EIGHTY-six years ago, a small group of World War I veterans established Legacy to look after the widows and families of ex-servicemen.

Today, more than 117,000 Australians are benefiting from the hard work and care of 5300 legatees across the country.

James Mulholland has been on both sides of the fence.

Mr Mulholland joined Legacy in 1996, over 30 years after he retired from the Australian Army.

Mr Mulholland was called up for national service in 1953 after joining the Citizen Military Force, the precursor to the Army Reserve.

He spent the next 15 years working his way up the ranks from recruit minor to captain and retired in 1968. Now he spends his time with Footscray Legacy, visiting widows around Williamstown, Werribee, Melton and Footscray.

He also enrols widows into Legacy and organises pensions for widows.

“They’re very grateful to have that handled for them,” he said.

One such widow is Williamstown’s Ella Bambery.

Mrs Bambery, 92, is the president of the Williamstown Legacy Widows Club, which she founded alongside Legatee Bill Smith and Pearl O’Brien almost 18 years ago.

“I think there’s not a problem that you can’t take to Legacy, whether it’s financial, health or personal. They’ll help you,” she said.

Mrs Bambery’s husband served in World War II and spent two years in New Guinea in field artillery before he died while being operated on in 1976.

She said befriending others in the same situation as herself, helped her deal with the difficulty she encountered after her husband died.

“You’re all in the same situation, you’re all widowed, you all share a common bond, it’s not like you’re the odd man out, we share that common bond and we all know what it has been like,” she said.

Legacy’s annual badge appeal started on Sunday and runs until Saturday. It is part of Legacy Week celebrations.