Nola Chew lived in Parkes all her life, up until six years ago when she downsized and moved to Queanbeyan at the age of 80.
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As a ward of Legacy, Mrs Chew was placed in a unit in Legacy Village where she says she is very happy.
Her husband fought in World War II in New Guinea, and spent his 21st birthday “down a trench with the Japanese looking at him”.
It was after his three years there as a gunner that he returned to Parkes and met Nola. During their time together, the couple had three children. Mr Chew died at the age of 52, when his children were aged six, 12 and 15.
The family lived in a five-bedroom home which got too much for Mrs Chew to look after. Legacy offered her a place in Queanbeyan, near one of her Canberra-based sons.
Since her husband’s death, Mrs Chew said she’s been looked after very well by Legacy.
From the delivery of groceries the day after he died, through to the nominal rent she now pays as a ward in Legacy Village.
“They paid for the funeral and then they just hung around to help me when I wanted anything,” Mrs Chew said.
“That’s what they do, they look after the wards.”
In Parkes, Mrs Chew was the president of the Torchbearers for Legacy for many years, where she helped fundraise to support other war widows and children.
Now, she’s taken a backseat on the fundraising side of things.
However, she hoped the community would support Legacy Week.
The iconic Australian fundraising campaign began in 1942. The traditional badges, given as tokens of appreciation for donations, will be available alongside soft bears in service uniforms and wristbands, as ways for the community to show their support.
Across Australia, Legacy continues to support 80,000 widows and about 2000 children and people with disabilities.
Legacy Week will be held from Sunday, August 28 to Saturday, September 3. Look out for volunteers at fundraising stalls near local supermarkets.