Former Liberal Prime Minister Mr Howard and former Labor NSW Premier Mr Rees were helping to launch the 2017 Appeal at Castle Hill RSL last Friday in front of a room-full of business leaders and Salvation Army officers.
Mr Howard praised the Salvation Army for “always being there, in the jails, behind battle lines”, going beyond what government agencies could do.
“The Salvation Army has not changed . . . and even in an affluent area like the Hills, they are still needed with broken homes, the underprivileged and for the women and children who are maltreated by the males in the family. God bless the Salvation Army.”
Mr Rees said government was “not nimble enough” to care for people the way the Salvation Army did.
“You see the Salvos in the parks caring for people who have fallen through the cracks,” he said.
“Government people are not going to wander the parks at night looking for people who need help.”
MC for the lunch was actor of Playschool fame Benita Collins and Baulkham Hills MP and Minister David Elliott representing Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Highlight of the lunch was a moving talk from Mat Kratuk who spoke about his dramatic transformation from drug addict and “career criminal” to a successful business executive.
Chair of the Western Sydney Business Appeal Committee Stephanie Dale said the committee was still tallying contributions, but it was hoped to be about $200,000.
The Red Shield Appeal was held on the weekend of May 27-28 with collectors visiting homes all over Australia.
