Gladstone War Widows Enjoy Backyard Makeover Thanks to Legacy Program

A heartwarming backyard makeover has brought joy to the lives of two Gladstone war widows, thanks to a special program run by charity Legacy. The initiative, which is approaching its 10th year, helps partners or families of deceased or injured veterans manage overgrown backyards.

War Widow Receives Backyard Makeover

90-year-old Vera Walker was "absolutely stunned" when a team of uniformed soldiers arrived at her doorstep one weekday morning to give her backyard a makeover. The great-great-grandmother had been struggling to maintain her overgrown yard for years, but was unable to find a business willing to help.

"It was an eye-opener and a gob-opener too,"

Ms Walker said. The team of soldiers, who were visiting the region as part of a biennial exercise, trimmed trees, weeded, and demolished an old shed and BBQ in Ms Walker's backyard.

"I get a lump in my throat when I think about it … I was absolutely stunned,"

Ms Walker said. She has now hired a gardener to help maintain the garden, which has more space and new flowers.

Backyard Assist Program Helps Those in Need

The Backyard Assist program is run by Legacy's Brisbane division and helps partners or families of deceased or injured veterans manage overgrown backyards. The program has helped numerous people, including Colleen Platten, who received a backyard makeover in the beachside town of Tannum Sands.

"I looked over my balcony, there was four uniformed reserves standing there with their guns down, saying hello,"

Ms Platten said. The team of soldiers helped with replanting potted plants and cutting back large trees and overgrown vines.

"It was an enormous job … in all honesty, I couldn't afford it [otherwise],"

Ms Platten said. Her late husband, Lee Platten, served in the navy for five years from 1962.

Program Approaching 10th Year

The Backyard Assist program is approaching its 10th year, but Legacy Brisbane's interim chief executive officer Anthony Birch said the organisation had been doing similar work informally for almost 100 years.

"It's so important, given our aging population, that we continue to support those people and try and keep them in their homes for as long as possible,"

Mr Birch said. He envisioned the program continuing a long way into the future, providing a "little bit of pride and such a great way to reward their service or the service of their family."