This year Legacy Week was particularly memorable for Armidale Legatees as they celebrated the purchase of a new 14-seater bus, with a special morning tea launch at Legacy House in Armidale last Wednesday.
Special guest Member for New England Tony Windsor officially cut the ribbon which launched the new van into service for the community.
Mr Windsor has a special place in his heart for Legacy who helped support his family when his father, who was a WW2 veteran, died in a tractor accident on the family farm when Tony was eight years old.
“I am a Legacy kid, my mother was left with three boys and a property,” said Mr Windsor. “I have an enormous regard for the work that Legacy did for us and still does to this day.
“My mother is 94 next week and she had the same Legatee for over 50 years.
With funds provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs and the remaining funds from the Armidale Central Rotary Club, Armidale North Rotary Club, New England Mutual and New England Solar, the bus will be a valued member of the Legacy family.
Armidale Legacy stretches from Tenterfield in the north to Walcha in the south and has over 450 widows and some 10 students and disabled dependants who will primarily be the beneficiaries of the new bus. The bus will also be available for local community groups to use for a small donation.
“Around two years ago we set up a Day Club which is sponsored by the RSL and supported by the Department of Veteran Affairs,” said Max Taverner President of the Armidale RSL and Coordinator of the Day Club. “The Day Club is quite large and we were borrowing buses from TAS to transport members to Legacy House and special outings.
“We decided that we would make a move to apply for funding of our own bus.
“Our grants went in about eight months ago but we had to wait, due to the Tsunami in Japan.”
The lovely ladies from the Legacy Laurel Club have been among the first to use the new bus, taking a trip to the coast.
Armidale Legatees are also very thankful to The Armidale School who providing a bus for members to use whenever it was needed.
Story: Jo Harrison
