A march of celebration | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

More than a century ago most Waihi residents were focussed on the gold rush. Meanwhile one man - an ex convict - was encouraging people to "lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven."

He was later to succeed in bringing The Salvation Army Corps to Waihi and last weekend the corps celebrated 115 years in the town.

The Irishman - Jack Welsh - had been sentenced to death for poaching a rabbit, but he stowed away on a ship and after arriving in his new land, found himself felling bush in the Coromandel. Known once as Bushy Welsh, the violent drunk stumbled into a Salvation Army meeting in Hamilton, and a conversion that changed his life forever.

He later married the Waihi widow and mother of eight, Mrs Abbott. Bushy Welsh became Dad Welsh for his caring and gentle nature. He stood on the streets of Waihi proclaiming the gospel and was eventually successful in bringing the Salvation Army to Waihi - on August 1, 1885.

Meetings were held in Tanners Hall and in 1899 a church was erected on its current site. It was burned down in 1905 and replaced in 1909.

"Captain Kells and myself journeyed from Auckland to Paeroa and arrived at 4am," said Commandant Campion - the third lieutenant appointed to Waihi, of their arrival in 1895 [as reported in an early Waihi newspaper].

" It was raining but they set out to walk by the old road to Waihi - it rained all the way. On arrival they went to Sunshine Villa, the home of Bro Walsh, where they had tea, which consisted of bread, butter and golden syrup. Waihi at this time was mainly a canvas town, and the town officers and Bro Walsh often marched down the unpaved street singing 'we're the Army that shall conquer'."

When Salvationists came from other goldfields in search of work Sunshine Villa became a place of refuge until they were able to find or build a shanty for themselves.

A Salvation Army journal records some time between 1904 and 1912 "the corp has passed through a trying time. Labour troubles and socialism has caused the town to suffer."

"A strike was declared by the miners on May 13, 1912 and an exodus of people following the corps suffered severely.

"The strike was declared off on November 30, 1913 having lasted for 29 weeks, the miners being completely beaten."

Since then the corp has seen members come and go, brothers and sisters "promoted to Glory," and is known for its service throughout the community, and more recently for their food parcels and Christmas carols - often on the back of a firetruck.

Dad Welsh was Waihi councillor and corp senior elder Sel Baker's step great-grandfather.

"Mrs Abbot was my great-grandmother. Her daughter married a Thompson and her daughter was my mother," Sel says. "The principles and gospel preached [in the Salvation Army] is the same as in most churches," says Sel, "but I think the Salvation Army maybe place more emphasis on working in the coalface if you like, helping people."

Saturday saw a March of Witness, led by Salvation Army captain Turnie Wright, from the citadel to the War Memorial Hall where an "old style" open-air service took place. The weekend's celebrations consisted of shared meals and a musical through the ages, including all the old favourites helped along by the Tauranga Salvation Army brass band.

A cafe-style service took place on Sunday morning.

"It's a more contemporary type of service, more relaxed," says Captain Turnie. "We have praise and worship but people can wander in and out with a coffee."

Saturday morning's open-air service set the pace for their celebration weekend, starting on the positive note, "We are here to take the Salvation Army of Waihi forward into the future," and finishing with Amazing Grace.