Wills Update by The Salvation Army

Wills Update News & stories from The Salvation Army Wills & Bequests team

This issue:

• • •

Labour of love A “Willing” supporter Is it time to update your Will?

Labour of love leads to a gift in a Will

Blayney is a prime farming area located about 250 kilometres west of Sydney. Life can be tough for those who derive their livelihood from working the land in this area, especially as it often records the state’s lowest temperatures in winter. Managing a 1100-acre property single-handedly can be no easy task, yet Barbara, who had lived all her life in the country, loved the lifestyle and developed a deep love and understanding for the land.

with the Strongs, who would regularly call in to visit.

During one particularly tough period, Barbara came into contact with The Salvation Army’s rural chaplains, Majors Bob and Estelle Strong, who offered support and financial assistance.

Salvation Army link As the years went on, Barbara developed her property further and became widely known for her expertise in training Arabian horses. Barbara lived simply and understood she was a steward of God’s creation. As a tithe, she would often instruct a butcher to anonymously donate a lamb to The Salvation Army in nearby Orange. She also boasted that her property paid its way, as she had contracts with two Australian universities in regard to re-forestation studies, in addition to the sale of livestock.

Barbara, once an active member of a church, soon developed a friendship

Towards the end of her life, Barbara made closer links with Orange Salvation

Army, with Major Greg Saunders and members of the congregation embracing her, particularly as she was suffering from an aggressive cancer. It was because of this love and care that Barbara decided, after much thought, to bequeath her beloved property to the Orange Salvation Army, and requested that her farm continue as a working property. When Barbara became too ill to give oversight to her property, a team from Orange Salvation Army swung into action. A few weeks before Barbara’s death, she reluctantly moved into The Salvation Army’s nursing home at nearby Canowindra, where it was the Army’s privilege to care and support her in her final days.

1st Edition 2016

Wills Update - 1st Edition 2016 A ‘Willing’ supporter “Growing up, we never had a great deal of money, and so it was always a matter of donating time.”

A ‘Willing’ supporter

Is it time to update your Will?

– Geoff Armstrong

“Growing up, we never Solicitor Geoff deal Armstrong says it is had a great of money, “a mystery” why nearly halfa of adults in and so it was always matter Australia do nottime.” have a valid Will. of donating “The cost to make a Will is relatively – Geoff Armstrong modest to ensure your life’s work is passed onGeoff to your chosen beneficiaries,” Solicitor Armstrong says it is he says. “The process of half making a Willin “a mystery” why nearly of adults is also relatively straightforward and Australia do not have a valid Will. not time-consuming.” “Theparticularly cost to make a Will is relatively

modest to ensure your life’s work is Geoff, to Australia from passed who on tomoved your chosen beneficiaries,” England in 2000, regularly donates his he says. “The process of making a Will time and expertise to Salvation Army is also relatively straightforward and “Wills Days”. “Itime-consuming.” go along as a volunteer not particularly solicitor and make clients a Will on aGeoff, professional basis to and they make a who moved Australia from donation in turn to the Salvos,” he England in 2000, regularly donates says. his “So giveexpertise my time,toeffort and expertise. timeI and Salvation Army People who need it get a Will the “Wills Days”. “I go along as a and volunteer Salvos get a donation for their work solicitor and make clients a Will on to help peoplebasis in need. is amake great a a professional and It they way of doing things!” donation in turn to the Salvos,” he says. “So I give my time, effort and expertise. Also involved in Lions People who need it get Clubs a Will and and the aSalvos number of other charities, Geoff get a donation for their work believes it is important support to help people in need. to It is a great people in need. He says: “It is way of doing things!” something that has been with me since IAlso wasinvolved a child. Growing up, weand never in Lions Clubs had a great deal of money, and so it a number of other charities, Geoff was always a matter of donating time.” believes it is important to support people in need. He says: “It is Honoured friends something that has been with me since Geoff has also had a number his I was a child. Growing up, weofnever private clients independently want had a great deal of money, and so it to a legacy to the work of time.” wasleave always a matter of donating The Salvation Army, and has introduced to the Army’s Honouredthem friends “Honoured Friends” program.of his Geoff has also had a number private clients independently want to leave a legacy to the work of The Salvation Army, and has introduced them to the Army’s “Honoured Friends” program.

