Williamstown resident James Mulholland has been a volunteer with Legacy for 15 years. 86098 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By ALESHA CAPONE
WILLIAMSTOWN resident James Mulholland has been helping war widows in the West for the past 15 years.
The 79-year-old has been a volunteer with Legacy since 1996 and has encouraged Hobsons Bay residents to support the charity.
The annual Legacy Week will begin on Sunday to help raise funds to assist more than 26,000 war widows, children and dependants across Victoria each year.
Mr Mulholland sells badges at the Newport Railway Station during each Legacy Week.
He also aids the relatives of deceased veterans in “any way” he can throughout the year along with other volunteers from Legacy’s western branch.
“We are looking for any volunteers to help us out – any decent, willing resident who can join in,” he said.
“I still have on my books a World War I widow and most on my books are World War II widows and there are also a number of Vietnam and Korean War widows.
“It’s very satisfying to be able to help people in circumstances who might not have the wherewithal to do so themselves.”
As a young man Mr Mulholland served in the Citizens Military Force (CMF) which is now known as the Army Reserve.
“I was called up for national service during 1953 and I soldiered on until 1968 in the CMF until 1968 and retired with the dashing rank of captain,” he said.
The grandfather of nine has a strong family military history.
“My father was in World War I and both of his brothers went too and one of them didn’t come back.”
His 27-year-old uncle died in France after his machine gun was hit by a German shell during 1918.
One of Mr Mulholland’s sons was a commando in the Australian Army and his 21-year-old grandson is in the Army Reserve.
To donate to Legacy visit www.legacy.com.au or call 1800 534 229.
