Minister for Veterans David Harris is joining Queen Dunbar, President of the Families of Veterans Guild, Sydney war widows and other members of the veteran and Defence community at the Cenotaph in Martin Place today to mark the fifth Annual War Widows Day and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Australian War Widows Guild of NSW.
Recognising eight decades of service, strength and sacrifice by war widows and widowers across Australia, the milestone anniversary commemorates the establishment of the Australian War Widows Guild of NSW, now the Families of Veterans Guild, in 1946 by Jessie Vasey, whose vision created a support network for families navigating the loss of loved ones who served their nation.
War Widows Day is officially recognised on 19 October in most Australian states, and over the last week commemorations across the country have taken place to honour the contribution and personal sacrifice of more than 28,000 surviving war widows and widowers in Australia, over 8,000 of them from New South Wales.
Following the Second World War, Australia mourned the loss of thousands of servicemen, leaving behind a generation of women facing an uncertain future. Recognising their shared grief and the significant challenges ahead, Ms Vasey brought together a group of war widows and founded the Australian War Widows Craft Guild, laying the foundation for what would become the War Widows’ Guild of Australia.
The Guild brought war widows together so they could support each other and advocate for the recognition they deserved. Under Ms Vasey’s leadership, the organisation successfully lobbied governments for improved pensions, housing, children’s allowances and healthcare benefits, and even built self-care units for war widows across several states. That history of advocacy is the foundation for how the Families of Veterans Guild serves its war widow and veteran family members today.
For more information on how to support War Widows, including by purchasing a special edition 80th anniversary pin featuring the iconic kookaburra or sharing a tribute on the Australian War Widows Honour Roll visit: https://familiesofveterans.org.au/war-widows-day/
The commemoration commences at 10.30am.
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
“For 80 years, Australian war widows have shown extraordinary resilience, courage and commitment in the face of profound loss. Behind every serviceperson is a family that also serves. War widows have carried the enduring impact of conflict while raising families, supporting communities and preserving the legacy of those who wore our nation’s uniform.
“As we mark this significant milestone on the fifth annual War Widows Day, we thank generations of war widows and widowers for their strength and ensure their stories of love, sacrifice and service continue to be remembered.
“We honour not only the loved ones they lost, but also the remarkable contribution war widows have made to the fabric of our state.”
President of Families of Veterans Guild Queen Dunbar said:
“War Widows Day means a great deal to every war widow, because it’s one of the few days each year when the sacrifice we and our families have made is recognised publicly. Gathering at the Cenotaph in the Guild’s 80th year, alongside women who have walked the same path, reminds us that none of us carries that loss alone.
“We’re very grateful to the NSW Government for also hosting today’s luncheon at Parliament House. Being welcomed into the heart of our state’s democracy tells war widows that their service matters to New South Wales.”
