The Warrnambool branch helps more than 300 widows and dependents of servicemen across the region.

The week begins with a Warrnambool Christ Church service on Sunday and runs until Saturday, September 8. 

Legacy is a charity providing services to Australian families suffering after the injury or death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service. There are 60,000 beneficiaries across Australia. Ninety-six per cent of those are elderly widows. 

Locally Legacy helps women and their families in Port Fairy, Camperdown, Caramut, Mortlake, Timboon, Cobden,  Peterborough and surrounding areas.

Warrnambool president Ian Smith said it was an important week for Legacy and it was their main fundraiser.

“As we receive no government funding we make one direct approach to the public annually in the form of endowments and badge selling,” he said. “We can only carry on the work of Legacy with the financial support from the public and are very grateful for any assistance.” 

He said public donations helped widows who were living independently with a winter heating allowance, accessibility modifications at their homes and other needs. “The heating allowance is very appreciated by the widows,” Mr Smith said. 

Badge and endowment committee chair Diana Officer said as times had changed so had the way Legacy helped people. In the 50s and 60s Legatees delivered wood to widows to help with heating costs, whereas now they helped them with funds to meet rising energy costs.

“We try and keep the ladies living independently in their own homes for as long as we can but we’ve got to remember as lot of those are in their 90s now,” Mrs Officer said. 

Badges and merchandise, including pens, key rings and temporary tattoos can be purchased across the region during the week, with an increased number of volunteers selling items in shopping precincts on badge day - Friday, September 7.

Warrnambool locations include the CBD, as well as Northpoint and Gateway plazas, Bunnings and the Homemaker Centre. 

Volunteers will hit the streets of the Moyne Shire with sellers in Koroit on Wednesday and Port Fairy on Friday (September 7). Donations can also be made during the week at the Port Fairy Golf Club and the Port Fairy & District Community Bank.

Mrs Officer said people weren’t carrying cash anymore and Legacy didn’t have tap and go technology for people to donate as yet. “We want people to have the pennies in their pockets on Friday (September 7),” she said.