IT is said that in the trenches of the Western Front during World War I a soldier said to his dying mate “I’ll look after the missus and kids”.

This became known as ‘The Promise’, and it lead to the formal establishment of Legacy, a charity helping the families of Australian Defence Force members who lost their lives as a result of their service.

On the 100th anniversary of its establishment, Myrtleford resident Alan Garside will be participating in the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023 as it passes through Bendigo on September 21.

Mr Garside is both a beneficiary of the charity, as his father served in World War I, and has been a legatee since 1999.

As a legatee, he assists war widows, widowers and their families in the local area.

According to Mr Garside, his father served as a member of the Machine Gun Corps in the Somme from 1916 to 1918.

As he was too old and medically unfit for active service in World War II, he served in Australia as a medical orderly in an internee camp hospital.

He died in 1952 from war-related illness from his World War I service.

Mr Garside said Legacy looked after his family from when he was around six years old, growing up in Bendigo.

"Things were pretty tough before that,” he said.

“A friend of my brothers found out about Legacy, they took us under their wing and things looked up from then on.

“I fondly remember the monthly games night at the Bendigo Memorial Hall, the annual picnic at a legatee’s farm at Ravenswood, the annual Christmas party and presents, and particularly the 10-day beach holidays each January at either Warrnambool or Ocean Grove.

“As a now-serving legatee in the Wangaratta-Myrtleford-Bright Group I am thankful to be able to repay them in this small way.”

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay began on ANZAC Day, 2023 at Poziers, France.

It was then carried to London’s Buckingham Palace before being flown to Perth, taken to Adelaide, Darwin, and then flown to Cairns.

It has since been carried by volunteer torch bearers down the east coast of Australia.

Mr Garside, who received a resplendent white uniform for the relay last week, said he will be carrying the torch for up to a kilometre depending on the numbers of participants.

After Bendigo the torch is set to head to Shepparton, the Mornington Peninsula, Sale, and then across the Bass Strait.

After leaving Hobart it will then go to Melbourne.

“It will finally arrive in Melbourne on Friday, October 13 this year to a formal welcome and great celebrations,” Mr Garside said.

He will be speaking on his experience with Legacy and the relay at a joint Myrtleford Rotary and Myrtleford Lions meeting on Wednesday, August 23 at Club Savoy.