In times of need
It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need.
One of the first Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) trailers was positioned at Rockdale Salvation Army and was used for a number of exercises at Sydney Airport. When a Beech 200 plane suffered engine failure and crashed at the airport on 21 February 1980, killing a number of people, the Rockdale SAES team was there to assist rescue workers.
In 1999, when Sydney was struck by a severe hailstorm, the Hurstville SAES team joined others to serve more than 50,000 meals to emergency services workers and those affected.
On 25 August 2002, the Rockdale SAES team was called out to an explosion near Rockdale Railway station. In his book, With a Smile and a Cuppa, Garth R Hentzschel writes: arriving at 5:30am, they prepared sausages, bacon and bread to feed the hungry workers and remained on the scene through to 3pm.
In 1980, The Salvation Army in Rockdale recognised a need to help local families with their finances. It was founded by Harold and Robyn Petterson, with two part-time financial counsellors employed. In the first two years 148 clients were seen, with assistance given on budgeting, money management, legal rights regarding finances and how to cope with things like eviction, repossession and overwhelming debt. It soon expanded to other areas and is now offered at Salvation Army centres across NSW, Queensland and the ACT.
