Gold Coast Greats - Norma Holmes

Norma's chaplaincy a legacy of love
By SIMONE WORTHING

“Norma is the heart and soul of the RSL here,” says Pat Fairon, president of Runaway Bay Returned Services League sub-branch on Queensland’s Gold Coast. “She brings the spiritual aspect into all our meetings, she cares for everyone and we’re so grateful to her for all she does.”
The Norma that Pat refers to is Norma Holmes, a Salvationist who serves as chaplain to the RSL club. She has been part of Runaway Bay RSL since it became a sub-branch almost 12 years ago. Prior to that, Norma was chaplain to Southport RSL Club and still takes part in their Kapyong Day services (commemorating the 1951 Battle of Kapyong in Korea) on 24 April each year as a Salvation Army representative. 
“My two late husbands served in Korea, one as a member of the regular Army and one in K-Force,” Norma explains.
“Through my second husband’s involvement with the RSL, I also became involved. At first I started laying a wreath on Anzac Day as a Salvation Army representative. Then they asked me to pray and take part in services, and then they elected me chaplain. It’s been a gradual process over 10 years.”
As chaplain, Norma prays and participates in every special occasion and service including Anzac and Remembrance days. She also visits members and their families in hospital, goes to the monthly members’ meetings, and spends times with the members’ wives.
“It’s only a small club with just over 140 members, plus families, but I talk to everyone and keep an eye out for them,” she says. “We have a great rapport between us.
“These fellows need someone to care about them; there is a lot of trauma in their lives and I just try to be there for them when they need someone to talk to. I do my best to show them the love of God.
“Many of them believe in God but after seeing so much fighting and killing, it’s hard for them to see his love sometimes. Chaplains are someone they can talk to when they’ve tried everything but know they need God. I share my faith and some have made decisions for Christ from that.”
Norma has also conducted funerals and, as a result, several people come to The Salvation Army's Gold Coast Temple Corps, one of them weekly. She also gives out prayer shawls, made by corps members, to the wives of RSL members who have died or are facing difficult times.
“Because of my husbands, there is a strong link between me and the boys who served in Korea and we really do look out for and appreciate each other,” she says.
“On a lighter note, I enjoy the social side of my role, and they love the Anzac biscuits the ladies from our patchwork ministry make for them each year too!”
Allan Barlow, patron of Runaway Bay RSL sub-branch, appreciates all Norma does to look after members and their families. “She serves us with her heart and soul,” he says.
“I served in Malaya and there was always a Salvo to talk to there. Now, Norma is here to talk to. We guys would do anything for the Salvos.”
Norma’s chaplaincy naturally links the RSL sub-branch to the Gold Coast corps. The corps timbrel brigade and band lead the sub-branch’s Anzac Day march each year and in 2013, it hosted a Remembrance Day service attended by the club’s president and many members. Each year, the RSL club makes a generous donation to the corps band.

This article first appeared in The Salvation Army's Pipeline magazine.