On top of their dedication as a group, there are also individuals who have continued to work tirelessly for the cause.

On Monday, the group celebrated John Colvin for 39 years of service as a legatee.

Mr Colvin said the organisation had changed since he first started with Legacy in the 1970s.

“Women were never in legacy, even though they may have served in WWII,” he said.

“They were never invited to join.

“It was a very closed, tight-knit group, and you really had to wait to be invited.

“But, unless you served in WWII, people were not really invited.”

Mr Colvin said those who went to Vietnam were not really regarded as having served because of the national attitude towards the war.

“The people who changed that were legatee Carl Hann, who served on the Burma Railway, and also Tommy Mitchell from Denman,” Mr Colvin said.

The former mayor initially joined the group to help fill a need of caring for ex-service personnel’s widows and children.

”I thought it was an obligation for those of us who were here to help those who’d passed on by helping look after their families,” he said.

Of those who were part of Legacy when Mr Colvin joined, only one other is still alive – John Davies, who recently turned 90.

Mr Colvin said the work of Legacy was often something that went on behind the scenes without seeking publicity.

Muswellbrook’s branch of Newcastle Legacy cares for people in Merriwa, Denman, Aberdeen and Muswellbrook.

President Dennis Sheehan said it was estimated that by 2020, there would be as many people for Legacy to care for from the Vietnam conflicts as those who needed assistance following WWII.

“Our role as legatees is going to be maintained [as] we’re caring for those people from Vietnam and Korea,” he said.

“There’s not a lot.

“But, we’ll still be there to care.

“We have 64 widows now, we just lost one just recently, and we have approximately 25 legatees to care for them.”

Legacy Week 2017, the organisation’s main fundraiser, will be from Sunday, August 27 August, to Saturday, September, with Badge Day on Friday, September 1.

All money raised in Muswellbrook and surrounds will support local families.