In times of need

It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need. At 11pm on 24 July 1979, a coal-dust explosion at the Appin Colliery took the lives of 14 miners, leaving 38 children fatherless. Members of the nearby Campbelltown Salvation Army, under Commanding Officers, Lieutenants David and Jeanette Woodbury, quickly swung into action. Within 24 hours a group of Salvationists had visited all the bereaved families, offering both spiritual and practical assistance. A mobile feeding canteen known as Big Red, was quickly brought onto site at the mine and members of the corps (church) manned the unit for the next few days while rescue teams dug their way into the mine to recover bodies. The presence of Salvationists meant they were able to provide practical assistance such as food and drink, as well as spiritual counselling, not only to rescue workers but also to the families who had gathered at the site. The active involvement of members of the Campbelltown Corps (church) at the disaster resulted in a high public profile for The Salvation Army in the Campbelltown area. As a result, local services clubs worked to provide The Salvation Army with equipment to service its ongoing welfare program. At the opening of a new hall in Browne Street, Campbelltown, a new two-tonne truck was donated to assist in the picking up of material for The Salvation Army’s highly active welfare program. This was followed by the donation of an emergency services trailer and two-way radio equipment for The Salvation Army’s emergency services work in Campbelltown.