For almost 100 years, Legacy has kept the promise to thousands of veterans' families, helping provide financial and social support for those in their care during times of hardship and grief.

Legacy Week is August 29 to September 4 and this year the focus is on "Little Badges: Big Impact", the notion that even the smallest of donations will have a real and heartwarming impact on our veterans' families.

Last year's Legacy Week was severely impacted due to COVID-19, notably local high school students could not take part in badge selling and street stalls were not permitted. It's a similar case this year, but Taree, along with 44 other clubs around Australia and one in London, still need to raise funds to help provide support and services for some of the most vulnerable in our community.

"The Taree club currently looks after more than 400 family members of veterans in the Manning, Great Lakes and Gloucester," Taree Legacy president, Hans Rooimans said. These include widowed partners, students and adult disable dependents, assisted by four staff members and 49 volunteer Legatts.

Legacy merchandise, including badges, pens and Legacy bears, will be available at the club during Legacy Week. To find out ways to purchase merchandise, makea donation or find out more about Legacy, visit www.legacy.com.au or call the Taree office, phone 6552 2385, or the Forster-Tuncurry office, phone 6555 4011, or email admin@tareelegacy.com.au, or forstertuncurrydivision@tareelegacy.com.au

Legacy's assistance takes many forms adapting to each individual situation. It assists new widow/widowers through their bereavement period and ensures they are receiving all the government benefits to which they are entitled.

Legacy can help with financial commitments and provide companionship, help with children's education expenses, and ensure medical and welfare services are available.

Nationally, Legacy cares for 43,000 veterans' families, including widows and widowers in their senior years, young widows.widowers with children, and veterans' dependents with disabilities.

Legacy is a uniquely Australian organisation, established in 1923 by ex-servicemen dedicated to the task of caring for the families of deceased and incapacitated veterans.

Volunteer members were originally called Legatees because they accepted the "legacy of care" for their comrades' families. Today Legacy is dedicated to the care of families of Australian Defence Force personnel who have passed away subsequent to their service or were killed in hazardous service, in training accidents or peacekeeping missions such as East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle Easter, Africa or Solomon Islands.

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