‘Salvation Army Man’ Alan Frederick Jessop OAM dies at 95
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For over thirty years, Canberra man Alan Jessop collected donations for the Salvation Army. During this time he raised more than $4 million dollars for the organisations’ programs and initiatives in the ACT.
Despite facing health problems including cancer, Alan could be found at the Canberra Centre three days a week up until the Covid-19 pandemic which put a stop to his collecting.
In 2011, Alan was honoured as an ACT Local Hero. Eleven years later, he also went on to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Reflecting on this recognition, he shared in a 2022 article published by HerCanberra: “I am so grateful to my doctors and nurses, everyone at Woden hospital [now Canberra Hospital], for keeping me well enough to collect for so long. Getting up, going to work, talking with people was what kept me going.’’
It was within Canberra Hospital that Alan peacefully passed in the early hours of Friday 15 May, 2026.
Alan Jessop’s portrait by Barbara van der Linden.
Many Canberrans will remember Alan from his time collecting. In addition to the impact his charity work achieved, it was talking to people out shopping, handing out stickers to children, and receiving the occasional hot chocolate, that were among Alan’s favourite parts of being in the Canberra Centre.
“I wish I was still doing it. I miss meeting all the people, there were so many,” Alan had said in the 2022 HerCanberra article.
While Alan never had a mobile phone and wasn’t able to use the internet, it always brought him joy when his family showed him the articles that had been written about him over the years.
Alan’s granddaughter Emma confirms: “Every time something was shared about him, Alan was very interested to discover the comments that had been shared. He was genuinely so pleased to know that people still remembered him and thought of him fondly.”
Alan’s grandson James says that “Alan had a kind heart and was a fixture in the community. He will be remembered by many for his dedicated public service in Canberra.”
Alan is survived by his wife Joy, his daughter Wendy and his grandchildren Emma and James Batchelor.
● Alan collected more than $4 million for the Salvation Army in Canberra across 32 years
● In 2011, Alan was awarded ACT Hero of the Year in recognition of his service
● In 2022, Alan received the Eva Burrows Award from The Salvation Army Australia
● In 2022, Alan was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia
