SALVATION Army Major Greg Saunders and his wife Karen will swap the leafy streets of Orange for Queensland beaches when they move to the Sunshine Coast early next year.
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The ordained ministers were appointed company leaders with the Salvation Army in Orange after moving here in January 2008 from Umina Beach near Woy Woy.
“Orange for us as a family has been a really good place to live,” Major Saunders said.
“It’s got its problems I know, (such as) late night drinking and that sort of reflects Sydney a little bit, but it’s a great place.
“Our first impressions were that it was friendly and open.”
With 15 years experience under their belts they have moved up the ranks and will hold their last service in Orange on January 4 and move to Nambour on the Sunshine Coast on November 5.
Since coming to Orange Major Saunders has met many people through both the charity and religious arms of the Salvation Army and has seen the town grow and change.
During his time here Major Saunders started the children’s musical program Just Brass at Bletchington Public School and Glenroi Heights Primary School to give children who would not otherwise have an opportunity to learn an instrument.
He also started Christmas carolling in the streets.
Major Saunders said Orange had a generous community and it was something that needed to be maintained as the city grew, although he lamented the loss of religion throughout society.
“My role is as the pastoral leader of the Salvation Army and the organisational leader of what we do, my role is to find the needs and fulfil them as we can,” he said.
He said sometimes it was an issue with people treating the Salvation Army as an ATM, although he had no issue in helping people in genuine need.