Melbourne Legacy: Then and Now

Thousands of servicemen had lost their lives or health overseas, leaving behind grieving widows and children who often faced financial hardship, social isolation, and an uncertain future. In response to this profound need, Captain Stanley Savige and a group of returned servicemen established Legacy with a clear purpose to honour their fallen comrades through practical and ongoing support for the families those soldiers. 

These returned servicemen, who became known as Legatees, committed themselves to standing as mentors, role models, and guardians for the children left behind, while also providing vital support to widows. Legatees offered practical help such as home maintenance, financial guidance, and general welfare support to ensure that families could rebuild stable and secure lives after the loss of a loved one’s life or health. 

Legacy ran programs such as summer camps, annual concerts, and social gatherings to provide moments of joy and connection for children. At the time, memorial services were sacred spaces for veterans only. To ensure the families had a sacred space to pay their own respects, Legacy also ran memorial services and commemorative events inclusive of families enabling them to honour the sacrifice of their loved ones. These activities reinforced important values such as citizenship, responsibility, service, and camaraderie. Many children from Legacy families would go on to serve in World War II themselves, continuing the tradition of service that had shaped their families. 

Today, Melbourne Legacy remains a vital force for good, adapting to meet the needs of families impacted by military service in modern conflicts, including the Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and peacekeeping operations worldwide. While the earliest Legatees were ex-servicemen and women, membership has since expanded to include anyone who shares Legacy’s ideals of service and care. 

Our dedicated team of case managers and Legatees are committed to supporting the families of veterans through a range of professional services, programs and community-centric events. Support is wide ranging and is grounded in a psychosocial model of assessment. From fostering connection between our war widows, to providing assistance to young families and dependents of veterans with a disability, Melbourne Legacy proudly supports those who have been impacted by the service of a loved one. 

After providing over a century of support, Melbourne Legacy understands the unique challenges faced by families of veterans and strives to continue to adapt to the everchanging needs of our beneficiaries.