Albury War Widows Club visit
Back in late September, Families of Veterans Guild hosted a regional luncheon for war widows in the Albury area at the SS&A Club. This gathering brought members together for connection and updates, led by President Queen Dunbar and War Widows Program Manager Jo. Key moments included updates from the AGM, introducing new board members, and discussing highlighting events like War Widows Day. One highlight of the day was honouring the dedication of Albury Social Club leaders, with special recognition for former Coordinator Miriam McInerney and current Coordinator Marlene Sullivan. Their unwavering commitment to Albury’s war widows has helped foster a close knit community, and their efforts were celebrated by all in attendance.
Our programs and news for the war widows community
During the lunch, Jo and Queen were able to discuss a vast amount of helpful information regarding our programs, with our members hearing about interesting opportunities for volunteers such as the Friendship Line, the new Social Work and Wellbeing Program, and the supports for war widow social clubs.
The Friendship Line is a cherished program where volunteers make calls to war widows for a chat and providing a listening ear. Many attendees were able to consider interest in volunteering or receiving calls, flyers and information were distributed, encouraging members to get involved!
Exciting news was shared about the local organisations, including the SS&A Club, Diggers Club, and RSL branches for their generosity and vital support, enabling Albury’s war widows to maintain regular gatherings and social events. The Families of Veterans Guild’s annual financial support ensures that Albury’s war widows, and all war widow social clubs can stay connected, with increased funding to meet rising costs and help cover transportation needs for those who would otherwise have difficulty attending events.
For members who couldn’t travel to Sydney for War Widows Day on October 19, Marlene Sullivan arranged a local gathering on October 18 at SS&A, giving Albury members the chance to commemorate the occasion closer to home.
A warm closing to the day with reciting of our motto together, followed by lucky door prizes donated by SS&A Albury brought some fun surprises, with members Beryl Anderson, Wyn O’Connell, and Barbara Chappell each winning a bottle of wine.
Joining a war widows social club
If you’re interested in joining a war widows social club in your area, reach out via email at programs@fov.org.au or phone 9267 6577 and find a fitting club like Albury’s war widows, where friendships, support, and shared memories continue to thrive.
