THE coronavirus pandemic ‘bearly’ put a damper on Hewett Primary School’s Legacy Week fundraising last Wednesday, with students collecting hundreds in donations.

Legacy Week is the annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of incapacitated and deceased veterans.

Kylie Bund, relieving Hewett Primary School’s DSM Belinda Longman, told The Bunyip the school has approximately 80 defence children, who received a special visit from a pair of adult-sized RAAF and Army Legacy bears.

“Along with defence children and adults, they walked around the school collecting donations, prior to school commencing,” she said.

“They also visited a few classes while they were here. We have a large defence population at our school, so it’s an important week in the defence calendar.

“We asked our defence families for volunteers and we had a great response.

“So far we have raised more than $300.”

Mrs Bund said the student volunteers ranged from reception to years 2 and 7.

“It was fantastic to see the young defence children involved,” she said.

“We raise money for Legacy each year with either collections or a casual clothes day, but it was fantastic to have the bears this year come out.

“It is important that the students are aware of Legacy and how Legacy supports veterans’ families.

“Thank you to Legacy for bringing the bears out – it was a fun morning and well-received.

“(Also) thank you to our defence students and parents for volunteering their time, along with all the donations we received on behalf of Legacy.”