Who killed the Sallyman?
After 126 years, the Australian Army has axed funding for the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Defence Services’ Sallyman service.
FILE PHOTO (2012): A Sallyman provides hot and cold beverages, biscuits and a friendly ear to soldiers ‘out bush’. Photo by Corporal Nick Wiseman.
Known and loved for their ability to turn up in the bush with a brew and a bickie when soldiers’ morale or energy reserves were at a low ebb, the Sallymen and Sallyma’ams have been operating in support of Australian soldiers since the Second Boer War.
In 1899, Salvation Army’s co-founder William Booth, sent Adjutant Mary Murray to offer the troops a place of respite and someone to talk to.
Mary did just that, setting up a tent that soldiers from both sides of the fighting could access, providing a hot cuppa, biscuits and a listening ear.
The Salvo’s web site says this outreach continued through the two world wars, Korea and Vietnam – in fact, every conflict that involved the Australian Army.
“Around the nation, RSDS representatives support ADF personnel and their families on bases, on exercises and occasionally overseas.
“There are currently 13 RSDS representatives at five Army bases around Australia”, the web site still says.
The Returned & Services League of Australia said in a statement this week that the veteran and Defence Force community would be extremely disappointed at the decision to cease funding the Salvation Army’s “Sallyman” program.
RSL Australia National President Greg Melick said it was a serious concern that this support may no longer be available due to Defence Department budget cuts.
“While funds need to be found to pay for the AUKUS submarines, new destroyers, missiles and other key equipment purchases, the morale of service personnel was equally important as emphasised by the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide,” Mr Melick said.
“The Salvation Army Sallymen and Sallyma’ams have played a vital role in building and
maintaining this morale throughout the military and more often on the front line of conflicts.
“Service veterans have nothing but praise for the work of the ‘Salvos’ and the comfort and care
they bring to our troops, often at great personal risk.
“Many have laid down their lives in the quest to support our troops in battle, and veterans will not forget this.
“The decision to cut the funding to the program is a major disappointment and the RSL urges
the government to reconsider and do all it can to ensure the service continues to support our
service men and women, as well as veterans and their families.”
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That’s crossed a BIG line. Since I joined the ADF back in 1988 (still serving) we’ve had the Sallyman. Get the petition started!!!
Bullshit!
Defence is top heavy with seat polishers and pencil pushing public servants, sack a dozen or two or three the of the dead wood and they will be able to fund an institution as old and as important as almost any other tradition forever.
A visit from the Sallyman on major exercises was a highlight worth looking towards. It wasn’t just biscuits and a hot or cold drink, they also had note paper & envelopes and books.
Marles is a damp squib, his salary would be a good start.
The idiots at the top scratch their heads and wonder why no one wants to join up anymore.
The working servicemen keep getting screwed whilst the bras continue to live it up no expense spared
This decision is an absolute disgrace. Don’t know how the decision makers can sleep at night with this on their consciences. Just goes to show how out of touch with reality the Canberra bureaucrats really are. For over a century the Sallymen have been out there with our troops, supporting them in times of peace and war, even in the most obscure conditions and difficult terrains and weather. As a veteran with 43 years Army service I can personally vouch for the amazing uplifting effect on soldiers’ morale when they come out of the jungle or the firing line or out of tear gas training or similar arduous training or operational activities and see the sallyman there with a cuppa and a biscuit. The Sallymen make a difference and if the bureaucrats weren’t living in LaLa land they would see this . We must keep the Sallymen. WE NEED THEM !
Well, the Australian Left have never liked the Salvation Army
Typical of Labor governments. Always reducing the Defense budget.
This represents everything about the way our country is being run at the moment – proud traditions are being trashed – ordinary people are being ignored – we have more and more highly paid fools in Parliament who say they are representing ordinary folks, when they are not, and a plethora of Government people telling us they are here to help – and yet all of them, collectively, have endorsed taking the Sallyman away from the Diggers. This is a disgrace.
My message to the person who authorized this to happen – keep pushing us around, keep eroding our benefits, keep ignoring ordinary Australians, and see what you get when the next emergency comes your way: – Good luck, you are going to need it!
Defence killed of the Every Mans and now the Sally Man. And the dickheads have no idea why the incidents of mental illness in the ADF is going through the roof.
Steve, support you on the petition – On the parliamentry websites in the information on whay to do. I absolutely agree with you. Maybe get rid of some Generals and senior defence public service who seem to be behind the poor decision making and sent the money to the Sallies. I thank the good lord that I am shot of this wok Defence Force and the accompanying stupidity.
Here is another option: https://www.change.org/en-AU/start-a-petition I think the parliamentary petition may be more to the point.
Absolutely unconscionable decision. Very hard to quantify the benefit I understand but it does not take a Rhodes scholar to see a benefit from the help provided by the Sallies,or then again maybe it does.
Life becomes difficult when run by bean counters, this decision ranks with the ones,,,,, think I had better stop there.
Bloody shameful though.
No doubt those showing true grit and endurance within the high pressure and uncomfortable confines of Russell Offices will be happy to also give up the tea/coffee and bikkies in a show of equality and unity with those who are out in the boondocks, rain/hail or shine, kicking back and luxuriating !
No trurer words said Thank you
I am 87 years old and when 17 I can still remember the Everman’s canteen/lounge at Kapooka. Cup of chocolate and a biscuit plus a welcome smile and conversation. Lovely people who were friendly and caring.
Names change but I am certain the attitude of these special folk is/was the same as back then.
The axing of this organisation gives an idea of how unthoughtful some of these decision makers are. They are an uncaring lot.
Our government has poured millions into grants across the world, millions of dollars and a squadron of tanks, another of bushman vehicles to Ukraine. All in Nato territory.
REVERSE THIS DISGUSTING ORDER AND KEEP THIS 126 YEAR OLD SERVICE INNEEDY ACTION.
Un-bloody-believable. How can the head shed justify this to themselves, let alone to those who benefit from the services that the Salvos have provided for so long? If those ensconced in Malfunction Junction in Canberra need to save small change to fund all the new equipment, surely they can find it elsewhere. Of all the things that Defence spends my money on, are the services provided by the Salvos really the least deserving? I’m calling BS on this.
This is a disgrace, and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of service life.
If nothing else, the Sally’s were determined and show more resilience than those in the office of the CDF and the current numb nuts running the country. It appears that we will be training with Hama’s shortly.
It is time for a petition, not sure how to start one but will do my best tomorrow, will get advice as this is a disgrace.