In her typical, humorous style, Jean Lloyd thought Bill Harding might need a survival pack as he took over the reins of Goulburn Legacy.
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The outgoing Legacy president handed over the specially selected items at Friday night’s changeover dinner at the Goulburn Soldiers Club. There was a camouflage pen, so nobody would steal it, a notebook, jelly beans to pick up energy levels when needed, a clean hanky, some chewing gum to stick things together, a piece of string and a safety pin and perhaps a bottle of bourbon.
Mrs Lloyd also gave Mr Harding an illustration depicting all of his fine attributes that would equip him in the role ahead.
Some 60 people, including members, widows and representatives of Goulburn and district service organisations gathered for the function.
Mrs Lloyd told the crowd it had been an enormous privilege to be Legacy president for the past two years. She was the Goulburn branch’s first female leader.
“It is an experience I never dreamt of having and one that will remain as one of the proudest and most rewarding of my life,” she said.
“It was the metres thick icing on the cake of already being a Legatee and for whatever reason brought the memory to the father I never knew rather closer.”
She spoke of the rich rewards, including the broad smiles on a widow’s face when visiting, the cuppas, chats and knowledge of brightening their day.
Goulburn Legacy, comprising 29 members, looks after 166 widows. Two Legatees – Ray Leeson and Joe Medway – and 41 widows have passed since 2015. In 2016/17 donations and fundraising totalled $81,497. Total income of $213,023 was offset by $199,045 in expenditure, including gifts and benefits to widows, upkeep of Legacy Lodge in Lagoon Street, Home Care and other expenses.
Mrs Lloyd said it had been a time of change, renewal and challenge as Legacy had become part of a national entity.
“Perhaps our greatest challenge is to ensure our communities realise that Legacy still has a substantial job to do,” she said.
“Our widows need us, they rely on us to kick isolation to the kerb and to assure them that they, and the sacrifices that they and their families have made, are remembered every day. We are in fact their safety net.”
Mr Harding said he was honoured to be taking over the role.
“I’ve had a few good teachers in Greg (Seaman – former president) and Jean,” he said.
Mr Harding was a member of Goulburn Apex from 1974 to 1992 and he told The Post this experience, particularly in meeting procedure, would help him enormously. He has been a member of Goulburn Legacy since March, 2002, following in his late father’s footsteps. His mother, June, 91, is also a Legacy widow. Mr Harding is married to Dianne and they have two sons and five grandchildren.
Mr Harding cited Legacy Lodge’s continued upgrade as a priority, saying it was too large an investment not to look after.
“I love Legacy and really enjoy everyone’s company,” he said.
Also at the dinner, Goulburn City Lions Club president Lee Kol presented Legacy with a $5000 donation towards its work. Departing board member Gordon Wade, who is also Goulburn RSL Sub Branch president, was presented with a certificate for his 15 years’ service.
Chairman of Legacy Australia Incorporated, Tony Ralph made a special trip from Brisbane with his wife and spoke of the challenges and regulatory changes confronting the organisation.