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.

Hi Yuyutsu.

According to dad, his only addiction at that time in his life was avoiding particularly lethal mountain guns and the bayonets of the Imperial Japanese army. He had never had a cup of coffee at that stage, and the Salvos were not serving it, just a cuppa tea, at just the right time and the right place.

Glad to know Prompete, and Merry Christmas to you!

Yuyutsu. And seasons best for your good self and all those close to you.

The Salvo's are there because they are getting paid from the taxpayers purse Millions of dollars. I applaud the average salvo volunteer but have total disgust for the high salary executives.

If you think the salvos are a worthy cause ask to see the salary and expense accounts of the senior management (bet they won't show you)
The volunteers do great work for little or no money so the executives can live a life of luxury.

They get away with it because they count the volunteers as workers so the amount of money received as opposed to salaries looks low.

Equate the money received to the actual salaried employees and the figure would look completely different.

Also if an organization donates say 1,000 T shirts for free the charities give it away but they give it an estimated value of $10 so in there books they say they gave away $10 x 1,000 = $10,000 worth of charity when in reality they gave nothing away. Smoke and mirrors by charities.
This trick make the total percentage given away by comparison to donations received look good - a good illusion.

Hi there PHILIP S...

I believe you're right on the money there, when you say those at the top of the Salvo's are well paid. They are riding on the good fame and reputation of their many volunteers, without them, they'd amount to nothing.

Cheers...Sung Wu.

A couple of decades ago a UK undercover media investigation into the Salvos, showed that unless a homeless person could pay three english pounds sterling, then there was no bed in the shelter for them.
It also revealed that only 14% of the monetry contributions the Salvos receive, go towards their welfare work.

Hi there KIPP...

Very interesting what you've said that apparently transpires in the UK, where their homeless folk are required to pay some sort of levy or impost in order to obtain a bed for the night ?

Also I'm not surprised in the least the small percentage of the total funds raised, that actually find their way directly to the 'coal face' of these welfare programmes.

The Salvation Army executive, would no doubt assert they need to meet many costs, charges and overheads, just to fund the administrative component, of their institution, before the balance of those funds remaining can be properly directed to the actual welfare programme.

There's little doubt, charitable institutions do have a hard time both raising funds as well as remaining solvent. And it's also true, Governments (Federal & State) do provide some fiscal relief, which hardly provides sufficient financial assuagement where they're awash with excess money in order to direct to their desired programmes.

I don't know Kipp, I'm sure on balance, the Salvo's do a good job, or at least try to do good. Myself, I have very little regard for them, for reasons I've clearly enunciated herein. However, it certainly doesn't mean I'm right, nor does it mean I'm wrong, neither ?

Cheers...Sung Wu.

On the face of it it seems difficult to impugn the motives of the Salvos, and especially in Nauru.
I am however critical of the Salvos' mission overall and this seems like a good place to articulate it. The Salvos do effectively support government, and especially the inequities it presides over. In a wealthy country like Australia it's the government, through taxation, that should be funding minimum standards for everyone. As it is, the Salvos help to maintain the status quo by putting a decent and compassionate face on what would otherwise present as the cold indifference that largely prevails, on and offshore. Perhaps more importantly, the Salvos work within the "normal" parameters of society, thereby tacitly endorsing its essential institutions, one of which is, of course, the church.
The Salvos are not merely advocates of the State, directly contradicting Jesus' more radical mission, they are a vested interest within it, notwithstanding that the Salvos' reward is on the face of it power and influence rather than money and luxury.
No doubt the Salvos' are genuine, but their mission amounts to political advocacy, perennially insinuating their presence in society as normal and valid, and maintaining religion as a wholesale diversion from the ills of society, which ought to be addressed, rather than air-brushed.

...More rant from the anti-Christian, anti-Monarchist, pro-Gay rights radical Left posters. This would be the bottom of the barrel attack of cowardice on the “useful” institution of the Salvation Army: “Atheists United” Christmas message ugh!

diver dan - You attack people but give no evidence to support your tirade.

COUNTER THIS FACT.
The Salvation Army is collecting $22 million to provide welfare and case management services on Nauru for a 6 month contract do you know how many people they have there - 28 people - THAT IS $785,714.28 per person for 6 months. JUSTIFY THAT ONE

1) To me the VOLUNTEER and the lower paid people are to be commended but they allow the higher echelon to pay them self criminal salaries.

The following figures are from American organization but trying to find info on Australian ones are very hard or impossible.

Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross... salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. Out of every dollar they bring in, about $0.39 goes to related charity causes
NOTE THAT WAS 2003 IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE NOW.

Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. About $0.51 per dollar of income goes to charity causes.

UNICEF - CEO, receives $1,200,000 per year, (plus use of a Royal Royce for his exclusive use where ever he goes, and an expense account that is rumored to be well over $150,000.) FROM DONATIONS $0.14 per dollars goes to charity work.

World Vision President (Canada) receives $300,000 base salary, (plus supplied - a home valued in the $700,000 - $800,000 dollar value range, completely furnished, completely paid all housing expenses, including taxes, water/sewer, telephone/fax, HD/high speed cable, weekly maid service and pool/yard maintenance, fully paid private schooling for his children, upscale automobile and an $55,000 personal expense account for clothing/food, with a $125,000 business expense account) Only about $0.52 of earned income per dollar is available for charity causes

Hi there DIVER DAN...

Again you hit 'n run ? You laud the exploits of the Salvation Army, is it because you 'hope' they're doing the right thing, or what ?

Anybody who seeks to disagree with you, you roll out your usual retort with language like 'rant' amongst other dreary rejoinders. Then you go about insulting other people's views and opinions ?

