Holly's outback Christmas: sharing hope and love in Katherine
It is a long way from the West Midlands’ winter Christmas in the United Kingdom to the heat of midsummer in Katherine in Australia’s Northern Territory. But when 27-year-old working tourist Holly saw an opportunity to volunteer at the annual Salvation Army Katherine community Christmas lunch — helping to feed and bring hope and joy to more than 150 local community members — she immediately knew it was how she wanted to spend her first Christmas away from her close-knit family in England.
Having spent nearly six months of her holiday working at a large supermarket in Katherine, Holly says she felt privileged to connect with and be welcomed by the many locals she met. Before travelling, she attended university and worked as a clerical staff member for the National Health Service in England.
While the cultural differences were huge in some ways, and some of the social challenges heartbreaking, there were also many similarities in communities where people looked out for and cared for each other.
“I kind of got a sense of the real Australia, in my opinion. Not the postcard version. I got to connect with people — Aboriginal people and Indigenous Islanders — which was beautiful. To experience that culture was really special,” she says. “I’m so grateful. Everyone I met in Katherine was really accepting.”
A very special Christmas
Holly’s partner Thomas was instantly on board with volunteering. The couple joined 46 other volunteers for The Salvation Army Christmas lunch — an experience Holly says was deeply rewarding. “I thought, what better way to spend Christmas than with people who need a little bit of love, a little bit of kindness? A meal, a cold drink — it just made sense to do it,” she says.
For Holly, the day was about the people they were serving. “It wasn’t about us at all. We had a job to do. I was just a visitor who had the privilege of living in Katherine for six months, but in that moment, we felt like we had been part of the community forever.”
She describes the day as being filled with light and joy. “I don’t know how else to put it. It was full of goodness, full of smiles. We were on such a high when we finished.”
The lunch was coordinated by Salvation Army corps officers Sandra Mortimer and Tony Barford. It was their first time overseeing the event in Katherine, and Sandra says it was “a very special day”.
“We were grateful to know so many of the rough-sleeping community from our work throughout the year,” Sandra says. “The volunteers worked incredibly hard and did a massive amount of work.”
The team served a generous meal of turkey, ham, chicken, potato bake and mangoes, all donated by local businesses, alongside food and other Christmas supplies made possible by Red Shield Appeal funds donated by the Katherine community, as well as a Red Shield Appeal Indigenous Australians funding support package.
Leftover meals were donated to a Katherine women’s shelter, whose staff had also volunteered at the lunch. A local musical ensemble performed carols, and a children’s activity room was run by qualified supervisors. Every child received a toy from The Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer warehouse donations and the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal.
Local churches joined in to offer support.
Sandra says the outpouring of gratitude from attendees was overwhelming. “The highlights of the day were the many ‘thank yous’ we received from rough sleepers and from Katherine residents who had homes but appreciated having somewhere to come,” she says. “It was so heartwarming. Being served at a table rather than having to line up was also really appreciated.”
A lasting Salvos legacy
For Holly, the day wasn’t just a one-off experience. It shifted her perspective on how she wants to celebrate Christmas in the future. “I think that was the best Christmas for me — giving a little bit to other people, watching joy unfold and seeing all ages and backgrounds come together.”
Volunteering at the lunch also gave Holly a cherished connection to her own family history. “My great-grandparents Frank and Clarice were part of The Salvation Army in Wales. My grandmother Ann spoke so highly of [them and The Salvation Army], so I felt like this was a little nod to my past. It felt like it was all meant to be.”
Holly says she was inspired by Sandra and Tony’s kindness and leadership. “Sandra was like a hug from home. I don’t know how to explain it. I had only met her once before when we discussed volunteering, but when I walked into that room, she felt like a lovely aunt. She and Tony, and their care and connection to the community — wow!”
Holly says she was deeply impacted when Sandra prayed for the volunteers. She was also inspired by Sandra’s leadership. “As a woman, I just think Sandra has such grace — softness but also a business-like approach. She knew what she wanted to do, but she wasn’t pushy. She made sure everyone was on board and feeling good. She took the time to connect with people one-on-one. Her heart is huge. She really cares.”
Looking ahead, Holly knows this experience will shape how she approaches Christmas and others in need in the future. “And,” she laughs, “my family will find me much more handy in the kitchen next Christmas. I’m ready and prepared. I feel like I’ve mastered handling meats, potatoes and gravy now!”
But more than that, she leaves Katherine with a deep sense of gratitude. “I’m really into my ancestry, so it felt very special to honour my great-grandparents, Frank and Clarice. In a way, I feel like we were carrying that legacy on.”
Reflecting on the day, Holly says, “We had Christmas dinner at home on Christmas Eve as I wanted to have a proper UK-style Christmas. It was lovely and I worked really hard on it, but then after volunteering at The Salvation Army, we got to take lunch home in a cardboard container and we sat there and I was looking out at Katherine from our balcony and as I was eating, [for some reason] I’ve never felt more grateful in my life!”