Jan and John Cowan have worked tirelessly for the entire 20 years the Salvos have been in Brimbank. Picture: MATHEW LYNN
By LAURA WAKELY
WHO would have thought telemarketing could lead to so much good in the world?
It was more than 20 years ago that a few Brimbank residents got together with a plan to bring the Salvation Army to their municipality.
Curious to see whether people would join, they used telemarketing to survey more than 10,000 residents.
What they found was hundreds of lonely residents who were looking for ways to get involved in their community.
Over the years those people, and many more, have flocked to the Sydenham church to take part in groups for basketball, music, language, parenting, youth groups and more.
The Salvos themselves have been involved in food donations, disaster relief and charity work throughout Brimbank and Victoria.
Taylors Lakes’ Jan and John Cowan have seen it all, having been involved in the group that kick-started the Brimbank Salvos 20 years ago.
“We met in the Monmia Primary School and had 100 turn out on our first day,” Jan said.
“It got to a point where we really needed our own building.”
Jan said the Salvos was about serving the community and helping the “fellow man”.
“I’m very happy to be part all of that, it’s been exciting to do things for the community and to watch it grow,” she said.
The Brimbank City Salvation Army will celebrate their 20 Year Anniversary from 10am on Sunday 17 June at 10am at 2a Roseleigh Boulevard in Sydenham with a service and barbecue.
For more information or to RSVP contact the Salvation Army office on 9390 6111.
To donate to the Salvation Army visit www.salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 72 58.
