Legacy unveils renovated House

AFTER decades at number five Raglan Street South, Ballarat Legacy House has been renovated, ready to support veteran families for generations to come.

Billmac Building’s Joel Dodd refreshed the home base of Ballarat Legacy over four to five months, before it was officially reopened last Thursday, 25 March by Rick Cranna, the chair of Legacy Australia.

Ballarat Legacy president Jeremy Bannister said the former run-down House has been transformed, previously “desperate for a spruce-up.”

Only one wall has been moved, yet the space feels larger and more inviting.

“We’ve ended up with a much lighter, brighter and friendlier space with an enormous amount of storage,” he said.

“Five Raglan Street south has been the home of Ballarat Legacy for the last 60 years, and has done an admirable job in that time, providing a central, easily accessible base for our Legacy families, and of course, legatees.

“But unfortunately, its 1920s layout and décor were well and truly beginning to show their age. It was dark, cold in winter, draughty, hot in summer, and had an odd layout… so the builders have brought it into the 21st century.”

He added that the Lillingston Charitable Trust has been “exceedingly generous” during the process.

“The Trust made a large welfare donation three years ago, and now funds that we’ve specified for these capital works. We are very grateful for their support,” Mr Bannister said.

“We have a much more pleasant meeting place for our families and Legatees, and our hardworking staff now have a wonderful working space.”

Morgan Murphy is a trustee of the late Irene and Les Lillingston’s Trust. Mr Lillingston was a Rat of Tobruk.

“Knowing of the support that Legacy provided for Irene after Les died, we looked at what we could do to help Legacy,” he said.

“We discussed the conditions they were working in at Raglan Street, and looked further into how we could bring a little bit more new life to Legacy. We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to make a contribution to bring it to this stage.

“I hope it means a lot more younger people will get involved, because the need is still there. The establishment you have here is welcoming to anyone that wants to come and participate. It’s amazing.”

Mr Cranna was honoured to reopen the “beautiful renovations,” travelling down from Sydney to be at the event.

“This building now reflects and recognises the professional organisation Ballarat Legacy is, and has been over almost 100 years, from their inception in February, 1926,” he said.

“It’s a poignant reminder to the Ballarat community that Ballarat Legacy stands ready to support our veteran families now, and well into the future.

“The club was first established to provide funding for work for diggers that had returned from the First World War, and has been a major influence and leader in the development of Legacy in Australia.”

The Laurel Club community was founded within Ballarat Legacy, which led to the “most important” Widows’ Clubs.

Ballarat Legacy was the first group to help children of deceased ex-servicepeople. They launched the first camps for boys of Legacy families, and started the girls’ Legacy Club movement.

“Junior legatee development is a very important part of the work that Ballarat Legacy does, and has done for almost 100 years, so I’m pleased that we at Legacy Australia have been able to help with some of the funding in the last few years, and that will continue,” Mr Cranna said.