Australia

From Sawiki

In August 1880 two men, unknown to each other, attending a quiet Wesleyan meeting in Adelaide, South Australia had simultaneously startled the sedate congregation with bull roars of "Hallelujah!" Introductions swiftly followed. John Gore, the "Happy Milkman," converted by William Booth thirteen years earlier at a Christian Mission meeting in Stepney, found a kindred spirit in Edward Saunders, a stone mason from Bradford.

On the 5th of September, without flags, drums or even uniforms, Gore and Saunders proclaiming the Gospel under a gum tree in Adelaide's Botanic Gardens. "We need you", they wrote to Booth, "as quickly as fire and steam can bring you". It was the 11th of February 1881 when the Salvation Army's work was officially established in Australia with the arrival of Captain and Mrs. Thomas Sutherland.

Later that year Major and Mrs. James Barker were sent to work in the Alice and Bendigo goldfields, where converted miners were known as "Salvation Nuggets". Transferred to Melbourne the following year, Major Barker came into contact with Dr. John Singleton, the city's best known philanthropist. Through Singleton he became the first Salvation Army officer to act as an official prison visitor. In an attempt to meet the need for a half-way house for released prisoners, Barker rented a tiny four roomed house, close to the gaol, at 37 Argyle Place South in the Melbourne suburbs of Carlton.

On Saturday the 8th of December 1883 it opened as the first Salvation Army Prison Gate Home. Within weeks the house proved too small and two more were rented. Impressed by the Majors' efforts, the Victorian Government made him an honorary magistrate and chaplain of a lunatic asylum.

A sharp rise in unemployment brought a fresh challenge. The Government made a grant of £400 and virtually passed the problem to the Salvation Army. Undaunted by this, Major Barker found work for almost 1,800 men. Even six years later in 1890 his staff were serving 700 cut price meals a day.

First offenders were now remanded to the care of the Army as a matter of course and the executive council gave them authority to take charge of any child found in a brothel.

So great was James Barker's success that William Booth swiftly brought him back to Britain to oversee London's first Prison Gate Home.

In 1921 the work in Australia was organised into the Eastern and Southern Territories with headquarters in Sydney and Melbourne.

Eva Burrows served as Territorial Commander for Australia Southern from 1st of October 1982 until her election as General on 2nd May 1986.

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