Marking Legacy’s century
Torch relay on its way
A torch relay to commemorate the centenary of Legacy will traverse the streets of Townsville on Saturday morning.
The relay begins at Lavarack Barracks and will culminate at Jezzine Barracks, where the final torch bearer, 16-year-old Legacy beneficiary Mitchell Bingley, will light a cauldron.
A free community day will follow.
The Legacy Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health, began its six-month, 50,000km journey in Pozieres, France on April 23 and is visiting 100 locations, including Townsville, carried by up to 1500 torchbearers and finishing in Melbourne on October 13.
For the past 100 years, Legacy has supported the partners and children of those who have given their lives or health in their service to the country.
Legacy widow Melissa Bingley is one of the 32 Townsville torchbearers and will pass the torch to her son, Mitchell, to walk the final steps to Jezzine Barracks.
Captain Mark Bingley died in 2006 after the Black Hawk helicopter he was flying crashed into the HMAS Kanimbla while trying to land off Fiji.
Captain Bingley left behind his wife and three-month-old son, Mitchell, now aged 16.
Mrs Bingley had no hesitation putting up her hand to volunteer as a torchbearer and said Legacy had helped her and her son start a new chapter in their lives.
“Legacy has helped me for over 16 years now,” Mrs Bingley said.
After joining Legacy, she helped to start an Explorers Club for younger widows and their families.
“We just had a place where the wives could get together and socialise and be in a safe place or (with) people that were in the very similar circumstances to ourselves, and the children can get together with other kids who had lost their parent through service,” Mrs Bingley said.
“Social isolation is one of the big factors that we find is a problem for any widows of any age.
“It does help you to move forward and start your new chapter in your life. And I’ve made some wonderful friends, and Mitchell’s got friends too that he met with the Explorer’s Club that he is still in contact with today.”
Mrs Bingley said they would both be proudly carrying the torch.
She is hoping the garrison city comes out to support Legacy, see the torch relay and attend the community day.