The Salvos are no stranger to that part of the world.
My dad said that the cuppa he was given, strong, condensed milk and lotsa sugar, he received whilst on the Owen Stanley Track, was "a gift of the gods". Upon his return, whenever they came through the pub rattling the can, he would empty his pockets of pennies, thrippences, and bobs. I have always followed his lead, as do his grandchildren.

I note the lack of response to this statement in the original article:

"Institutions which sought to nurture and succor children of The Stolen Generation, nonetheless became tainted with the evilness of the policy and were caught, to greater or lesser extent, in the allegations and substance of the abuses which occurred. The same is equally true of the institutions associated with Child Migrants from Malta and England at the end of WWII."

The number of submissions to various enquiries would alert anyone to this disgraceful record of abuse and child rape that involves the Salvation Army, particularly children placed in their 'care', not to mention their vigorous defence in response to the huge number of claims by victims of their abuse. Care and compassion, I don't think so.

If you think this is untrue, please read the submissions to the Mullighan Inquiry and Justice Mullighan's findings, the Victorian Inquiry and other inquiries into child sexual abuse. Benchmark and other legal document archives are all available in the public domain.

Read your article Major. and I don't agree with you at all ! I must admit, I'm quite biased. I simply don't trust you.

Before proceeding, I was a Veteran, in country during 1964/65, and we NEVER saw a so called 'Salvo' at any time ?

As a retired detective, and after much interaction with the Salvation Army over the years, I sought direct help from a Salvo 'Officer' during Christmas some years ago. I was working myself (on duty) and sought (by phone) a quick visitation, and a kind word for a sick elderly lady, who was alone on Christmas Day ? I was promptly informed '...we don't work or do visits on Christmas Day...' !

Hitherto, as a regular contributor to their various charities, from that day forward, I NEVER gave another penny to them, and never will.

However, in this particulary issue I do accept they've made their position clear, apropos their official objection and stance on mandatory detention, and as a consequence they feel morally obligated that they're required to provide some succour and relief, to the illegal's on Nauru.

However, I would've thought there'd be so much more work available for them here in Australia. To provide all the necessary services and acts of chariety they could possibly handle, rather then looking after these illegals on far-off Nauru.

Then perhaps, call me ever the intractable sceptic, even misanthropic, there appears to be far less publicity and media exposure available to them here in Australia, when dealing with our own, more than worthy homeless young and old. Than those illegals who somehow manage to pay upwards of $10,000 USD for their voyage, who are now whinging about their circumstances on Nauru ?

Another success story do you think Salvation Army ?

pay upwards of $10,000 USD for their voyage
o sung wu,
I haven't been unemployed nor have I ever earned "good money". I could not come up with 10 grand for quite some time. It makes me wonder how these supposedly extremely poor people can muster the Dollars.
I for one stick to my opinion that the boat people are mere soldiers invading this country with (australian) stupidity in lieu of guns.
The Salvos on the other hand appear to have lost their focus also.

The criticism against the Salvation Army is not about helping the refugees in Nauru and elsewhere, but about accepting tainted government money while doing so.

There are two problems about it:

1. One cannot serve two masters. If one is obliged to kiss that hand which provides the money, then one gets to cut corners on the ethical issues, siding with the evils of government.

2. Government money is stolen money - it was taken from people without their consent. Accepting that money makes the Salavation Army and accomplice in crime. Why interpose a government in the path of charity? Surely politicians are more than happy to collect more taxes, then divide it between the salvation army and their own parasite paper-shufflers. You should instead collect the money yourselves, directly from the people without that thief in between, in the spirit of charity and joy of giving rather than in the spirit of coercion and grudge.

Dear Prompete,

Coffee is a harmful substance. The salvos were playing it straight to your dad's addiction. The article itself is also ignorantly boasting about "serving tea and coffee and offering emotional support to our troops[' addiction] in times of war"

Hi there INDIVIDUAL...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, my friend.

Perhaps I was a little hard even bitter apropos my several wretched encounters with the Salvation Army, those years ago. Many people I've spoken with, do nothing but lionize their activities, however I can only call it as I see it ?

Of course you're absolutely correct when you assert that many of these so called asylum seekers are nothing better than conning our over generous social security system, that yours and my taxes go towards financing.

And what I find so jolly hard to swallow, we have many thousands of homeless, men, women and even children, living on the streets, while these illegals are profiting from tax payers money.

Money, that if it has been specifically earmarked towards providing succour, SHOULD rightly go to OUR OWN people, who exist nightly in such poor circumstances.

I get very very angry, at the way these illegals are overtly exploiting even 'bleeding' our social security system. But eh, what can an old man like me do about it ? I've been described as racist, misanthropic, demented, amongst other things - why you may ask INDIVIDUAL ?

All because I have an opinion, that doesn't acquiesce to nor affiliate with doctrine, as determined by our glorious 'left' those faceless men of Labor ! Therefore this Labor Government must go, we can no longer afford them, with their reckless squandering, and their avarice ways, with taxpayers money.

God save this once great country.