by Luke Voogt
Almost half a century since Philippine Hocking’s Korean War veteran husband died, Legacy still gives her a helping hand.
The Lara widow is one of many benefiting from a recent $12,000 state grant to Geelong Legacy Club for widows’ heating bills.
“It’s always a help to get it in your bank account,” Philippine said.
Husband Douglas Charles Hocking served in Korean from 1951 to 1953, fighting as a mortar man in the Battle of Kapyong.
During the battle British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers held off Chinese forces greatly outnumbering them, inflicting 30,000 casualties and ultimately halting the enemy’s advance toward Seoul.
Philippine met Doug in Adelaide in 1960 and began going to dances with the “nice”, “straightforward”, “tall” man before marrying him in 1962.
“He was a quiet, serious person who never mentioned the war,” she said.
But the youngest of their six children was only three-months-old when Doug died of cancer in 1971, a day after his birthday.
“I never asked for anything or needed much but (Legacy) did help a lot at Christmas,” Philippine said.
“They’d always see that I had shirts or ties for the boys’ schooling.”
Philippine was grateful for Legacy’s combined 48 years of support, including helping with winter heating bills.
“If you ever need something they’re there,” she said.
Geelong Legacy Club’sDes Downey said the grant about a third of the heating program for local widows.
