Maryborough's Best: David Buckingham
The Salvation Army in Maryborough has hosted its fair share of outstanding Salvationists.
The first officer appointed to Maryborough was Captain David Buckingham (pictured right), a true son of the Australasian ideal of The Salvation Army. He was born in Langford, Tasmania, on 24 July 1862. At the age of 21 and while living in Waimate, New Zealand, he was encouraged by his mother to attend The Salvation Army. He accepted Christ as his Saviour and became a soldier on 3 April 1884. In 1885, he was sent to Brisbane to assist the growing Army and then found himself appointed to take charge in Maryborough. Buckingham was only in Maryborough for seven and a half months yet in this time he saw 500 people saved, according to an article in the Brisbane Courier. He was over six-foot tall and reputedly had a very loud voice. Apparently he prayed too loudly and was thus not allowed to visit Maryborough hospital as a recognised minister. (This decision was later revoked.) He was also misunderstood. In a letter to the mayor of Maryborough, Buckingham enquired about the mayor’s soul, writing, Are you prepared to die? Some in the community, however, thought it was a threat on the mayor’s life because he had refused permission for The Salvation Army to parade in the streets. Buckingham was transferred south to Gympie in March 1886.
