Community helps create a Legacy that will live on
Townsville residents paused as a mark of respect on Saturday morning as a torch relay to commemorate the centenary of Legacy traversed the city.
Beginning at Lavarack Barracks the torch was carried by 32 participants and made its way through Townsville finishing at Lavarack Barracks where a cauldron was lit by the last bearer sixteenyear-old Mitchell Bingley.
Commander 3rd Brigade Brigadier Dave Mccammon was the first to carry the torch from the gates of Lavarack Barracks and said it was a great opportunity to represent the brigade and the army in the city for the significant event for the country.
“Legacy for 100 years has provided great support to families of veterans, in particular, those who were killed in service of our nation,” he said.
“You see that here in Townsville more than in other places.”
He said it was incredibly important that the community continued to support Legacy.
“The thing you can say about Legacy is money that is donated to legacy is used very efficiently. And you can see how that money is used to support our veterans and their families.”
Northern Queensland Legacy president Shane Grist was also a torch bearer and walked with his wife Vicky and said it was a great honour to carry the torch and share the moment with his family.
“I’m a current serving member of the defence force so I think it’s great that our local community support legacy because in the event that something happens to one of us, it’s nice to know that there is an organisation there to look out for our families if we were suddenly not on the scene anymore,” he said.
He said that after 100 years Legacy would not stop but continue to support Defence families in need.
“I think legacy will continue to lead and support the local families.
“It is really fantastic that we’re defence community and the community comes to support all these defence events and we always get fantastic support from our uniformed members.”