Legacy Children Sail with Royal Motor Yacht Club - Broken Bay
The good folk at Royal Motor Yacht Club hosted 27 Legacy children for a day out on Pittwater in the holidays.
Sailing aboard four motor cruisers from the club, the children sailed to The Basin for a day of water fun.
The Royal Motor Yacht Club provided a sumptuous barbecue lunch and lots of snacks which were enjoyed by the hungry campers.
With them were supervising Legatees, voluntary members of Legacy, many of whom are former Junior Legatees.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Pittwater boaties took hundreds of Legatees out on Pittwater for a day each year. There has always been a strong connection as Legacy camps were also held at Narrabeen, at Legacy Park, part of the site where the War Vets now is.
For many of these children the annual Operation Float was a true high point in their year.
Today’s sail days are organised by Legatee Jeff Lowe, of Avalon, who remembers those days in his childhood well.
His wife Paula baked several cakes for the day and these disappeared quickly!
The children went on to camps at Mt Keira, near Wollongong, for the seniors, and to Moss Vale, for the juniors, but bets are on that their day on Pittwater will be what they remember most.
Sydney Legacy thanks all those who helped, especially boat owners Barry and Judy Zieran, from Avalon Beach, Peter and Sheila North from Newport, Ken and Michelle Rutterman from Elanora Heights and Gordon and Eileen Cockley from North Turramurra.
_______________________________________________
Legacy is a unique Australian organisation helping a special group of Australians – the families of veterans who have lost their lives or health.
The impacts of wars and peacekeeping operations are ongoing and for families, the battle goes on.
The aim of Legacy’s work is to assist those who have lost a partner or parent to re-establish themselves so they can develop to their full potential despite their loss.
Legacy finds practical ways to help widows, young families, youth and people with a disability from the time of bereavement with access to counselling, financial and legal advice, assistance with costs of education and provision of camps and holidays for children and families, including the RMYC hosted sailing day and a learn to sail day each December hosted by Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club. On the Northern Beaches there are Legacy widows’ social clubs, including one which meets at Avalon, which help prevent social isolation.
The Manly Warringah Pittwater Division of Sydney Legacy has 36 dedicated volunteer members, called Legatees, who liaise with around 1500 widows, people with a disability and children on the Northern Beaches.
For more information go to www.legacy.com.au/sydney or phone 9248 9000. Facebook: www.facebook.com/LegacySydney