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Tributes flow as Condons
enters retirement
By Scott Simpson
Commissioners James and Jan Condon have
been praised for their 45-year “partnership” as
Salvation Army officers, during their retirement
service in Sydney last month. Fellow officers,
Salvationists, family and friends travelled from
Canada, the United States, Papua New Guinea,
and across Australia to officially farewell the
Australia Eastern Territory leaders, at Sydney
Congress Hall on 14 May.
General Linda Bond (Ret.), who had worked
closely with the Condons during her three years
as commander of the Australia Eastern Territory,
delivered a particularly poignant tribute as she
presented them with their retirement certificates.
“For many years, I have prayed for you both every
day. And I will continue to do so until my dying day. “Jan and I would want to leave with you the words
James and Jan, I love you,” she said, her voice at
times faltering with emotion. “I love you because
we worked together, we laughed together, we had
fun together. I love you because I have seen the
best in Salvation Army officership in you two. I love James Condon and Jan Vickery entered
you because when the chips were down I had you.
I love you because you love Jesus.”
Tributes were also brought by the Condons’ two
daughters, Alyson Tong and Sharon Turner,
Commissioner Andrew Kalai (PNG Territory),
Lieutenant-Colonel Miriam Gluyas (on behalf of
officers), Mark Soper (soldiers and youth) and
Roger Corbett (Territorial Advisory Board). All
made reference to the wonderful team that James
and Jan are. There were also video messages
from Boscombe Corps in the United Kingdom
and from the PNG Territory, two places where the
Condons had seen overseas service.
Commissioner Jan Condon acknowledged the
presence throughout her officership journey of a
faithful, gracious God who is “the same yesterday
and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), and
made special mention of her passion for women’s
ministries. “What potential and talent there is in
women that is so often overlooked,” she said.
10 SHARING | ISSUE #16 WINTER
“Women, you are like an army of warriors; strong
and resilient, godly and wise, gifted and with great
potential. God delights in you. Stay close to him.”
In summing up his 45 years of officership,
Commissioner James Condon chose to use a
quote from Dutch theologian, Henri Nouwen.
“Every day, I get a daily devotional from Nouwen,”
he said. “Some weeks ago, I read, ‘When we
travel [through life] with the eyes and ears of God
who sent us we will see wonderful sights, hear
wonderful sounds, meet wonderful people, and
then be happy to return home.’ That has been my
experience, and for that I will ever be grateful to
God, and to The Salvation Army, and to all who
have shared the journey with me.
of Psalm 115:1, ‘Not to us, Lord, not to us but to
your name be glory, because of your love and
faithfulness.’”
Four decades of service
Salvation Army officer training as part of the
Victorious session of cadets, in 1970; James from
Shoalhaven Corps on the NSW South Coast and
Jan from Uralla Corps in the New England region
of the state. They were commissioned as officers
in January 1972; Lieutenant James Condon
appointed as corps officer at Tenterfield and
Lieutenant Jan Vickery as corps officer at Bingara.
They were married in late-December 1972, Jan
joining James as corps officer at Tenterfield.
Further corps officer roles followed in NSW
and Queensland, including Auburn and Sydney
Congress Hall, interspersed with appointments
at the Officer Training College, and the Public
Relations and Program for Growth departments. In
1995, they moved to the United Kingdom as corps
officers at Boscombe, an appointment they held
for three years.