Salvation Army Lieutenant Colonel Don Woodland was the first chaplain appointed to a statutory body in Australia and worked with the NSW Fire brigade in the 80s. 

His experience with trauma management landed him at the scene of major incidents such as the Sylvania Nursing Home Fire and the Rembrandt Hotel Fire Kings Cross and on the scene of the Grafton and Kempsey bus crashes and the massacre at Port Arthur.

Lieutenant Colonel Woodland is expected to address up to 100 guests at the Orange City Bowling club on Friday in a bid to raise about $30,000 towards the Orange appeal effort. 

Business chair Tony Rodd said there was still room for businesses to jump on board and come along at 12.30 for the free lunch and to place a bid in an auction. 

Major sponsor, Crowe Horwath, manager, Craig Carolan threw down the gauntlet for all Orange businesses to sign up for the “great cause”.

“We’re all local, we live here and we want to support the Red Shield Appeal,” he said. 

“A lot of our guys go down on the day and it is a great thing to contribute to the community.”

The Salvos need about 400 volunteers to complete the doorknock on May 25 as they aim to visit every house in Orange.

“Volunteers only need to donate about two hours and we really need drivers for the school kids,” Mr Rodd said. 

To volunteer, to attend the lunch or for information go to http://salvos.org.au/ or call Tony Rodd on 04379 90322.