THEIR presence won’t be felt the same way this year, but members of Legacy still need the community’s support so they can continue their valuable work supporting veterans’ families.

Legacy Week is traditionally held at the start of September, and raises thousands of dollars to provide financial and social support to veterans’ families during times of hardship and grief.

Locally, the historical Badge Appeal has Legacy members teamed up with members of the Australian Defence Force, manning several stalls at the post office, and at each of the central shopping centres.

Legatee Robert Eley said the Gawler community always gives exceptional support and so he hopes some choose to give online this year, following the cancellation of the Badge Appeal, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are not alone because there are lots of organisations that are struggling to meet their fundraising targets as a result of the current pandemic,” he said.

Mr Eley said Legacy has a big impact on local families, supporting partners of deceased veterans with its various grants and services, as well as the Legacy Widows Club that meets monthly in Gawler.

“We are there to provide a support to them when they need financial assistance, and we do that in the form of grants, and also just providing legal advice, and financial advice,” he said.

“We give education grants to the children of the families we look after and we also do vocational grants – its gives some of them assistance in creating independence.

“As you can imagine, especially when you have an incapacitated veteran, it’s about giving the partner some vocational grants to let them become financially independent, develop their career.”

This is the first time, since 1944, the Legacy Club of South Australia and Broken Hill is unable to hold its Badge Appeal in the usual way.

The focus is on ‘Little Badge: Big Impact’ – the idea that even the smallest of donations will have a real and heart-warming impact on veterans’ families.

Donations can be made at (adelaidelegacy.org.au), with Legacy merchandise, including badges, pens and Legacy bears, also available to purchase.

There is also a ‘tap and donate’ facility set up within Cibo Gawler.

The Legacy Club of South Australia and Broken Hill currently looks after 4612 veterans’ families, providing services like home-care visits, day trips, education support, holiday camps and activities for Legacy Youth.