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 represented alongside those in NSW at ANZAC commemorations. Across numerous services and two states, our members stood proudly at cenotaphs, gardens of remembrance, school halls and memorial parks.
The commemorative activity began on Saturday 18 April at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway’s ANZAC Day service where State President Queen Dunbar laid a wreath. The next day, Queen also laid a wreath alongside member Sue Doolin at the Five Dock RSL United ANZAC Service. A moving and well attended service, 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 Day Commemorative Service and Veteran March 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 was fitting.
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 thousands of people — Navy widow Jenny Ware represented our community. That same morning, veteran and member Pamela Goodhard-Dodd laid a wreath at the Pittwater House School ANZAC Day Service.
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 SA, Member Maria Barclay represented our community 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, 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 SA now have a continuing representation at their state’s most solemn occasions.
On ANZAC Day afternoon, war widows and families of veterans joined the ANZAC Day March in Sydney. It is always a proud moment for them to march following our veterans, on such a significant day for all.
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 represented our community, laying the wreath on behalf of war widows and the families of veterans, thank you. To our members across the country, thank you: we are grateful for the privilege of standing with you.
