The Passing of Brigadier Stella Bywaters OF AC
9/10/1919 to 19/06/2009
Romans 8:35,37
Brigadier Stella Bywaters passed away at Armadale Nursing Centre in Western Australia on Friday 19 June 2009.
Brigadier Bywaters began training as a Salvation Army officer in 1941 and gave almost 42 years of active service. The Brigadier spent more than 10 years as an officer in Australia which included six years of social work at Salvation Army centres like Linden Park Men’s Eventide Home in South Australia and Seaforth Boy’s Home in Western Australia.
Brigadier Bywaters commenced service in East Africa in April 1953. Her first appointment was to Kabete Hostel in Nairobi, then to Quarry Road to a children’s home. She was later appointed to Mgulani Camp, Dares Salaam, Tanzania, establishing rehabilitation work, commencing with six children that expanded to include adults who were out-patients to the hospital.
In June 1962 the Brigadier was given a temporary appointment to Kampala, Uganda to Friendship House for ambulant sick. In the ensuing years growing unrest swept Uganda, resulting in the banning of The Salvation Army together with all Christian denominations. Despite this, the Brigadier courageously remained at her post. She was The Salvation Army in Uganda. The rich, poor, church leaders, Salvation Army leaders, officers and soldiers called upon her for encouragement and guidance. Eight months after the ban was imposed, the Brigadier was forced to leave Uganda as to remain would have meant resigning her officership, which for her was not an option.
After sixteen years of service to the people of Uganda, and with a heavy heart she crossed the border into Kenya and took charge of Sunset Lodge at Mombasa.
In 1978 the Brigadier was summoned to London to attend the International Centenary Congress and duly received the Order of the Founder, the highest honour given to Salvationists.
Brigadier Bywaters’s retirement service was held in East Africa in November 1979, however she continued in active service, accepting an appointment in Kenya at the Lions Hostel for country girls studying in Nairobi. In February 1980 the Brigadier returned to Uganda working at the Torora Children’s Home. She returned to Australia in 1982, having given almost 2 years of service as an officer.
While in East Africa Brigadier Bywaters received two awards:
- The Independence Medal for meritorious service to Uganda given by the nation’s President
- The Queen’s Jubilee Medal presented by the Australian High Commission to Kenya
In 2005 Brigadier Bywaters was a recipient of the Order of Australia.
