During Volunteering Australia’s recent National Volunteer Week their motto was ‘Give a little. Change a lot’, a simple yet profound way to sum up the effect of volunteering.
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Although volunteer numbers are said to be in decline, millions of Australians still volunteer in support of others in our society. Some organisations reliant on volunteers are linked to the veterans community and one of the best known of these is Legacy.
Legacy provides services to Australian families who are suffering as a result of the injury or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service.
Throughout Australia Legacy cares for approximately 65,000 widow(er)s and 1,800 children and disabled dependants. In the Nambucca and Kempsey Shires there are around 270 people who are assisted by Legacy. Most of the volunteers who give up their time for Legacy are known as Legatees and it is they who help those in need with practical assistance and advice on a range of welfare matters and social support.
Legacy is a uniquely Australian organisation that began in Melbourne in 1923. No doubt the founders of Legacy had in mind that there may not be a need for its work once support to post WW1 families was finished.
The need for Legacy in our community has never diminished and in 2018 Legacy is still reaching out to help. While we often think that Legacy is all about war widows, Legacy is also helping young families and individuals who are suffering and is filling gaps not always met by Government Departments. If you have ever thought about being a volunteer and that it may be time for you to ‘Give a little. Change a lot’, Legacy might be a great place to start.
For more information you can call Janelle English at Legacy House in Macksville on 02 6598 8500 or go to www.legacy.com.au
Mick Birtles is a recently retired Army Officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the welfare and well-being of veterans in the Mid North Coast.