It is said that people, on average,

Is ittheir time update Will sixto times in their lifetime. update your Will? Are you wanting to update your Will? Callthat Thepeople, Salvation Army It is said on average, on 1800 337 082 to make update their Will six times an in appointment their lifetime.at our next Wills Day (see dates below). This is a program that recognises those who have generously remembered The Salvation Army in their Will. It includes pastoral care and the opportunity to visit or hear from beneficiaries of Salvation This is a program that recognises Army programs. those who have generously

remembered The Salvation Army He says Will. of hisItcontact with The in their includes pastoral Salvation Army over many years: care and the opportunity to visit or “I just think they’re fantastic. I’ve met hear from beneficiaries of Salvation many of their officers through the Wills Army programs. Days and also through the Honoured Friends and without He says program of his contact with Theexception ISalvation have found them dedicated, genuine Army over many years: people. Those I’ve introduced to the “I just think they’re fantastic. I’ve met Honoured Friends program have many of their officers through thebeen Wills delighted their reception. Days and with also through the Honoured Friends program and without exception “I havefound also been to a couple I have theminvited dedicated, genuine of Red Shield Appeal breakfasts,” he people. Those I’ve introduced to the says. “The stories that hit home the Honoured Friends program have been most are the people have come delighted with their who reception. through programs needing help or shelter now putting “I have and alsoare been invited to atime couple back into helping others in the same of Red Shield Appeal breakfasts,” he situations. That means that services says. “The stories that hit home the and suchwho as Wills mostfundraisers are the people haveDays come are an investment into our through programs needing community help or on so many levels.” shelter and are now putting time back into helping others in the same situations. That means that services and fundraisers such as Wills Days are an investment into our community on so many levels.”

Are you wanting to update your The offerSalvation a community Will?Salvos Call The Armyservice in which generous local solicitors on 1800 337 082 to make an prepare simpleatWills in exchange appointment our next Wills Day for a $50 contribution to our (see dates below). community work. The Salvos offer a community service We encourage you local to pass this in which generous solicitors information on to anyone you know prepare simple Wills in exchange who has not yet prepared a Will. for a $50 contribution to our Here are details of Wills Days community work. planned for this year: We encourage you to pass this 8 8 June June Ipswich Ipswich (Qld) information on (Qld) to anyone you know 21 June Parramatta (NSW) 21 June Parramatta (NSW) who has not yet prepared a Will. 29 July Campbelltown (NSW) 7 July Canberra City, Tuggeranong Here are details of Wills Days 17 andAugust Gungahlin planned forMiranda this (ACT) year:(NSW) 914September Wollongong (NSW) July Wagga Wagga 12 September Caloundra (Qld) JulyIpswich Campbelltown 829June (Qld) (NSW) 13 September Nambour (Qld) 17 August Miranda (NSW) 21 June Parramatta (NSW) 20 September Port Macquarie (NSW) 9 September Wollongong (NSW) 29 July Campbelltown (NSW) 25 October Newcastle (NSW) 12 August September Caloundra 17 Miranda (NSW)(Qld) 25 October Lismore (NSW) 13 September Nambour (Qld) 9 September Wollongong (NSW) 1 November Hurstville (NSW) 20 September Port Macquarie 12 September Caloundra (Qld)(NSW) November Coast (NSW) 25 September OctoberCentral Newcastle (NSW) 13 Nambour (Qld) –20 Date to be confirmed 25 September October Lismore (NSW) (NSW) Port Macquarie 1 November Hurstville (NSW) 25 October Newcastle (NSW) Our Future (Estate) Planning seminar November Central Coast (NSW) 25 October Lismore (NSW) in conjunction with Ipswich City Date to be confirmed 1– November Hurstville (NSW) Council willCentral be heldCoast in Ipswich November (NSW) on 21 April. Future Planning seminar –Our Date to be(Estate) confirmed in conjunction with Ipswich City Council will(Estate) be heldPlanning in Ipswich Our Future seminar on 21 April. in conjunction with Ipswich City Council will be held in Ipswich on 21 April.

Please remember The Salvation Army when you next update your Will For credit card donations phone 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit salvos.org.au | Letters and feedback welcome Published by The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory Communications and Fundraising Department PO Box A229, Sydney South NSW 1232 Wills & Bequest Freecall Number 1800 337 082 | salvos.org.au/wills | The Salvation Army 2016