Mary Filmer, 21, joined the Salvation Army Wyndham City as a teenager. This year she was appointed as a Youth and Children’s Ministry assistant, a role in which she helps plan activities for young people.
What do you enjoy about being part of the Salvation Army?
I like the community that was already here when I joined up, but that’s expanding, there are lots of new faces. I also like seeing the relationships built between children who might not otherwise meet each other, because we have young people from all over, and all backgrounds. As part of Youth and Children’s Ministry, if we want to run activities outside the church, we have to be self-sufficient. Whenever I have free time, I’m collecting funds or cooking at a Bunnings sausage sizzle.
This year you cut off your long hair and donated to Variety – The Children’s Charity.
I had a close friend in VCE who got very sick and lost all of her hair. She wore a wig for year 12
graduation, which was very special. I also lost my step-mother to cancer, so it’s something I feel very passionate about. It was a bit emotional to part with my hair, but if you can empower someone who is ill to feel a bit normal, that’s a great thing.
What do you like most about Werribee?
I think, because I have grown up here, all the connections in the community, how multicultural
the area is and other agencies, like the Salvation Army, which are trying to help the community
to be better. We might be a lower socio-economic area but those who are well-off enough seem to want to do their bit.
Do you have a favourite place in Wyndham?
I love the You Yangs. My boyfriend and I do a lot of hikes there.
