Ballina's Salvationist beginnings

On 5 December 1891, Captain Emma Peake was appointed as the first commanding officer of The Salvation Army in Ballina. In a time when all other churches refused to ordain women as ministers, it must have been a shock to the small fishing and farming community! In fact, our records show that over the first 10 years of the operation of Ballina Salvation Army, only 14 months were commanded by a male officer. Single ladies had a stronghold and led the Ballina Salvation Army well in its foundational days.