Heidi, Finn, Will, Hendrix & Quade

Supporting our veterans’ families

The Legacy Week Appeal has been running since the 1940’s and is a time for all Australians to show their support for the widows and children whose loved ones have served our country. The Legacy Badge is a special emblem of support for our veterans’ families, symbolising our nation’s greatest values of mateship, compassion and fairness.

Legacy started in 1923 to support the families of those who never made it home from war. Today, Legacy has evolved to also support the families of veterans’ who have given their health in service to Australia.

Heidi and her boys are one of those families. Heidi is a navy veteran and single mum to Finn (12), Will (9), Hendrix (5) and Quade (4) – with her oldest two boys on the Autism spectrum. Before Legacy, she and her boys were doing it tough. Heidi had many sleepless nights worrying about how she could best provide for her family and their growing needs.

“The stresses of being a Mum, doing it alone, the special needs, and then being behind in bills. It’s probably the worst feeling.”Heidi

After being told about Legacy, Heidi contacted her local Club and found out that they could support her family – something that came as a massive relief.

Legacy has helped Heidi and her boys by assisting with bills, school fees and uniforms and even speech therapy lessons for Finn and Will. Legacy has also been able to provide a trampoline and specialised bikes so they can relax and have fun as a family.

“Legacy gave him a trampoline and that provides the sensory stimulation he needs to get through the day… And that frees me up to support my other kids as well.”Heidi

As a bonus, Heidi’s family has also found friendship and support with the Legacy volunteers and Legatees they interact with.

Legacy helps 43,000 partners and children nationally through their dedicated and caring volunteers – who they call Legatees – who provide personalised support for veterans’ families doing it tough. Depending on a family’s circumstance, it could be anything from helping with paperwork to making a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs, advocating on the family’s behalf, or giving them a person to talk with who has been through similar circumstances.

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Finn and Will have also been able to experience Legacy camps, where they interact with other kids just like them. Clubs across Australia hold camps that are designed to make them feel happy and comfortable, while also giving them a place where they belong.

“The fact that kids with special needs can attend Legacy camps, that’s huge. Because, in my experience, there’s no such thing available to them anywhere else… now they’re just counting down the days to the next one.”Heidi

Legacy means a lot to Mums just like Heidi, and kids like Finn, Will, Hendrix & Quade. But more than that, it means certainty for the future.

“To always have Legacy…right through to adulthood: it’s a big weight off my shoulders.”

There’s added peace of mind for Heidi because Legacy will always be there for veterans’ children with special needs. Regardless of their age.

Having grown up in a military family, Heidi had was familiar with the Legacy logo. But she didn’t understand what it stood for…until she reached out to Legacy for help.

“When I see that little badge now, I get emotional about it. Even the boys know what Legacy has done for us… Legacy has brought us happiness as a family.”Heidi