International Day of Older Persons Spotlight: Retired Officer Major Dorothy

“It’s been a lovely life and I’m thankful to God for it,” says Macquarie Lodge Aged Care Centre resident, Major Dorothy. As a retired Salvation Army Officer, Major Dorothy has a long-standing connection with the movement. “I went to Sunday School and made some promises then; that I would not smoke, not drink, not have alcohol,” she explains.  

“I was dedicated to the Salvation Army, and then when I was twelve, I attended bible study, which we called the Corps Cadets; that’s bible teaching. From there, my brother died when he was 16, and at his bedside, I felt I should offer myself for fulltime ministry. I prayed to God to be able to use me. I lost my brother, but God has blessed me since then.” 

When reflecting on her childhood, Major Dorothy notes her parents participated in a Salvation Army musical section. “Dad played the Cornet and drums, and Mum sang in the Songsters [a choir], and my younger sister played the timbrel [the tambourine],” she states, noting that her own musical interests lie with the piano and the accordion.  

When she turned 21, she went to The Salvation Army Training College to become an Officer, and it was here she met her husband. “I went to the College and then had appointments in Queensland and New South Wales,” she says. She and her husband’s first appointment was to Roma, in Southwest Queensland. Over the course of her time as an Officer, Dorothy notes that, “every appointment was special.”  

Major Dorothy was once an Officer at Macquarie Lodge, where she now resides, when it was still a home for girls. “We would read the girls a story, take them for a walk or take them to school,” she says of her work at the time. Today, she most enjoys being a part of the Macquarie Lodge community. “I just love to have people around,” she tells. “I just love the friendship, and they have activities I can go to.”  

She also appreciates the Centre’s support of her faith, and this shared faith with other residents. “The fact of meeting with people and talking with them; one of the ladies will come here every morning and say, ‘I want to pray with you.’ It does make a difference. My husband died of cancer four years ago and it’s not easy to take, but I’m not living alone really, because of all the wonderful staff.” 

When reflecting on the significance of faith in her own life, Dorothy notes that a verse she is guided by is Proverbs 3:6: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Her advice for the next generation? “I take things as they happen. I live a day at a time.”