Bourke History
Although The Salvation Army no longer has a centre at Bourke, it has a rich history, beginning in 1888.
A rich history
Although The Salvation Army no longer has a corps (church) at Bourke, it has a rich history. Captain Alex Miller started The Salvation Army in Bourke in May 1888, and recorded its first open-air meeting: Rain teemed down...
Read full storyA practical ministry
In her book, Booth’s Drum, The Salvation Army in Australia 1880-1980, Barbara Bolton writes that it was the practicality of The Salvation Army that attracted some of the new soldiers: James Harold and James Sparro...
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Henry Lawson pays tribute
During Henry Lawson's time in Bourke he came in contact with The Salvation Army.
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Bourke's best - Tom Hodges
Tom Hodges was a bullock driver who was converted in Bourke in 1886 and later joined The Salvation Army in Nyngan, western NSW. According to Booth’s Drum: The Salvation Army in Australia 1880-1980, it was in Nynga...
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Bourke's best - Captains Flo Whittaker and Ruth Smith
In the 1940s Flo Whittaker and Ruth Smith were in charge of 'Field Unit 1' - a van for rural ministry out of Bourke.
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Bourke's best - Envoys Lloyd and Vicki Graham
Present day heroes include Envoys Lloyd and Vicki Graham, The Salvation Army’s rural chaplains based in Bourke. For the past seven years they have supported countless property owners.
With so many years of drought...
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