July 2025
Official Engagements
Commissioner Janine Donaldson (Territorial Commander)
7–9 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, BCM
11 July: Kingdom Conference, Tawa
13 July: Wairarapa Corps visit
17 July: Hutt Valley ministries visit
22 July: National Council of Churches meeting followed by meeting with Prime Minister
27 July: Wellington South Corps visit
Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary)
3 July: Tri-Territorial Webinar (online)
7 July: Territorial Online Praying Together meeting—winter edition
7–9 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, BCM
14 July: Meeting with QBE and Port of Auckland, Auckland
Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford (Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development)
3 July: Tri-Territorial Webinar (online)
7 July: Territorial Online Praying Together meeting—winter edition
7–9 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, BCM
13 July: Petone Corps Plant visit
Gazette
Bereavements: We have been advised that Arthur De Maine, the father-in-law of Major Christine De Maine and father of Nigel De Maine, passed away on Saturday 17 May 2025, from Christchurch Hospital, aged 78 years.
We ask you to uphold Major Christine De Maine and Nigel De Maine, along with other extended family members in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Promotion to Glory: We have been advised of the promotion to Glory of Major Betsy (Bessie) Hay on Friday 30 May 2025, in her 100th year, from Addington Gardens Care Centre, Christchurch.
Betsy Eloise Middleton was born on 1 February 1926 in Reefton. Betsy entered The Salvation Army Training College in March 1947 from Greymouth Corps, as a cadet in the ‘Warriors’ session. She was commissioned on 1 December 1947 and appointed as Assistant Officer to Wellington Florence Booth Girls Home. In 1949 Betsy was appointed Secretary, THQ Women’s Department with an additional appointment to assist at Kilbirnie Corps.
On 3 May 1952 Betsy married Lieutenant Ivan Hay and they were appointed as Corps Officers, Upper Hutt Corps later that same month.
On 2 February 1954, Betsy and Ivan commenced their overseas service in India. Betsy’s first overseas role was Assistant Secretary to the Chief Medical Officer at Catherine Booth Hospital, Nagercoil, India. All four of their children were born whilst serving in this appointment. This was followed by an appointment in 1965 as Secretary at Evangeline Booth Hospital, Nidubrolu. A change of service came in 1969 when Betsy assisted Ivan as Training Officer at Nellore Training College, India.
After serving over 20 years in India, Betsy and Ivan returned to New Zealand to take up an appointment as Corps Officers, Sydenham Corps, on 25 January 1975. Betsy received an appointment change to Social Service Assistant at Addington on 26 January 1978. It was from this appointment that Betsy and Ivan entered retirement on 21 January 1982.
Major Ivan Hay was promoted to Glory on 21 April 1999.
We honour Major Betsy Hay for her 34 years of faithful service. Betsy’s legacy is evident in the fact that her faithful lifelong service stands right in the middle of five generations of Salvation Army Officers. In retirement Betsy continued to serve God. She played tenor horn in the Corps and Divisional Seniors bands, including service as Corps Band Secretary. She served for years in the Corps Family Store. As a faithful League of Mercy visitor she also took on the coordination of the League of Mercy ministry across Christchurch. On behalf of The Salvation Army’s Education Department, she marked correspondence courses well into her retirement.
Her testimony is summed up in the following chorus in English and translated into Tamil.
Jesus will never fail, Never fail, never fail, Jesus will never fail, No, never fail.
Yesenai kai veeda, Kai veeda, kai veeda, Yesenai kai veeda, Nan numbo vane.
Please uphold in prayer Major Betsy Hay’s children Majors Bev and Gavin Baxter, Ruth Haslam, Majors Andrew and Sue Hay, Noeline and Merv Murray, granddaughter Captain Ruth Wilson, and other family members at this time of grief and loss.
Promotion to Glory: We have been advised of the promotion to Glory of Major Donald (Don) Hutson, on Wednesday 4 June 2025, from Wellington Hospital, aged 92 years.
Don Hutson was born on 28 July 1932 in Wellington. Don married Joan Clark on 8 May 1954, and together they entered The Salvation Army Training College from Naenae Corps on 25 February 1964 as cadets in the ‘Proclaimers of Faith’ session. They were commissioned on 16 January 1965 and appointed as Corps Officers, Pukekohe Corps.
A number of Corps appointments followed as: Corps Officers, Te Awamutu Corps (January 1967); Corps Officers, Eden Corps (January 1969); and Corps Officers, Spreydon Corps (January 1971).
In 1974, Don commenced study towards a Diploma in Social Work at Victoria University. In January 1976, Don was appointed as Manager, Whatman Children’s Home and Foster Care Programme-Masterton. This was followed by an appointment in January 1982 as Director, Rotoroa Island Bridge Programme, with an additional appointment as Corps Officer, Rotoroa Island. In April 1983 Don was appointed asSuperintendent, Wellington Bridge Programme.
This was followed by an appointment as Officer/Counsellor to Hamilton Community Court and Family Services, with an additional appointment as Manager, Mary Bryant Family Care Centre-Hamilton, in January 1988. A change of title in January 1990, saw Don appointed as Director, to The Nest Community and Family Services-Hamilton.
In January 1991, Don was appointed as Divisional Commander, Canterbury/Westland Division. Don’s final appointment as an active officer was as Associate Secretary, THQ Social Programme, responsible for National Salvation Army Addiction Services, in January 1995. It was from this appointment that Majors Don and Joan Hutson entered retirement on 15 January 1998.
Major Don Hutson continued to serve with several appointments in retirement, including: Visiting Tutor at Salvation Army Training College; relieving Director, Rotoroa Island; Chief Secretary’s Officer Special Project for two years; Director, Dunedin Bridge Programme; and Director, Wellington Bridge Programme in 2009.
In retirement, Don and Joan wrote a book ‘Set Free: One hundred Years of Salvation Army Addiction Treatment in New Zealand 1907-2006’, which was launched in 2013.
Major Joan Hutson was promoted to Glory on 25 May 2012.
Major Don Hutson married Major Elizabeth Wong Too on 26 January 2013.
We give thanks and praise to God for Major Don Hutson’s 33 years of active service and his continued ministry in retirement. He has left a wonderful legacy and influence, particularly with The Salvation Army’s work in addictions. Don served as bandsman for much of his life and encouraged many people as he sat alongside them. Many who came to know Don described him as a humble, capable, wise, quietly spoken and gentle man, who, when he spoke, one listened and took notice.
Please uphold in prayer Major Don’s family – Major Elizabeth Hutson, children Lt Colonels Ian and Lynette Hutson, Peter Hutson, Stuart Hutson, Cheryl Hutson Roberts, granddaughter Envoy Collette Irwin, and other family members at this time of grief and loss.
Name Change: We are pleased to advise that the Pacific Coast Mission is to change its name to The Salvation Army Pāpāmoa Plant, effective immediately.
We believe that this name will align the identity of Pāpāmoa Plant to the local community and The Salvation Army’s identity, current missional footprint and long-term vision. Please continue to pray for Lieutenants Ben and Jesse Willis and the Pāpāmoa Plant leadership team, as they continue to establish themselves and serve the people in their local community.
Conclusion of Cadetship: We advise that the cadetship of Sara Eglinton has been concluded, effective immediately.
Please uphold Sara in prayer in the days ahead. Please also uphold the Booth College of Mission cadets, officers, staff and students as they journey through this time together.
