More than 17,000 keen shooters and hunters who attended this year’s SSAA SHOT Expo in Melbourne may have noticed something different at the ADI Powders stand. Among the latest and greatest products on display was a seemingly innocuous baseball cap, available to buy for just $5. But sales from the cap would not count towards ADI’s total tally for the two May days: all funds were destined to fund a bigger cause.
Legacy, a charity dedicated to helping Australian Defence Force families following the death or injury of a spouse or parent, have benefited from around $880 worth of donations from shooters who purchased a cap at the SSAA SHOT Expo. While a simple gesture, the fundraising initiative was part of a long-running partnership between ADI Powders’ parent company, Thales Australia, and the Legacy charity.
Thales Australia is actively involved in fundraising activities for the charity across the nation, including at the SSAA’s premier event. “Thales Australia has a multi-year partnership with Legacy, one of Australia’s oldest charitable institutions,” a spokesperson said. “The partnership is Thales Australia’s most significant community initiative to date, and demonstrates its willingness to support the charity’s numerous activities both financially and with in-kind support.”
Financially, Thales Australia and its staff have raised in excess of $200,000 for Legacy. Along with fundraising events, Thales funded the ‘Our Legacy 2016 Tour’, which took 78 dedicated Legacy carers, known as Legatees, to France to commemorate the Centenary of the Battle of Pozieres. This year, Thales supported the Operation Legacy Australia Kokoda Challenge, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign.
But Thales’ support of Legacy goes beyond fundraising. Importantly, staff raise awareness about the role the charity plays in looking after defence families in need. Selling the iconic Legacy badge on Badge Day, a highlight of Legacy Week which ran from August 27 to September 2 this year, is another way Thales staff support the charity. Graduates employed by Thales through the company’s graduate program also raise awareness among colleagues and in their local communities.
Legacy Australia chairman Tony Ralph thanked the Thales graduates “for their wonderful help in raising Legacy’s profile within the community” and was “proud of our long standing national partnership”. “We appreciate the significant effort and time donated by Thales staff to raise funds and awareness for Legacy’s work in caring for the families of those who served their country,” he said.
From voluntarily protecting Australia’s native environment and farmlands, to contributing to fundraising initiatives in support of vital charities, it is clear that sporting shooters are a generous bunch. With ongoing support from leading firearms industry companies like Thales, worthwhile causes such as Legacy will continue to receive the support of Australia’s proud shooting community.
To donate, visit the Legacy website.