FAMILY GRATEFUL FOR LEGACY’S SUPPORT
WHEN her father died six months ago Emily Chambers was devastated.
Her dad had been a long-serving member of the army having amassed 39 years of service.
The 19-year-old was in her second year of nursing and the future looked bright.
But when her world was turned upside down with the passing of her dad, it was Legacy that gave her, her mum and younger sister a helping hand.
“Honestly I was not really aware of what Legacy could do until I became a part of it, so I’m a very new member for the last six months,” Ms Chambers said. “They help those who have been left behind as the saying goes, so I have been helped in many ways both mentally and socially.”
She has gone to Legacy lunches and met others in similar circumstances.
“I have met girls who are my age who are also going through the same thing, it is just nice to have that connection with people who know what it is like. “Otherwise I would feel pretty alone. “I would not be in Townsville, if not for my dad and his job in the army, so it is really good that Legacy is based here in an almost rural area.
“Financially as well I have been aided with my tertiary studies, my sister she is still in school and she has been gifted some driving lessons, so she was able to get her driver’s licence through Legacy, which has been really helpful as well. It has been really great for my mum especially, because I feel it is very different for her to be losing her other half so she has had a lot of adults to lean on and she has gone to lunches and met other widows.”
Ms Chambers said it was important for the city to support Legacy.
“The Australian Defence Force is a massive part of Townsville and they do so much for us I feel like it is only fitting that people give back.
“Our whole family life has been around my dad’s job so it is really nice that him being in that job has given so much back to us after he is not here anymore. It is incredible. I did not expect it to be like this.”