Small but mighty
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
By Commissioner Heather Lang (pictured right.)
At one time Nanango Corps had a reputation for sending more cadets into training than any other corps in Australia. Nanango community’s centennial history book stated: Over the decades, the Army in Nanango has prosecuted its campaigns with unremitting vigour. During this period, no less than twenty-three local candidates have graduated via the training college as Salvation Army officers and thence to carrying to new fields the standard that was first unfurled under the Bunya tree near the Burnett Inn by Lieutenant William Thompson [in 1889].
Among that number were Ethel Parsons, James Starkie, Harold Hosier, Gus Robinson, Edith Birch, Jessie Birch, Laura Hoult, Tottie Heal, Gladys McCauley, Irene Nicholls, Jean Knowles, Merle Knowles and Ken Knowles.
My grand father, Thomas Patteson was appointed corps officer of Nanango corps in 1898, just six years after its commencement. Later he resigned to marry my grandmother and they remained in the district. In 1930 my mother, Ena Patteson left Nanango to enter the Blazers session of cadets along with her sister Ruby. Ruby later married Frank Cotterill and their son Ronald also became an officer.
In 1931 my father, Harold Luhrs left Nanango corps to train as a cadet in the Fighters session along with his brother, William and my mother’s brother, Kenneth Patteson. On 20 June 1934 my mother Ena married Harold while William later married Elsie Taylor who had previously joined the Victory session from Nanango in 1923. Their daughter Nola and her husband Alf Dawkins also became officers.
My sister, Margaret (Warry) trained in the 1955 Soulwinners session. Then in 1965 Ivan (Lang) and I became cadets as Defenders of the Faith. Following our commissioning in 1967 we were appointed to Kingaroy corps in the South Burnett region and just 25 kilometres from Nanango. We travelled what seemed to be a never-ending journey with our two small daughters. We eventually arrived at the Kingaroy quarters feeling very weary and far from familiar surroundings to be greeted by a plaque on the front verandah that read: This quarters was donated by Thomas Patteson,my grandfather! We immediately felt at home.
This appointment marked the commencement of 41 years of service as officers with ministry opportunities in more than 20 countries around the world and almost four years on the mission field in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Twenty-four years later (1989) our daughter Wendy and her husband Peter Staines became cadets in the Witnesses for Jesus session and our son Matthew and his wife Sara were also officers for a short period. In my family alone, twelve officers over four generations have come from the work started at Nanango.
