Legacy in Barraba celebrating 70 years
Celebrating 70 years of Legacy Service in Barraba
On Saturday, 2nd December, to commemorate the centenary of Legacy, we will be unveiling a plaque to celebrate the 70 plus years the Barraba Legacy contact group has been in operation. The Barraba contact group was formed in the early 1950s to carry on the work of Tamworth Legacy which was established in 1948. Legacy provides care for dependents of those who served their country, namely veterans, who gave their lives or health on operational service or subsequently, and Australian Defence Force personnel who died as a result of their service. Legacy was conceived in 1923, the year that Melbourne Legacy was formed.
The plaque will be positioned in the Memorial garden adjacent to the Playhouse Hotel and will be unveiled by Mrs. Lorne O’Leary whose husband Ted was Barraba’s Legacy chairman for 28 years, 1965-1993 and was a Legatee for 55 years. He was most ably supported through this time by Murray Chapman, Legacy secretary for 35 years. The current chairman, Bill Crowley, joined Legacy in 1973 and at that time Barraba Legacy was caring for 43 Widows and their families. He well remembers the support given by the wives of Legatees such as Lorne O’Leary, Nug Faint, Eileen Chapman, Bessie Baldwin and Trixie Garland. Trixie would make sure everyone she encountered during Legacy week purchased a Legacy badge while Lorne and Nug would try to outdo each other cooking cakes for the street stall, at times cooking up to 40 each.
Today we care for 6 Widows supported by 4 Legatees: Bill Crowley, Robert Sweeney, Adrienne and Peter Hancock. Adrienne became a Legatee in 2000, our first female Legatee and has been a great asset to our group. In Tamworth Legacy there are now more female Legatees than males and they are really making their mark.
The plaque will be unveiled at 4.00pm, Saturday 2nd December and all are welcome to attend. A light afternoon tea will be provided at the Playhouse at the conclusion of the event.