Lesley's Story

Legatee Lesley Scott’s life has been intertwined with Melbourne Legacy for more than seventy years. From a young girl supported after World War II to a mentor and community leader supporting widows and veteran families today, her journey is one of resilience, connection, and the enduring power of Legacy’s promise: to look after the families of those who served.

Lesley grew up in regional Victoria, where her mother ran the local post office and general store. When war broke out, her father enlisted in the Army and served for two years in the Middle East. She remembers seeing photos of him driving trucks through Jerusalem and Cairo, but like many children of that generation, she knew little about what his service truly meant. When he returned home, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent long periods in hospital. Tragically, when Lesley was just twelve, he succumbed to the illness - a direct result of his wartime service. An unfortunate prior misdiagnosis meant her mother also contracted TB, and Lesley and her sisters were separated and cared for by relatives for two years while her mother recovered.

Following this upheaval, a man began visiting the family to check- and make sure they were never forgotten. He was a Legatee from Legacy. For Lesley and her sisters, those visits brought stability, and reassurance that someone cared about their wellbeing. That quiet support would go on to shape the rest of Lesley’s life.

At seventeen, she left her small country town for Melbourne to study science at university. The transition was overwhelming, and her Legatee suggested she stay at a Legacy home rather than a government boarding house. She moved into Stanhope in Kew, a home for children whose fathers had served and died as a result of war. There, surrounded by other Junior Legatees, Lesley found not just a place to live, but a unique community that shared her lived experience. When she struggled through her first year, Legacy stepped in once again.

“Legacy paid for me to repeat my first year,” Lesley recalls. “My mother could never have afforded it. If I hadn’t had that support, I would’ve had to give up.” With that chance, she completed her studies, became a science teacher, and went on to a career that shaped the next fifteen years of her life in the regional town of Sale.

Many years later, after raising her own family in Sale and then returning to Melbourne, Lesley received an unexpected phone call from Legacy asking if she would consider becoming a Legatee herself. Without hesitation, she said yes. “It was the ideal time,” she explains. “Legacy became my other community. As a Legatee, I’ve supported widows, welcomed them into the Legacy family, and formed friendships that have lasted right up until today.”

Now 88, Lesley still leads a "Walking for Pleasure" group, bringing widows together twice a month to walk, share a meal, and stay connected. For her, the act of caring for others feels like continuing the promise that once supported her own family. Just this year, Lesley was celebrated and acknowledged for her commitment with an award for 25 years of service to the Melbourne Legacy community as a Legatee. 

Remembrance Day holds a special meaning for Lesley. “It’s important for Australians to pause, remember and reflect on the sacrifices of veterans and their families,” she says. Each year, she stands on a corner in the city at 11 a.m. on November 11, just as Legatees once did, working with police to stop traffic for the minute’s silence. Even now, she continues that tradition, often alone, to honour those who served and the families who still carry the cost.

Lesley’s story bridges generations. She recognises that while older widows find comfort in Legacy’s community, younger families need new kinds of professional and emotional support. “We still have a lot of people who really need support, especially the younger ones,” she says. “Legacy’s role in helping families build community is as important today as it was when I was a child.”

From a twelve-year-old girl who lost her father, to a lifelong Legatee supporting others, Lesley’s life embodies what Melbourne Legacy stands for: compassion, continuity and care that spans generations. Her story is a living reminder that remembrance is more than a day on the calendar - it’s a commitment to ensuring that the families of veterans, past and present, are never forgotten.

Your support helps families like Lesley’s build stability, find connection and create new beginnings. Donate this Remembrance Day to keep the spirit of Legacy alive and ensure no family is left behind.