LEGACY COMMEMORATES 100 YEARS LONDON HOSTS THE FIRST RELAY FOR THE LEGACY CENTENARY TORCH RELAY

Announcement posted by Markson Sparks! 21 Apr 2023

# The official opening ceremony for the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 presented by Defence Health begins on the battlefields of World War 1 in Pozières, France on Sunday 23 April.

# Torch Relay continues in Belgium with The Last Post at Menin Gate on Wednesday
26 April with Dr Brendon Nelson.

# The first leg of the Torch Relay will travel the streets of London on Friday 28 April with Victoria Cross recipient Daniel Keighran.

This year, Legacy commemorates 100 years of supporting the families of Australian Defence Force members who have given their life or health in service to Australia. An aspect of this commemoration is The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health.

The first official relay leg of Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health will travel the streets of London on Friday 28th April from 2:15pm.

Australian Victoria Cross recipient Daniel Keighran will have the honour of carrying the torch out the front of Buckingham Palace. He will be joined in the relay by 15 other Torch Bearers representing Legacy (Australia and London), Defence Force and Legacy key corporate partners.

The relay will begin at General Charles Gordon Statue, Victoria Embankment Gardens and travel through the streets of London, past Big Ben, the Cenotaph and join a Horse Guard to makes its way to the Australian War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner.

As the only Legacy Club outside Australia, it’s fitting to start the first leg of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health in London, following the Opening Ceremony in Pozieres, France and Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate, Belgium. London Legacy was established in 1947, out of the need to support veteran families in the United Kingdom and currently has 13 Legatees and 29 beneficiaries.

The last Torch Bearer, London Legacy beneficiary Angela Brient will carry the Legacy Centenary torch and light the cauldron at a reception attended by Lord Mayor of Westminster, Hamza Taouzzale, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM Governor of Queensland, Eric Easterbrook, Chairman Legacy Australia, along with London Legacy President Yvonne Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Birch, Australian Army Liaison Officer.

Eric Easterbrook OAM, Chairman of Legacy Australia says “For 100 years, Legacy has been standing proudly as the only veteran service organisation in Australia dedicated solely to the care and support of our veterans’ families.

“It is an honour, as Chairman, to commemorate Legacy’s Centenary and start the first leg of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health in London. The Spirit of Legacy is service, and I would like to pay tribute and thank the thousands of Legatees and volunteers who have dedicated their time to supporting the widows and families in our care over the past century” concluded Easterbrook.

Liliana Sanelli Executive Producer & Director of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 says, “After more than three years of planning it is an enormous privilege to embark on this journey and lead the creation and production of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health.

By involving the community, together we pay respect to our Legacy families and keep the Legacy Torch and undying flame alive for our veterans’ families and raise over $10 million dollars to keep Legacy strong for another hundred years,” concluded Sanelli.

Joanne Kadlecik, CEO, Defence Health, says, “It is an honour to be an official Torch Bearer in London and be part of the official party in this milestone event opening proceedings. As the presenting partner of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, Defence Health is helping to ensure Legacy is sustainably resourced for the future. In times of peace and war, Legacy has always been there for our military families. It’s a privilege to share the journey with Legacy Australia,” concluded Kadlecik.

 
FURTHER DETAILS BELOW FOR ALL EUROPEAN AND LONDON ACTIVITIES AS FOLLOWS:

The official opening ceremony of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 presented by Defence Health is being held on Sunday 23 April on the battlefields in Pozières, France where Legacy has its roots in a battlefield promise, on the Western Front in World War I. That was a promise from a soldier to his dying mate, “I’ll look after the missus and the kids”.

Following the official launch, a Legacy Centenary Torch will be gifted to the Sir John Monash Centre, the museum that commemorates Australian’s who served on the Somme. The torch will form part of an ongoing display at the Centre.

The Legacy Centenary Torch will be involved in other Anzac Day events at Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt, before heading to Ypres, Belgium to be part of the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony on 26 April 2023.

The final event of the European journey of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health will be the London Legacy Centenary Ball on Saturday 29 April.

The torch will then make its journey to Australia landing at Albany, Western Australia on 3 May and stopping at all 44 Legacy Clubs across the country, before concluding in Melbourne (the home of the first Legacy Club) on Friday 13 October.

Legacy is one of Australia’s oldest and most trusted charities and are dedicated to caring for the families of veterans.

Today, Legacy supports over 40,000 partners and children of veterans who put their health and lives on the line for our country.

The symbol of Legacy is a torch that signifies the undying flame of service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives or health for their country. This commemorative event is a once in a lifetime opportunity and reflects the importance of continuing the memory and keeping Legacy’s Legacy.

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MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND KEY TIMINGS
EVENT DETAILS

• The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay presented by Defence Health, London reception
When: Friday 28 April at 2:15pm - 3:30pm
Where: Australian War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner

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For further information on The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay visit www.legacytorchrelay.com.au or download the Legacy 100 Torch Relay Mobile app.

