Chance to give back to Legacy
THE Far Northern leader of Legacy credits the organisation with keeping his family together and is now driven by a deep need to give back to an institution improving the lives of veterans’ families.
In 1955 Alan Picone’s father Richard died from malaria complications, a disease he contracted while fighting the Japanese in the jungles of Borneo during WWII.
His mother was left on her own to bring up six children.
“I was two-and-a-half months old when dad passed. Dad’s mother and the local priest wanted mum to put the three eldest kids in an orphanage,” he said.
“But Legacy stepped in to maintain the family unit.”
Mr Picone said the family was overwhelmed with support from the Victorian branch of Legacy while living in Albury.
“They were hugely supportive with mum. They always made sure there was plenty of wood for the fire in winter.
“They made constant visits to make sure mum was coping OK and wasn’t stressed.
“They assisted mum in getting a war services pension … but she missed out when the doctor’s surgery burnt and he lost all the records.
“Mum did it on a normal pension with Legacy standing behind and assisting where possible.”
Now as president of Cairns Legacy, Mr Picone feels a great debt to the organisation.
“They sent us on camps every year where we would meet other Legacy kids who were in the same situation as us,” he said.
Mr Picone said Legacy’s help made things easier but it was still a tough time.
“It was extremely hard. I was bullied at school because I didn’t have a father.
“But apart from that I believe the mentoring and mateship from the Legatees of the day made me who I am today,” he said.
“And therefore it’s my deepest belief that I have a debt I can never repay.”
A mechanic by trade, Mr Picone is now an Uber driver.
He said the flexibility allows him to dedicate more time to volunteering with Legacy.
“It’s very, very close to my heart. What was done for me I now need to do for others out there,” he said.
“While ever there is conflict and Australian service personnel are involved we are going to have a job.”
This week is Legacy Week and around town volunteers will be selling pins to fund the support work the organisation has been doing since 1923.
You can support Legacy by grabbing a snag on Saturday morning from Bunnings in Portsmith.