A decade of service at Salvos

In her role she took care of administration duties and the church community, looked after volunteers and managers at the thrift shop, led worship and became a part of the ministers' association.

Mrs Edwards first became involved with the Salvation Army at the age of 23, but God has been a big part of her life since she was a child growing up in Thyra.

“I first gave my life to God when I was 13,” she said.

“I was brought up in the [Methodist Church] and I felt the call from God to give my heart to him out at Lake Eppalock at a Christian camp... I did my first sermon later on that year.”

However, in her late teenage years she became distant from her faith and stopped attending church regularly.

At 23, her mother-in-law passed away, and the memorial service was held at the Echuca Moama Salvation Army church.

Mrs Edwards said it was that service that started her journey with Salvos.

“I joined the Echuca Moama Salvation Army when I was 23, and it’s been a wonderful journey,” she said.

“I thought this is okay, it doesn’t matter what I wear, who I am, where I've come from or what I’ve done — the Salvation Army accepts me just as I am.

“I got totally involved and became a senior soldier and have had many roles - secretary, treasurer, fellowship leader, the core sergeant major.”

In between juggling her roles within the church, she also worked as a nurse.

After training at the ERH, she became a district nurse for many years before becoming the community nurse at Mathoura for 18 years.

Mrs Edwards said being a nurse before becoming a minister felt fated.

“I think my nursing training particularly community nursing was training for [the Salvation Army] ... I’m in the role of healing souls, not healing physical wounds,” she said.

“It’s all about looking after people and taking them in the right directions and caring for them all no matter what, and I did that in community nursing as well.”

Although she has stepped back from her role as the Auxiliary Lieutenant, the Echuca Moama corp is Mrs Edwards home corp so she will remain an active member of the church community.

She is also looking forward to supporting the church’s new ministers, who commenced their roles on Sunday, January 19.

After almost 50 years in the salvo’s church, she said she still enjoys everything about it.

“I just love being with people and looking after people,” she said.

“Community is so embedded within me, we have a community here and the wider community and I just love it ... I am so appreciative of the community for their generosity.”