BRIEF HISTORY
The Legacy Club of Canberra received its Charter on ANZAC Day 1928 and today (25.09.2006) has 174 active members supporting, 1804 widows, disabled dependants and Junior Legatees. Included in Canberra Legacy is the Yass-Boorowa Group and comprises 17 Legatees and 117 widows. Canberra Legacy also sponsors four Laurel Clubs that are organised and conducted by the Legacy widows to provide a meeting place where widows can find friendship and the opportunity to pursue mutual interests. These clubs meet monthly at Legacy House, the Canberra Labor Club Belconnen, at Yass and at Boorowa.
ACT Meetings
AGM – Second Monday in May.
MONTHLY – Second Monday except January. October meeting held at Yass.
Yass Boorowa GroupThe Yass-Boorowa Group meets on the last Monday evening of each month.
2007 - 2008 Activities
17 and 24 September 2007 – Spring Luncheons14 October 2007– Monthly Meeting at Yass
7 November 2007– Legacy Golf Day, Federal Golf Club
21 November 2007 – Morning Tea, Government House
23 November 2007 – Cocktail Party, Legacy House
17 March 2008 – Legacy Golf Day, Royal Canberra Golf Club
13 April 2008 – Legacy ANZAC Concert
12 May 2008 – Annual General Meeting
WELFARE
The Welfare Committee oversees the provision of services to Legacy dependants (widows, partners, children and adults with special needs). These services include: pensions, aged care, medical and legal services. We arrange social activities for widows including concerts, luncheons, morning teas and the provision and delivery of Christmas gifts and flowers for special birthdays and hospitalisation.
On receipt of advice of a service death, we call on widows and, subject to confirmation of relevant Defence service, process enrolment. Where necessary, a Legatee Adviser is appointed to ensure that the widow receives all the services provided by the Club, and assistance in receiving benefits from the community. Widows without Advisers are contacted by phone and mail with at least one personal visit per year.
We process applications for War Widow’s Pension and provide financial assistance to needy widows not in receipt of a War Widow’s Pension.
The Welfare Committee is the point of contact for Legacy Laurel Clubs. The Clubs are operated by the widows themselves to provide a meeting place where they can find friendship and the opportunity to pursue mutual interests.
PENSIONS
Experienced Pension Officers are available to assist eligible dependants of deceased members of the Australian and allied Armed Services, and merchant mariners, whose deaths may be service related. Assistance includes preparation of claims for pensions and other benefits and for subsequent ongoing advice and assistance. In particular, specialist assistance is provided in submitting applications for compensation for dependants of deceased members and former members, including for War Widow’s Pensions and Income Support Pensions. If initial claims are unsuccessful, where appropriate, Legacy will arrange for appeals to the Veterans’ Review Board and Administrative Appeals Tribunal and may act as advocate. These services are provided at no cost to claimants.
For assistance with preparing claims for pensions and other benefits, call Legacy House on (02) 6285 1800 during office hours, or after hours:
Canberra Area - Ian Wills (02) 6286 3376
Yass Area - Neil Turner (02) 6226 3696
JUNIOR WELFARE
The Junior Welfare Committee provides similar services for dependant children including, where necessary, assistance with education etc.
FUNDRAISING
While we receive some Government funding for specific projects, we rely on the generosity of the community for financial support. The major fund raising activity for Canberra Legacy is the Legacy Week Annual Badge Appeal. Additional funds from general donations, golf days, art exhibitions, trivia nights, bequests and sales of Legacy Christmas cards and puddings are used to support widow welfare programs and social activities. Sponsorships from corporate bodies and Friends of Legacy provide financial support for ANZAC Day Concerts.
MAZENGARB RESPITE FACILITY - BATEHAVEN
Mazengarb Respite Facility at Batehaven accommodates six people, and is fully equipped with a TV/VCR, microwave, washing machine, dryer, radios, blankets, electric blankets, doonas, pillows, all crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. Widows from Canberra, Yass-Boorowa, Goulburn and Queanbeyan-Eden-Monaro Legacy can use the facility on a rotational basis for one week (from 12noon on the Saturday until 10.00am the following Saturday), rent-free - the only charge made is for STD phone calls (local calls are free). The only restriction on the use of the facility is NO PETS. In order to make best use of the available accommodation, widows are encouraged to get together to book the facility whenever possible.
The complex has a swimming pool which can be used by our widows, and is situated very close to the Batehaven shopping centre. The bus stop is close by and the beach is opposite.
FLORANCE FOUNDATION
In the later part of the 1970s, Mrs D. Florance of Bowral, NSW provided an endowment of $3,000 to the Australian War Memorial to bring children from interstate to visit the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. With the support of the Trustees of the H. and D. Florance Foundation, additional funds have been provided by the Australian War Memorial, Legacy Coordinating Council and the Legacy Club of Canberra for two children from each State/Territory to visit Canberra during the ANZAC Day week each year. This activity is now in its 28th year.
ANZAC CONCERT
For the past 11 years, Canberra Legacy has arranged the Legacy ANZAC Concert on the Sunday prior to ANZAC Day (except Easter Sunday). These concerts, which are professionally produced utilising talented local bands and artists, are provided free of charge to Legacy widows and dependants from the Canberra, Yass-Boorowa, Goulburn and Queanbeyan areas.
