The Salvation Army in Australia

The Salvation Army in Australia (nicknamed "Salvos" in Australian English) is an evangelical Christian church known for its charity work. It began operating in Australia since the late 19th Century. Administratively it is now divided between The Salvation Army, Australia Eastern Territory and The Salvation Army, Australia Southern Territory.

History

The first Salvation Army meeting in Australia was held in 1880. Edward Saunders and John Gore led the meeting from the back of a greengrocer's cart in Adelaide Botanic Park with an offer of food for those who had not eaten.[1] The Salvos also involved themeselves in finding work for the unemployed and in re-uniting families. In Melbourne from 1897 to 1910, The Army's Limelight Department was established as Australia's first film production company.[2] From such diverse activities, The Salvos have grown to be one of Australia's most respected charitable organisations, with a 2009 survey by Sweeney Research and the advertising group Grey Global finding the Salvation Army and the nation's Ambulance Service to be Australia's most trusted entities.[3]

Australia's George Carpenter was General of the Salvation Army (worldwide leader) from 1939–1946 and Eva Burrows during the 1980s and 1990s.[4][5]

See also

References