The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry C. Swanson, had words of advice for new officers of the Australia Eastern Territory at their ordination and commissioning service in Sydney. Worshippers in The Salvation Army want to know and see what their leaders believe, he told them, adding that they also need to know their leaders will do what they say they believe.

The Chief and Commissioner Sue Swanson, World Secretary for Women's Ministries, were special guests at the meeting as part of their week-long visit to the territory. The visitors were supported throughout by Territorial Commander Commissioner Linda Bond.

After they had stated their Declaration of Faith as a group, the new lieutenants were told by the Chief: "It's a great day for The Salvation Army. It's a great day for the Kingdom of God because he is deploying new people into areas of service where an exciting adventure awaits them." Swelling the ranks of those being commissioned were six long-term envoys who were promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Commissioner Sue Swanson told the new lieutenants of her own covenant with God when she become a Salvation Army officer. "He has never broken his covenant with me," she said.

New lieutenants Joanne Catalano and Jimmy Kavana gave their testimonies.

At the conclusion of the service, during a call for lives to be committed to Christ, scores of people knelt at a specially prepared cross. There was also a big response to a call for people to publicly declare an intention to offer for full-time service.

During a later celebration and "sending out" of the new officers, Lieutenant Rebecca Gott spoke on behalf of all members of the Ambassadors of Holiness Session and Lieutenant Tammy Rees shared her testimony.

Commissioner Sue Swanson gave the Bible message and, mirroring the response to the altar call in the morning service, people again flocked to the cross in response to a call to either recommit their lives to the Lord or make a first-time commitment.

The previous evening the Swansons had enjoyed "A Night of 1,000 Stories" at the Sydney Convention Centre. Through music, song and a variety of other creative performances, the event portrayed that everyone's life has a story attached to it.

Prior to their visit to Sydney, the Chief of the Staff and Commissioner Swanson had spent three days in Brisbane where they officially opened the Army's new AUS$38 million dollar Cairns Aged Care Centre. They were also special guests at a celebration evening to mark the 125th anniversary of The Salvation Army in Queensland.

A highlight of the celebration service was an impromptu performance of "Waltzing Matilda", with Commissioner Sue Swanson playing a ukulele, accompanying a quartet consisting of the Chief of the Staff, Colonel Wayne Maxwell (Chief Secretary), South Queensland Divisional Commander Major Mark Campbell and Central and North Queensland Divisional Commander Major Rodney Walters in a rousing rendition of the classic Australian song.

During their visit to the territory the Swansons also took part in officers councils in both Sydney and Brisbane.