suffered. In 2012, Gwen received a National Emergency Medal for her efforts (pictured above right with then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.)