FOR the second year in a row, pandemic restrictions mean Legacy volunteers in Sunraysia can’t get out and about like they normally would in the first week of September.
August 29-September 4 is Legacy Week across the country, but for Mildura’s Legacy Club, lockdown meant fundraisers have had to get creative.
This year, rather than selling Legacy merchandise at shopping centres, volunteers are taking phone orders and will be making special deliveries all across Sunraysia.
“If people ring then I will just go to them, obviously wearing a mask and just knock on the door,” Mildura Legacy vice-president Barry Edwards said.
“They need to call up and then we can talk to them over the phone and help them out – we’ll follow all the COVID rules, of course.”
Merchandise on offer includes Legacy bears, pens, badges, wristbands and keyrings. Mildura Legacy also welcomes donations by direct deposit.
Legacy provides welfare support for families of deceased and incapacitated veterans.
Funds raised during Legacy Week go towards Mildura Legacy’s welfare fund, supporting beneficiaries including widows and widowers in Sunraysia.
The cancellation of Legacy Week capped off a tough year for the Mildura branch, which, according to Mr Edwards, has lost about 60 of the widows it cared for.
“A lot of the World War II widows have passed on,” Mr Edwards said.
“But we’ve now got a lot of Vietnam veteran widows.
“Every war, there’s always widows. We’ve got the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. The numbers will never deplete. We make sure they get the care that they need.”
To request Legacy merchandise in Sunraysia call 0488 631 927.
Donations can be made to Mildura Legacy by direct deposit to the club’s account, BSB 083 764, account number 515 920 893.
