From incarceration to inspiration - Leanne's incredible journey

Twenty years ago, if you told Leanne she would someday be an honoured guest at places like NSW Parliament House, she probably would have laughed in your face.

Leanne, a ‘senior soldier’ (member) at Raymond Terrace Salvos (NSW), was recently named a finalist in the Rotary Most Inspirational Women’s Awards during a ceremony at Parliament House in Sydney.

She says that being recognised among so many “unbelievable women out there doing amazing things” was an honour and a testament to the way God has transformed her life.

Salvation Army care in dark times

Two decades ago, Leanne was in jail. She was serving a seven-year sentence and described herself as a “troublesome prisoner”. At one point, she spent nine months in isolation.

Throughout this period, she only received one visitor – Major Heather Merrick from The Salvation Army, who was the prison chaplain.

“She was [like] this ‘glowing light’,” Leanne recalls. “She said, ‘God is with you,’ and I got to know her, and everything changed … She turned something around in me in the Lord.”

After enduring decades of family and domestic violence that led to serious injuries, homelessness, and incarceration, discovering and experiencing the love of Jesus was overwhelming for Leanne.

She says inviting Jesus into her heart turned her life around and, over time, gave her the strength and passion to use her life experiences to support others.

“God kept me alive so that I could help others,” she says. “I truly believe that.”

Connections and care after incarceration

Leanne started attending Raymond Terrace Salvos (just north of Newcastle) after she was released from jail because she says they were the only ones who “spoke to me like a normal person” and didn’t judge her.

“The people were so nice to me ... I just wanted to give back, and that’s how I started to volunteer,” she says.

Eight years later, Leanne has become a senior soldier of The Salvation Army and is a regular volunteer at SAL Connect, packing and distributing food hampers and coming alongside people in need.

“[I love] working with homeless and traumatised people and [people impacted by] DV,” she says. “The Lord just brings people to me all the time. I have a way of connecting.”

Leanne is also a member of her local Rotary Club, volunteers with the prison ministry program ‘Kairos’, and has developed wellbeing programs for women in prison. Recently, she started her own podcast, called ‘Hoodwink’, which supports female ex-prisoners in integrating back into society.

No wonder she was nominated and named as a finalist in the 2025 Rotary ‘Most Inspirational Women’s Awards’!

Bringing hope to many

“The Lord has definitely set me up for this,” she says about her unique ministry to care for women who have experienced incarceration and trauma. “This is a calling from the Lord, no doubt. He wants me to do things that other people can’t do.”

“If I can bring people closer to God and even to start a relationship with him and hand their troubles over to God, I will be so happy,” she says.

BY LAUREN MARTIN
First published in Salvos Magazine