Legacy has been giving back to the community of families of Australian servicemen and servicewomen since 1923, and the Inverell Legacy chapter is going strong. They currently support 105 beneficiaries who have a family member who has served in the Australian defence forces from across the district, from Texas to Bundarra, and Warialda to Inverell.
The current youngest beneficiary is two-year-old, and their eldest is 105, so Legacy is agile in their umbrella approach to supporting families in every way possible.
Central to their local profile and fundraising for these beneficiaries is the Gwenneth Daley Legacy Centre store. Loyal shoppers and new customers have followed them up from their former location near Coles to 79 Byron Street in the heart of Inverell’s bustling CBD.
The welcoming shop is staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers. Some come with their own legacy of service, some found their way for community and friendship, others almost accidentally. All of them enjoy their time spent in the shop.
Most recently, they were voted Best Secondhand Store in the New England in the New England Times promotion, and Inverell Legacy General Manager Lyn Kitawal thought there were a few reasons for that, but one stood out.
“I think the customer service. They’re just really friendly, and it’s a good group of people who volunteer down there,” she said.
They opened doors in the bright and busy location in October 2022 with a home of their own.
“This new store, we actually bought the building,” Lyn said.
“So that gives us a bit of freedom with what we do.”
The shop has a full selection of clothing and accessories for women and children, menswear, manchester, crockery and cutlery, collectibles, books, jewellery, and $10 rag bags that can be customised for material type (ie cotton only, mixed), and delivered.
All clothing is displayed by size, and unlike the majority of second-hand shops, everything is washed and dried before it is put out for sale.
The shop also has a 50-cent rack.
“If it’s something that might have a minor thing, like a minor stain that won’t wash off, or it’s missing a button, or it’s got a small hole, we call that workwear because there’s lots of people who come in – farmers, especially, and they say, ‘I don’t care what it looks like. I’m out in the farm. I don’t care if it’s got a small hole,” Lyn said.
The store will soon be selling electrical items and small appliances for the home. Lyn said a Volunteer grant secured in 2023 will make that possible with a new addition to the store which will be eagerly welcomed by their customers.
“We bought a Test and Tag machine and two of our volunteers have just become fully accredited to test and tag all electrical items. Because we’re selling the items, they had to do the Australia-wide accredited course,” she said.
To provide a more cohesive and professional service, Legacy bought uniforms for volunteers, and to ensure they were placing people with their heart in the right place in the shop, volunteer applicants sat interviews for positions.
“It’s very casual,” Lyn said. “They have a job description, and they have a list of duties. The duties are divided up into front counter, shop area, and the back area.”
Legacy always has great window displays, and Lyn said this is intentional, and rotating the big window items is another duty for volunteers.
“You often have people who wander in, don’t realise that it’s a charity store selling mostly second-hand stuff because it presents from the street like an ordinary business.”
Store Manager Ian Robinson keeps up with the steady stream of donations in the back of the shop, washing and drying merchandise, and assisting his staff.
Ian is an ex-serviceman. He said he was at loose ends at home, and felt he needed something to do.
“I got asked if I wanted to work here, and I did come and work here for a while. Then the last manager left, so I asked for it,” he said.
He has a good sense of humour and praised the team he works with. He felt the atmosphere was supportive and warm.
“If we can’t come to work and laugh, there’s no point in coming here,” Ian said.
The sense of friendship across the volunteers is evident with the laughter and obvious friendship across the team. Wendy Pennington had a quick answer for the best part being at Legacy.
“The people. The customers that come in. The people that you work with. You know when you’re going to come to work, you’re going to have a good day,” she said.
Clarry Horsey is another ex-serviceman who comes for the sense of community, and to give back.
“Well, I’m an ex-serviceman, and I’m here to help our fellow servicemen and their families. I come here to help try to raise a bit of money so we can help beneficiaries,” he said.
Maureen Muhs did the Test and Tag course with Wendy. She arrived at the shop when she had a startling surprise at age 65.
“I was supposed to go on the pension this year, but they upped the age on me, then I had to pick somewhere to volunteer if I wasn’t getting a job. So out of all the choices in town, this is the one I picked because this is the one I like best,” she explained.
“It’s just Legacy. And because I have rellos who fought in the wars, and I’ve got nephews that are in the army now, I just picked Legacy because of that.”
Norma Honeysett had just moved to the area when she started with Legacy.
“I was new in town, and it’s a great way to meet people, and get to know people and give back. I’m well past retiring age now, and it’s a way to contribute,” she said.
“It’s the sense of gratitude of what servicemen has done. Feeling grateful for them.”
“I think that’s what we’re here for too – to support all the returned servicemen and the families of those who didn’t return. It makes life easier for them, and it gives them a support system,” volunteer Di Lee said.
Legacy is always looking for volunteers, and currently, with summer stock about to go out, Ian said they always have a real need for menswear in the shop. He said because men tend to wear their clothing until it’s no longer wearable, they welcome donations.
“We need long pants, short pants, short-sleeve shirts. We just don’t get enough for men,” he said.
To learn more about volunteering for the Inverell Gwenneth Daley Legacy Centre store, how to become a Legatee, or another way you can assist, phone Lyn Kitawal on 6722 1945 or 0488 22 1945.
You can find out more about Legacy at www.legacy.com.au.
Top image: Volunteer Belinda Zammit greets people at the front. (Photo Michèle Jedlicka)
Inverell Legacy’s Gwenneth Daley Legacy Centre was voted by New England Times readers as the Best Secondhand Store in the New England 2024.
See the other winners and more details about this promotion.