In times of need
It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need. When floods devastated Moree in 1955 the then local Salvation Army officer, Captain Ray Diver, wrote in the Moree Salvation Army history book that Food and clothing was dropped from Lincoln bombers. Later help came with military ‘ducks’. Other corps (Salvation Army centres) from such places as Glen Innes, Grafton, Armidale, Inverell and Tenterfield, and many others, sent supplies. We were made responsible for the distribution of clothing and this work was centred first of all in the premises ordered by the Mayor (Ald. A. Sadlier) and later in our own hall. Food and clothing was distributed for almost two weeks by Mrs Diver and the Home Leaguers (a Salvation Army women’s group), as well as many good friends. Flooding incidents are common in Moree, with The Salvation Army Emergency Services team in the town trained and ready to swing into action to assist when the river rises. In the floods of 2012, The Salvation Army served hundreds of meals at the evacuation centre to stranded locals and emergency services personnel.
