Gunnedah Greats - John Lodge

The Salvation Army in Gunnedah has produced its fair share of outstanding Salvationists. The late John Lodge was a Gunnedah Salvation Army soldier who was described by professional photographer Peter Larimer in 1999 as the face of this community. Over the course of his life, John was a railway fettler, a coal miner and an abattoir worker, but always a Salvationist. A short article about him appeared in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper on 23 November 1999, and in it he’s quoted as saying: You know, it’s a wonderful life. There’ve been tough times but the Lord has always provided. I’ve had a very full life, the Lord has seen to that. So it’s up to me to give back to the Lord and the people. I’m nothing special. Every week, John would hit the local pubs, chatting with locals and collecting for The Salvation Army. He and his wife Joyce also ran The Salvation Army Family Store in Gunnedah.