When Mrs Jessie Vasey founded our organisation, she did so with a fierce conviction: that the women and families who had given so much to the nation deserved to be seen, heard, and recognised. Her vision laid the foundations upon which our organisation still stands today. ANZAC Week is one of those moments where our representatives honour the work of our founder and the many war widows who continued advocating for recognition, by laying wreaths and tributes on behalf of war widows and the families of veterans.
This year held particular significance. With the recent expansion of our services into South Australia (SA), we were proud to ensure that war widows and families in SA were formally represented alongside those in NSW at ANZAC commemorations. Across fifteen services and two states, our members stood proudly at cenotaphs, gardens of remembrance, school halls and memorial parks.
Services in the lead-up to ANZAC Day
Our commemorations began on Sunday 19 April at the Five Dock RSL United ANZAC Service, where State President Queen Dunbar and Sue Doolin laid a wreath together. The service was moving and well attended, with local school children participating. Sue’s family — including her son, a Timor veteran, his wife, daughter and grandchildren — stood alongside her as they do each year.
On Wednesday 22 April, Maureen Moore represented the Guild at the RSL LifeCare ANZAC Wednesday Veteran March and Commemorative Service at the RSL ANZAC Village in Narrabeen, where Brigadier Vincent Williams CSC (Retd.), Acting President of RSL NSW, delivered the ANZAC Address. As both a resident of the Village and a Guild member, Maureen’s presence carried special meaning.
Friday 24 April brought two further services. At the Australian Remembrance Foundation’s ANZAC Tribute at the Sydney Opera House — broadcast live on 7Two and attended by more than 4,000 people — Navy widow Jenny Ware represented our community. The Guild also secured free tickets for the event and shared them with members through our newsletter and social media. That same morning, Pamela Goodhard-Dodd laid a wreath at the Pittwater House School ANZAC Day Service.
ANZAC Day across two states
ANZAC Day itself, Saturday 25 April, was our largest day of representation. At the NSW ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, State President Queen Dunbar laid the wreath on behalf of war widows and families of veterans, accompanied by Board Chair Tricia Hobson. Across Sydney and well beyond, our representatives stood at services as the sun rose. Michelle Carr was at Chatswood, joined by her children Mason and Monique. Adele Richards represented us at Medowie; Margaret Navas at Bigge Park, Liverpool; Nola Hill at North Ryde; Dell Barrett at Woy Woy Memorial Park; and Merle Kelly, a long-standing local attendee, at Wodonga’s Woodland Grove Cenotaph. Michelle Carr returned later that morning to lay a wreath at the Willoughby Family and Community Commemorative Service.
In South Australia, Member Maria Barclay represented the Guild at two services on ANZAC Day — the RSL SA Dawn Service at the SA National War Memorial in Adelaide, and the RSL SA Service of Remembrance at the Cross of Sacrifice, Pennington Gardens, where it has long been a custom for War Widows SA and Legacy SA to each present a tribute. Maria’s presence at these significant ceremonies marked an important moment: war widows and families in South Australia now have a continuing representation at their state’s most solemn occasions.
Our final commemoration of the week took place on Tuesday 28 April, when Michelle Carr laid a wreath at the Ravenswood School for Girls ANZAC Day Commemorative Service in Gordon.
To every representative who carried our message — laying the wreath on behalf of war widows and the families of veterans — thank you. You honoured Mrs Vasey’s legacy and work for widows sacrifices are acknowledged at commemorations. To our members in NSW, ACT, TAS and now in South Australia: we are deeply grateful for the privilege of standing for you, and we will continue to do so, year after year.
Lest we forget.