TO INTERVIEW ERIC EASTERBROOK, BRENDON NELSON, DANIEL KEIGHRAN or Legacy Torch Relay organiser LILIANA SANELLI email max@marksonsparks.com or call Max 0422 501 601 or email Marta@marksonsparks.com or call Marta 0409 291 785.

For more information please contact: Felicity Greenland, Marketing & Communications Manager, The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, Felicity@perfectevents.com.au or call +61 403 369 471 (in Europe).

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay:
# 50,000 KM TORCH RELAY FOR LEGACY’S CENTENARY
# 1,300 TORCH BEARERS, 2,000 VOLUNTEERS, 100 OFFICIAL STOPS OVER 175 DAYS ACROSS EUROPE AND AUSTRALIA
# AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ESCORT
# TORCH WILL VISIT ALL 45 LEGACY CLUBS WORLDWIDE

ABOUT THE LEGACY CENTENARY TORCH RELAY 2023, PRESENTED BY DEFENCE HEALTH
In 2023, Legacy commemorates 100 years of supporting the families of Australian Defence Force personnel who have given their life or their health to protect our nation. To honour this special milestone and pay tribute to the sacrifice of many Australians, Legacy is holding a once in a lifetime torch relay event, The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 presented by Defence Health.
Legacy Australia has been supporting Veteran’s families since 1923 and was founded on a Promise made from one digger to another – to “look after the missus and the kids.” Today, Legacy supports over 40,000 partners and children of veterans’ who put their health and lives on the line for our country.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 presented by Defence Health is a six-month campaign, with satellite events (Relays), with the official opening ceremony held in Poziéres France in the lead up to ANZAC Day 2023, then onto Menin Gate, Belgium, through the streets of London, before returning home to Australia, landing in Albany, Western Australia in May 2023.

The final event of the European journey of The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health will be the first official relay leg through the streets of London on 28 April. Amongst the official Torch Bearers will be Victoria Cross recipient, Daniel Keighran. The relay will be followed by a ceremony at the Australian Memorial at Hyde Park Corner. London Legacy will also host a Legacy Centenary Ball on Saturday 29 April.

The torch will then make its journey to Australia starting at Albany Western Australia on 3 May and stopping at all 44 Legacy Clubs across the country, before concluding in Melbourne (the home of the first Legacy Club) on Friday 13 October.

The torch will travel 50,000 km, through 100 stops, supported by 2000 volunteers and carried by approximately 1,300 Torch Bearers. All have a personal connection to Legacy, either as currently serving or past Defence Force personnel, or a member of their family.

The start and end of each relay will include a hero mile, where the torch will be carried by key local Legacy representatives and dignitaries, with the last Torch Bearer to carry the Legacy Centenary torch and light the cauldron. At the end of each relay, a reception event will be hosted by the local Legacy Club.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health aims to not only commemorate the previous century, but also highlight what the future holds for the organisation. As we continue to salute their sacrifice and provide continuous care to those who have given so much, we want to honour the past, thank the present and build the future for Legacy.

To this day, Legacy supports over 40,000 partners and children of our veterans. Financial, emotional, social, and developmental support is provided for the families in our care. Together with our staff, volunteers and supporters, we are committed to empowering our veterans’ families, to grow and thrive, despite their adversity and loss.

Australian Defence Force are proudly supporting The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, through organisational and operational support. During each relay the Australian Defence Force will provide a tri-Service escort with members from the Navy, Army, and Airforce, as well as an escort vehicle.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health is proud of the support from their corporate partners which include Accenture, Australian Defence Apparel, BAE Systems, Boeing, Europcar, Lockheed Martin Australia and Thales Australia.

Legacy is one of Australia’s oldest and most trusted charities and are dedicated to caring for the families of veterans.

Visit: www.legacytorchrelay.com.au and download The Legacy Torch Mobile app, to follow and track the torch.

About Legacy: Keeping the Promise Legacy is one of Australia’s oldest and most trusted charities. For almost a century Legacy have supported the families of those who gave their life or health for our country. Legacy has its roots in a battlefield Promise, in the trenches on the Western Front in WWI, the Legacy promise was made by a soldier to his dying mate to “look after the missus and the kids”.

Since then, Legacy has continued to support and empower our veterans’ families to live their best future and keep The Promise alive into the future. To this day, Legacy supports over 40,000 partners and children of our veterans.
Established in 1923 in Melbourne, Australia by Sir Stanley Savige (inspired by Sir John Gellibrand), Legacy will be celebrating 100 years in 2023.

About: Defence Health
Since 1953, Defence Health has remained true to their purpose to protect the health of those who protect our country. Defence Health are here to support the families of those who defend our country, care for those who once served, and be here for their supporters – the parents, brothers and sisters who are part of the Defence community too. The genuine connection to Defence has been, and remains, in the composition of the Defence Health Board of Directors. Many veteran or active ADF Reserve members have held governance positions with the fund, and the current Board includes the nominated representatives of the Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force. When you join Defence Health, you are more than just a name or a number. Defence Health truly listens to you and demonstrates genuine care, understanding and expertise.