Jennifer O’Donnell to be torch bearer for Legacy Centenary Torch Relay
A Central Queensland woman, who lost both her parents before the age of three, was supported by Legacy Australia and will bear the torch when the relay arrives in Rockhampton this week.
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Rockhampton’s Jennifer O’Donnell lost both her parents before the age of three, her mother first and later her father who served in World War II, and was supported by Legacy Australia.
Jennifer is one of 21 people in Rockhampton who will bear the torch on Friday for the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, which will begin at Rockhampton War Memorial at 10am and travel a 9.5km route before reaching Rockhampton Regional Council with the lighting of the cauldron.
The relay, presented by Defence Health, commemorates Legacy’s 100 years and began its journey in Pozières, France, on April 23 and arrived in Australia in May, where it will visit all Legacy Club locations around the country.
Legacy provides support to partners and children of veterans’ who put their health and lives on the line for their country.
Jennifer said after the passing of her father, Legacy was there for her.
“They guided me and helped me both financially and emotionally,” she said.
“I was adopted by my next-door neighbour as I had become a ward of the state, I had no other family to look after me.
“My now beautiful mother soon found herself as a single parent looking after two young children while being made redundant and on a pension.
“Without the financial support, I would not have been able to attend some school activities or had help with school supplies.
“Legacy also gave me the opportunity to go on camps with other children who were in similar circumstances. This showed me I was not alone.”
As an adult, Jennifer is “paying it forward”.
“I decided to keep the Legacy promise and have been a legatee for many years,” she said.
“To give back is an honour.
“I have witnessed our Legacy families that have been left behind go through the darkest of days and then watched them go through the same process of gaining strength, healing and support that I was granted as a child.
“When someone passes away, people are around for the first bit but Legacy is around for the rest.”
Jennifer, who is doing a Master of Teaching (Primary), said she was “very honoured” to be a torch bearer.
“I have a wonderful partner who is actively involved in Legacy and is a member of the Australian Defence Force,” she said.
“I am comforted by the fact that if he must serve and protect our country our children and I will be looked after.
“I won’t be left alone because of a promise that was made and kept 100 years ago.
“That’s what it means for me to carry the torch.”
Jennifer’s partner and co-chair of community relations for Legacy Rockhampton, Tom Polley, will also be a torch bearer in Friday’s relay.
Tom said, while the relay was a celebration of the previous century, it was also about looking forward to the next 100 years.
Legacy’s Rockhampton club was established in 1947 and helped about 300 wards across Central Queensland.
With only 23 members, the club is in need of more volunteers.
“We would be thrilled if people would be eager to join up as volunteers because we have a few volunteers looking after about 300 wards,” Tom said.
“If people are looking for something to give back to the community, this is a great way to do it.”
To donate to Legacy, visit https://legacy.com.au/donate.
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