Salvation Army officer kicked out of Sydney pub for asking patrons for loose change
Patrons were angered after a Salvation Army officer was ordered out of a northern beaches’ hotel for asking for donations.
Manly
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A Salvation Army officer who was collecting money for the poor, was kicked out of a popular northern beaches’ pub for bothering patrons.
An overzealous night manager at the Park House pub at Mona Vale ordered the veteran female Salvo from the premises about 6.30pm on Friday.
Shocked pub regulars were told that the woman, who was going from table to table with a bucket asking for loose change, had to leave under the hotel’s “no hawkers” policy.
Locals said the uniformed Salvo officer has been a regular in the pub on most Friday nights for many years.
Park House general manager Dave Mills has apologised for the incident, which he described as a “terrible mistake” by a new employee.
Mr Mills said as a gesture of goodwill, the Park House would donate $1000 to the same Salvo officer this Friday night.
Mona Vale businesswoman Shayna Price saw the Salvo being told to leave the pub.
“She is a lovely lady who has been doing the rounds and asking for loose change at the pub for years,” Ms Price said.
“On Friday night, during the weekly meat raffles, she was told by a staff member that she had to leave. The guy said he had received a memo from his boss that people were not allowed to collect donations in the pub.
“I have never seen an entire pub go up in arms like that when she was escorted out.
“She looked very embarrassed.”
Ms Price, who complained to Park House management about its treatment of the officer, said that after the woman left the patrons became angry.
“We all thought it was un-Australian to kick out a Salvo.”
The Salvation Army did not want to comment directly on the incident at Mona Vale but spokesman Captain Brad McIver said it had a long history of collecting in pubs and clubs.
“We see it as a privilege that not only do the Australian public want to support us financially but that we get to come alongside and journey with those we meet every Friday night,” Cpt McIver said.
“We are grateful to all pub and club staff who support the Salvos week in and week out — their support means that the Salvos have and continue to raise vital funds that help to support local community needs”.
In a response to Ms Price’s complaint Mr Mills said the owners and management of Park House were upset about the incident and had always been welcoming and supportive of the Salvos.
“This is a cause and a relationship that we have fostered and supported for the past four years and are incredibly disappointed that this has happened,” he said.
“To clear up the facts of the situation, a new member of staff has misunderstood the arrangement we have with The Salvation Army to walk the venue and raise money and has made a very poor judgment call on the run.
“For this, we are truly sorry and deeply apologetic”
Mr Mills said that as a show of goodwill, when the Salvation Army visit the hotel this Friday, it will make a $1000 donation “to help make good this terrible mistake”.
Mr Mills said he would apologise to the officer in person.