AN unprecedented event occurred recently - Rosemary Harris became the first female president of the Bathurst branch of Legacy.
Legacy, an organisation that provides assistance to widows and dependants of people who have participated in active service, has operated since 1923.
Until about 15 years ago entry was restricted to those who had served in an active combat zone.
It currently helps more than 120,000 widows and 1900 children and dependants in Australia.
Mrs Harris’ involvement with Legacy began in 1942 when her family received help from the organisation after the death of her father, who was a soldier.
She remembers with gratitude the help Legacy gave to her mother in raising her family which included a brother and three sisters.
“It must have been nice for her to have somebody to rely on,” Rosemary said. “The help from Legacy played a part in allowing us to have a happy childhood.”
Before she was a Legatee, Rosemary was a teacher of special education working primarily in Sydney.
However, 17 years ago she moved to Oberon, and taught in Bathurst shortly before her retirement.
Although she has had a lifelong affiliation with the charity, Rosemary only began in the serving side of the organisation seven years ago.
Before becoming a member of Legacy, Rosemary’s husband joined the charity after which she was approached by Oberon legatees and asked to become involved in the local branch.
Not only is Rosemary the first female president, but also the first president that has not served in an active combat zone.
This year she was appointed president of the Bathurst branch, which incorporates over 230 widows in the Bathurst/ Oberon area and has about 40 Legatee members.
“I hadn’t even thought about it,” she said of her new role.
Fellow Legatees are pleased to have a lady president and say Rosemary is doing a wonderful job.’
Rosemary feels that Legacy is able to continue its good deeds through the support of the community and the tremendous support of the Returned Services League (RSL) office.
Local Legacy fundraisers include the annual sale of badges during Legacy week, an annual golf day as well as a raffle that has been running in recent weeks and was drawn on Anzac Day.
“The community recognises that the organisation works quietly in the background,” Rosemary said.
Rosemary was recently at the launch of the Raise A Glass initiative in which Legacy is partnering the RSL and VB in a bid to raise $1 million to help support ex-service men and women, fallen veterans’ widows and dependants.
The money will be shared evenly between the RSL and Legacy.
Rosemary highlighted Legacy’s role in being able to provide “some of the little things that these dependants do not have”.
She was acknowledged at the launching ceremony held at Bathurst RSL Club by former Australian defence force chief General Peter Cosgrove.
Rosemary said she would be encouraging fellow Legacy members to raise a glass on Anzac Day.
Her glass, she said, would be raised to her uncle Will Dawkins, a young man who went to war from England.
He had no wife or family so Rosemary said she would “raise a glass to Uncle Will”.
Rosemary said the support of Legacy widows was not so much the material costs, but for Legacy to be there to offer security to women in old age.
She said it was very difficult for elderly dependants when they did not feel secure and safe in their own homes.
Legacy was there to provide good advice to these people, assuring them in areas related to welfare and well being.
Ms Harris said there were often elderly women, recently widowed, in the community who had never lived alone or without the support of a husband who may have lived to an older age.
These were cases where Legacy could be relied upon to assist, she said.
After becoming an integral part of the local community, as well as president of Legacy, Rosemary said she is “here for good”.
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