New facilities offer fresh approach for Ipswich
Councillor Andrew Antoniolli; Sarah Millyard, Ipswich Family Store Manager; Councillor Paul Pisasale, Ipswich City Mayor; and Major Mark Campbell, South Queensland Divisional Commander, cut the cake to celebrate the opening of the new facility (Credit: Photo courtesy of Ipswich Salvation Army).
Ipswich Salvation Army has officially opened its new combined Family Store and Community Support Centre, which also incorporates an Indigenous Ministries Support Service.
“The move from the two old stores on the South and Ellenborough streets church property has trebled the size of our Family Store floor space and enabled us to have all our services under one roof,” said Captain Greg Pack, Ipswich Corps Officer with his wife, Major Lenore Pack. “It’s also given us a much better location in the centre of town.
“The amalgamation of our two community welfare offices, Ipswich and North Ipswich, onto this new site has made assisting the community with their needs both easier and more accessible for those without transport.”
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale officially opened the premises, offering to provide new shirts for the team of 20 volunteers.
The Army’s South Queensland Divisional Commander, Major Mark Campbell, prayed a prayer of blessing and gratitude for all those who enter the new Family Store and Community Support Centre. The support services offered follow the Doorways philosophy of walking alongside clients.
“For our clients seeking assistance, coming into a building that looks like a shop is much less intimidating and gives them a much better feeling about themselves. We are working together to help our clients become self-sufficient and not rely on welfare,” explained Captain Greg.
The merging of services in the new building reflects the unity of the faith and indigenous communities who now worship together at Ipswich Corps.
A special Acknowledgment and Thanksgiving Service to highlight the milestones of the past 10 years in indigenous ministries at North Ipswich Salvation Army took place in early July. Special guests at the service included Shayne Neumann, Member for Blair, and Lieutenant- Colonels Bert and Iris Hill who were part of the original Indigenous Ministry management team.
Local indigenous volunteers, Aunty Lee Thompson and Aunty Jenny Lee, took part in the service, and Major Rick Hoffman, Sth Qld Divisional Mission and Resource Director – Social, gave a message.
This article first appeared in the August edition of Pipeline magazine.
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