You're a strange little bloke aren't you ? Speaking sometimes in riddles, introducing arguement with phrases that attempt to be more allegorical, in some feeble attempt to intellectualize your arguement, by trying to project yourself as being a somewhat, cerebral sort of fellow ?

Why ? Can't you at least mount a counter arguement on the fidelity and decency of the Salvation Army, if that's what you believe ? I personally will have no truck with them at all. But at least I've tried to be praisworthy of their many thousands of volunteers, and the good works they perform. Even when I was still in the job, I called upon their assistance on many occasions over the years.

You do worry me (occasionally) DIVER DAN. Still, have a brilliant 2013, whatever you choose to do with yourself ?

Cheers...Sung Wu.

Diver Dan, as a "Christian" you need to look at yourself and your personal beliefs, as your extreme negative comments towards others, must be blasphemy as to what your god expects of you.
Why you have this nasty attitude towards your fellow beings, indicate an unhappy experience in your earlier life.
Maybe you should contact the Salvos for counselling, it may be a free service, though I am sure they will want payment of some kind

They will be able to con more money out of the taxpayers, unreported by main stream media in the last 2 days 3 more boats with excess of 200 people.

The report of Malcolm Frazer flying around Africa in first class for charity is forever etched in my mind. Where I live the underprivileged drive better cars, live in better houses etc while all others have to go to work. Something's gone wobbly in our society.
I have no hesitation in believing the reports of upper echelon in the Salvation Army skimming the cream.

Individual:

…What a beautiful display of “Downward Envy”… Tut Tut!

diver dan - You are a closet poster you tirade and abuse others but fail to provide anything and you simply fail to answer questions people ask of you.

To put it bluntly you are like a parasite, who needs to be totally ignored.

I will re post this for you.

COUNTER THIS FACT.
The Salvation Army is collecting $22 million to provide welfare and case management services on Nauru for a 6 month contract do you know how many people they have there - 28 people - THAT IS $785,714.28 per person for 6 months. JUSTIFY THAT ONE

1) To me the VOLUNTEER and the lower paid people are to be commended but they allow the higher echelon to pay them self criminal salaries.

The following figures are from American organization but trying to find info on Australian ones are very hard or impossible.

Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross... salary for year ending 06/30/03 was $651,957 plus expenses. Out of every dollar they bring in, about $0.39 goes to related charity causes
NOTE THAT WAS 2003 IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE NOW.

Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way receives a $375,000 base salary, plus numerous expense benefits. About $0.51 per dollar of income goes to charity causes.

UNICEF - CEO, receives $1,200,000 per year, (plus use of a Royal Royce for his exclusive use where ever he goes, and an expense account that is rumored to be well over $150,000.) FROM DONATIONS $0.14 per dollars goes to charity work.

World Vision President (Canada) receives $300,000 base salary, (plus supplied - a home valued in the $700,000 - $800,000 dollar value range, completely furnished, completely paid all housing expenses, including taxes, water/sewer, telephone/fax, HD/high speed cable, weekly maid service and pool/yard maintenance, fully paid private schooling for his children, upscale automobile and an $55,000 personal expense account for clothing/food, with a $125,000 business expense account) Only about $0.52 of earned income per dollar is available for charity causes

diver dan,
what a display of utter ignorance & downright idiocy !

o sung, you are really an escapee from Andrew Bolt's columns aren't you?

There is no such thing as an illegal immigrant in Australia, they are refugees who have been forced to leave their own countries to seek international protection - asylum seeker is a legal status in any country like ours that has ratified the refugee convention.

The SALVo's are taking dirty money to commit crimes against humanity by a racist coward government.

There are many illegal immigrants to Australia; of those on boats, most of them. They are not refugees but economic which would not be too bad if they were Vietnamese who came here intending to work but instead have the intent to collect the dole, many other handouts and despise our institutions. I guess that is why Shepard is so much in support. The Big Lie has failed, there ARE many illegals coming in.

Good afternoon to you MARILYN SHEPHERD...

Firstly, might I ask, who is Andrew Bolt, from who's column I've allegedly escaped ?

And I humbly take on board your admonishment of my erroneous and imprecise use of an appellation, that's clearly earned me your ire !

Accordingly, I shall endevour to exercise much more discretion and judiciousness. Should ever I have a need to describe these folk who come here without first establishing their bona fides to do so. In order to seek significant financial succour and other notable material benefits from us, the tax-payers of Australia !

I sincerely hope MARILYN SHEPHERD, I've now managed (on this occasion at least) to employ language of a kind that will not cause any hurt ?
Or have I again unwittingly strayed beyond those invisable bounds of unerring suspicion and cynicism ?

There's an old saying amongst detectives '...first, follow the money...' !

Cheers...Sung Wu

Marilyn Shepherd - I have only one question to ask you.

Can you explain why the so called refugees we get are 95% men on most boats from Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and Pakistan BUT in all other parts of the world the refugees are manly women and children or whole families?

I await your reply.

"The SALVo's are taking dirty money to commit crimes against humanity by a racist coward government".
Yes, Marilyn, but let's not forget that the government is representative, as is the opposition. It's the electorate, by and large, that's despicable; their politicians are just their scapegoats.
Australia is a great place to land, not because it's a great place per se, but because the gods have favoured it, not by merit, but sheer caprice.
Modern Australians are utterly undeserving, but no less jealous for all that.
Inordinate wealth begets a conscience--and mendicants.

More often, inordinate wealth begets paranoia.

Christianity by itself is against humanity, so there is no humanity reason for them to be there....