Early Supporters

Captain Cairns’ early ministry won a number of converts and friends to The Salvation Army in Ipswich with some remaining loyal supporters of The Salvation Army throughout its early history. The Foote family were one such conversion and in 1885 were instrumental in having more officers sent to Ipswich. A.W. Foote was an Ipswich businessman who with a Mr Cribb ran a general store in Bell Street. A son who later became a member of the legislative council, Hon. J.C. Foote leased property to The Salvation Army in Nicholas Street for a barracks and quarters. After he died, his will gave the property to the Ipswich Corps. Another family member, Joe Foote became an officer in 1888 with early appointments including corps at North Melbourne, Geelong and Wandiligong, northern Victoria (1889). Another influential family won to The Salvation Army by Cairns was the Fuller family. Rev Edward Fuller had developed many Aboriginal missions throughout Queensland and at the time of The Salvation Army’s commencement in Ipswich, Fuller was starting work with the local indigenous tribe. Rev Fuller supported the work of The Salvation Army and his wife and two daughters became soldiers of the corps – with one of his daughters going on to become a Salvation Army officer.