Wagga farmers are still determined to dig deep for diggers during Legacy Week, which will be heavily restricted this year due to COVID-19 regulations.
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Volunteers would normally be hitting the streets this week to sell badges, bears, and bracelets to raise money for Wagga's veteran families, but they will not be able to this year due a ban on face-to-face fundraising.
Producers will also not be able to hold their Legacy Week stock drive this year, since the sale yards are currently off-limits to the general public.
However Wagga Associated Livestock Agents president Ryan Schiller said producers would instead be donating out of their own pockets in order to keep the tradition alive.
Farmers have been fundraising year-round for Wagga's diggers for the past 62 years, and Mr Schiller said they had no intention of breaking their streak.
"This year will be a bit more challenging because of the restrictions in place for COVID, but the rural sector around here has been a great supporter of Legacy for a long time," Mr Schiller said.
"Hopefully blokes will keep putting their hands in their pocket. It's been challenging on everyone's behalf, but for the greater good we're still coming together to keep things moving forward."
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Teams of cadets, military personnel, and citizen volunteers would normally be selling Legacy badges at pubs, hotels, and shopping centres, but will not be doing so this year.
Instead they will be taking their fundraising efforts to the digital realm, raising money online and also directly at the Legacy house on Tompson Street.
Several local primary and high schools will also be selling Legacy pins, badges, and other merchandise to help make up for this year's shortfall.
Legacy Week chairman John Lane said it was a radical departure from how they normally did things, but that their team of volunteers were determined to adjust to the times and help Wagga's diggers in whatever way they can.
"Everybody's had to step back a bit and rethink how they do things, but we're still here to look after our veterans," Mr Lane said.
"We're still here, we're still functioning, and we're looking to raise money in whatever way we can."
Last year's Wagga Legacy Week raised over $100,000, with all the proceeds going to local veterans and their families for counselling, housing, medical treatment, advocacy, social support, and other expenses.
Nationwide, Legacy Australia raised over $3 million last year but is expecting to see roughly a 25 to 50 per cent decrease in donations due to the coronavirus.