Wrapping Up a Lifetime of Service

As the final bow is tied on the very last Christmas gift, Majors Peter and Miriam Sutcliffe are officially wrapping up more than 60 years of combined service with The Salvation Army.

The husband-and-wife duo have spent their final days of service doing what they’ve done best for decades: wrapping gifts at Townsville Shopping Centre to raise funds for people doing it tough in our community.

Together, they’ve clocked up over 20 Christmases of gift wrapping for charity.

When asked the hardest thing they've had to wrap? For Peter it was a fully assembled push bike and for Miriam it was a pink and yellow toddler's trike. “That took a lot of paper,” Peter laughed.

Their service to the community stretches far beyond wrapping paper and ribbon.

Born in a Salvation Army maternity hospital and placed into foster care through the organisation, Peter's connection to the Salvos has been lifelong.

“Miriam and I have been officers for just shy of 32 years, and I’ve been involved in one way or another with the Salvos since I was a child. It’s been a lifelong journey. It’s about people. Always has been.”

Miriam agrees. "The most rewarding part has been seeing people's lives changed," she said. 

With five of their children involved with the organisation in one way or another - including three who are also Salvation Army officers - the leaders have touched communities across Mount Isa, Cairns, Rockhampton, Brisbane, and right here in Townsville.

As they prepare for retirement, they are looking forward to slowing down, spending time with their 16 grandchildren, and tending to a vegetable garden and chook pen. "All the things we love but don't get enough time to do," Miriam said. 

Townsville Shopping Centre is incredibly proud to give back each Christmas through charity gift wrapping, and a huge thank you to the Salvos for another year of generosity and heart. We can't wait to do it all again next year.