The Rosemary Journey

On 16 April, Legacy representatives joined the Megalong Valley community at the rural property of Harris Farm founders David and Cathy Harris to harvest the rosemary for our Rosemary Appeal.

Harris Farm generously donates around 50,000 sprigs of rosemary to Sydney Legacy every year, which is crucial in the success of our ANZAC Day fundraising efforts.

Generous local volunteers take part in the annual tradition, which is followed by a well-deserved lunch; amongst them are Legacy staff and Legatees.

The rosemary is then distributed to the public on ANZAC Day as a gift to commemorate the fallen and their families. Still, many choose to donate for their sprig as a symbol of remembrance and respect for our veterans.

After the rosemary is harvested, it is transported to Beehive Industries, a non-profit social enterprise that provides employment and training opportunities for seniors and people with disabilities. Here, dedicated volunteers from Sydney Legacy and Beehive Industries prepare the rosemary, ahead of ANZAC Day.

One essential step is ‘sprigging’ the rosemary, which involves cutting it and attaching a Legacy sticker to the stem. This process is done by hand and requires many hours of work. However, the end result is a beautiful and meaningful gift that touches the hearts of many on ANZAC Day.

Rosemary has a long and storied history in the Australian war effort. During World War I, soldiers would often carry sprigs of rosemary as a symbol of remembrance for their fallen comrades. This tradition continues today, with rosemary being used as a symbol of remembrance on ANZAC Day.

The Harris Farm and Beehive Industries partnership with Sydney Legacy helps to keep this tradition alive by ensuring that the public has access to this important symbol of remembrance.

Harris Farm is also supporting our centenary year by placing donation boxes at tills at stores across NSW to further support the work of Sydney Legacy.

Sydney Legacy is grateful for the ongoing support of both organisations and their commitment to supporting our community. We look forward to continuing this partnership and making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve.