Salvation Army’s Maj Brendan Nottle launches special phone service for the lonely and isolated

A new phone-a-friend service for those feeling lonely and isolated by Victoria’s harsh pandemic shutdown has been launched by the Salvation Army. Here’s how you can get help.

Salvation Army welfare worker Major Brendan Nottle will be up for a chat for those feeling lonely and isolated by the harsh lockdown.

Maj Nottle and his wife Sandra, who run the Salvos’ Project 614 program in the CBD, will be available to take calls from 8pm to 10pm weeknights during the pandemic.

Majors Brendan and Sandra Nottle of the Salvation Army’s Project 614 program.

Called the Salvos Friendship Club, the initiative was inspired by an item in The Sun newspaper’s 50-50 column in 1961 in which “a lonely middle-aged woman” complained that she couldn’t make friends at her local church.

In response, the Salvation Army’s Major Isabel Gale launched a weekly club at the organisation’s Bourke St City Temple for lonely people.

“Over 100 people attended the first night. From this accidental beginning, three clubs met weekly in the city,” said a history of the Red Shield Friendship Club.

“The first was an afternoon gathering for those of mature years, then on that evening the 20- 60s met, the under 30s in a separate hall, then together for devotions,” it said.

“On a different night, a group of Australians and many new Australians enjoyed a travelogue and supper together.”

Brendan and Sandra Nottle at the Salvos cafe in Bourke St.

Maj Nottle said the new service, which starts Monday night, would help those feeling isolated in the pandemic.

“It’s not a crisis line, it’s not a counselling service, it’s simply an opportunity for lonely people to have a chat with a friend,” he said.

“It might be someone who’s cooked a lovely meal and wants to talk about it, or they miss their grandkids because they can’t see them now.”

Call the Salvos Friendship Club on [phone] from 8pm-10pm Monday to Friday.

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Originally published as Salvation Army’s Maj Brendan Nottle launches special phone service for the lonely and isolated