The Salvation Army
Media Release

'Find your missing rellies', urge Sallies

Wellington, 13 May 2007 - The Salvation Army is encouraging Kiwis to mark United Nations Day of the Family (15 May) by getting back in touch with loved ones with whom they may have lost contact.

'People lose touch for a variety of reasons, such as when relationships break down or grow apart, or simply through failing to keep in touch when moving to a different town or country,' says Salvation Army Family Tracing Service Director Major Bronwyn McFarlane.

'Broken family ties can lead to isolation and loneliness, feelings of guilt and frustration, and a lack of identity.

'As a Christian organization, The Salvation Army is keen to encourage strong family relationships. We do this in a very practical way by helping people find long-lost relatives and to re-establish relationships with them.

'The UN Day of the Family represents an ideal opportunity for people to reflect on their own family situation and to think about how good it would be to get in touch with missing loved ones.'

Major McFarlane says that the Family Tracing Service registers about 200 new enquiries each year, with about half of those searches being requested by people living in New Zealand.

'In the past five years the Service has successfully and happily united and/or reunited over 560 people with family members, including parents and children, siblings, half-siblings, birth parents, adult adopted children, and extended family.

'Although more than three quarters of people located are willing to establish or reestablish contact, it's our policy that the whereabouts of the "missing" person is only disclosed with their consent.

Major McFarlane says that the Service involves a registration fee, but no one is turned away because of their financial circumstances. More details about the Service are online at www.salvationarmy.org.nz

ENDS

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