Alan Tatlow to lead Central Legacy group
Alan Tatlow was installed as the 59th president of Central Gippsland Legacy at its changeover luncheon at the Warragul RSL on February 12.
Mr Tatlow was installed by Melbourne past president Ian Harrison.
He said he was on a steep learning curve but he was looking forward to working with all members to support and assist widows and their families.
He said he was well aware of Legacy’s work particularly with the care the organisation gave to his mother after the death of his father, a World War II veteran.
Mr Tatlow said he was honoured to take on the position and was looking forward to providing support for the many widows and families.
“I look forward to working with our fellow legatees to achieve that,” he said.
Mr Harrison congratulated the group for its work throughout the year. He said Melbourne Legacy (of which central Gippsland is a member) assisted 14,000 widows and 350 dependants.
He said Legacy was formed after World War I when returning servicemen decided they had an obligation to those killed in service to care for their wives and children.
The organisation relies on funding from the public with some limited government funding.
Outgoing president John Leviston reported on a successful year with a lot of involvement with widows, junior legatees and the team of legatees.
Mr Leviston said while the widows involved with Legacy numbered 218 only about 30 attended the regular monthly meetings.
He thanked Norma Reynolds, Alice Smith and Bonnie Bransgrove for their work on the executive. The organisation has five junior legatees. “We have supported our widows and junior legatees through home maintenance, appliance purchases, chemist bills, transport to medical appointments, wood for fires, education expenses and holidays.
The welfare centre in Drouin is also a valuable service that we use for the benefit of our widows.
Mr Leviston said the group hosted a public speaking competition for 12 to 14-year-old students. “It is a delight to hear these young people speak passionately about the tips that they have chosen,” he said.
Mr Leviston thanked Noel Tucker and Graeme Watts for their work organising badge week.
Mr Leviston said the group also appreciated the support of service clubs including Lions and bowling clubs and support for several businesses.
He thanked members of the group including secretary Helen Gregg, treasurer Richard Sandy, contact secretary Georgina Howorth, liaision officer Brian Milner and sergeant at arms Neville Cousins.
Guest speaker historian and West Gippsland Trader columnist John Wells spoke of the settlement of Gippsland.
Mr Wells discussed the radial development of Gippsland which occurred from both the Tambo Valley area and Port Albert.
“People may assume that Gippsland was developed outward from Melbourne but this was not the case.”
Mr Wells discussed early navigation suggesting the Portugese navigated the east coast of Australia before Captain Cook’s arrival.
He said explorers were keen to say they were the first discoverers but that didn’t take into account the Aboriginals already living throughout Australia and whalers and sealers who were working along the coastline.
“It is apparent to us that Tasman sailed past Van Diemen’s Land in 1642 well before Cook’s discoveries of 1770.”
Mr Wells said 1797 it was a red letter year for exploration. Eighty-year-old Douglas Hamilton captained the Sydney Cove trading vessel for the East India Company
“In most cases it was a stop and start development because of many factors including terrain and in many ways it was the last frontier,” he said.
It is a fascinating history and Gippsland has so much including scenery, people and resources.
We are all lucky to be living in Gippsland and we are doing it relatively easy because they did it hard.
Entertainment was provided by Takin’ Time.