Berwick resident Noel Hewitt has been recognised for 50 years with Legacy, an organisation which provides services to families suffering financially and socially after the death of a spouse or parent during or after their defence force service. 29374
By Kelly Yates
A BERWICK man has been recognised for 50 years of service with Legacy, a voluntary organisation caring for families of deceased veterans.
Noel Hewitt, who served as a Spitfire pilot flying out of the United Kingdom during WWII, told the News he was thrilled to mark the 50-year celebration.
Legacy provides services to Australian families suffering financially and socially after the death of a spouse or parent during or after their defence force service.
Mr Hewitt has cared for more than 350 widows, and says that being a Legatee is like being a mentor to the families who have lost their loved ones.
The organisation currently cares for 120,000 widows and 1,900 children throughout Australia.
The 84-year-old joined Legacy while he was living in Warracknabeal.
During his 50 years of service, Mr Hewitt has held various senior positions with the organisation including president of the Wimmera Legacy Club from 1975 to 1976, chairman of Legacy’s pensions committee and executive member of the South Eastern Legacy group.
Mr Hewitt said a highlight of being a Legatee was advising widows when they had been granted a War Widow’s Pension.
“Initially it was no easy task proving that the death of a veteran was as a result of his war service,” he said.
“However a big breakthrough came in the 1980s when the Department of Veterans Affairs accepted smoking as a cause of death as war service was the reason that many ex-servicemen smoked,” Mr Hewitt said.
“And the success rate for widows to be granted a War Widow’s Pension increased greatly.”
Mr Hewitt said that by keeping himself busy and knowing that he was helping others, made life very worthwhile.
