Families of Veterans Guild

Nature connection walk for Canberra veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:57:45 +0000

Reconnect in nature: wellbeing walk for war widows, defence and veteran families

Slow right down and reconnect — with nature, and with yourself. This wellbeing activity is a gentle, guided walk through the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, designed to help you feel present and at ease. On Friday 30 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our nature connection walk for a calm, mindful morning in the bush.

Nature connection walk

Join us at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary for a 90-minute guided nature connection walk — a gentle, sensory-based experience designed to help you reconnect with nature and yourself. Nature and forest therapy guide Sarah Murray-Boyd will lead you through techniques such as mindful breathing, sensory awareness, grounding, and silent observation to encourage relaxation, presence, and reflection.

There is no cost to attend. Because this is a quiet, mindful activity, it isn’t suited to young children, though infants and babies are welcome. After the walk, you’re warmly invited to keep the conversation going at Wildbark Café, where coffee is available to purchase at your own expense.

Previous attendees of wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed spending time outdoors, exploring somewhere new, getting fresh air and gentle exercise, and connecting with others who understand my lifestyle and experiences.”

Event information

Location: Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary, 25 Rosenberg St, Throsby ACT 2914.
Date: Friday 30 October 2026.
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Sound immersion session for Sydney veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:57:08 +0000

Experience sound immersion: free session for war widows defence and veteran families

Set aside a couple of hours to switch off and let the sound do the rest. This wellbeing activity at Cronulla offers an hour of deep relaxation, followed by a coffee by the beach. On Saturday 24 October 2026, defence and veteran families can join our sound immersion session for a calm, restorative morning.

Sound immersion

Join us at Heart and Soul Yoga in Cronulla for a sound immersion session led by Bianca Teremi, a UNSW-approved music tutor and certified yoga instructor. You’ll lie still on the floor for around 60 minutes while a variety of calming sounds, including crystal singing bowls, move through the room to promote relaxation and wellness. Afterwards, we’ll head to a local cafe for a coffee or tea together.

The session and coffee are included, and there is no cost to attend. Children aged 10 and over are welcome with adult supervision. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat and a small blanket or jacket to stay warm while you rest.

A couple of things to note: the studio is up two flights of stairs and there is no lift. Please arrive 10 minutes early so we can start promptly at 11 am. Cronulla gets busy on weekends, so allow plenty of time to park and walk to the studio — the Croyden Street Carpark has unlimited parking on the top level.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I just wanted to express my gratitude for being able to connect with such a wonderful group. It was such a great opportunity to do a self-care activity and get to know some of the other attendees at the same time.”

Event information

Location: Heart and Soul Yoga, 1/57 Cronulla St, Cronulla NSW 2230 (the studio is located up 2 flights of stairs, no lift is available).

Date: Saturday 24 October 2026.

Times: 11am – 1pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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80 years of stories: Aileen Watkins OBE

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:38:22 +0000

Twenty-one years at the helm: Aileen Watkins OBE and the making of the Guild

Part of our 80th anniversary series, honouring the war widows who built this organisation.

When the War Widows’ Guild began in NSW in 1946, it had almost nothing. No offices of its own, no housing, no reliable income. What it had was a founding idea from Jessie Vasey CBE OBE —that war widows did not need charity, they needed rights, independence, and one another — and a small number of women prepared to do the work.

Aileen Watkins OBE was one of those women. She would go on to lead the Guild in NSW for twenty-one years, the longest presidency in our history. Her story is one of stewardship: of taking something fragile and new, and transforming it to something lasting.

As we mark 80 years, hers is a story worth telling in full.

A widow, and a weaver

Aileen Watkins was a war widow. She understood, from her own life, what the women around her were carrying, and she never mistook the work for anything other than what it was.

She was also a weaver, and it was through craft that she first shaped the Guild. In the earliest years, handicraft was not a hobby. It was the practical heart of the Guild’s philosophy: a way for widows to earn, to gain confidence, and to sit alongside other women who understood. Aileen was engaged as a permanent weaving instructor and became closely associated with the development of the Guild’s weaving school at the Drill Hall.

She did the unglamorous work that made things possible. She used her craft networks to secure looms. She travelled to Melbourne to take lessons from expert teachers, and in 1948 completed an advanced weaving course at the Victorian Guild so she could bring that skill home. She built a library of instruction and pattern books for students, so that knowledge would stay with the Guild and not walk out the door with any one teacher.

It was a quality that defined her whole contribution: she thought about what would last.

Becoming President

Aileen wanted to be President. In the record of these careful, self-effacing women, that ambition stands out, and there is nothing to apologise for in it. She stood for the role in 1949 and served briefly before Jean Cunningham was elected. In 1952 she was elected again, and this time she stayed.

She led the NSW Guild from 1952 to 1973 — twenty-one unbroken years. During that time she also served as National Vice-President and, on occasion, as Acting National President.

Those two decades were the years in which the Guild grew from an idea into an institution. Membership expanded. The network of Guild Clubs spread across the state, giving country and city widows alike a place to belong. And the Guild built real, permanent homes for women who had been left adrift after the war.

Aileen led through the change without losing sight of why any of it mattered.

The partnership that built the houses

No account of these years is complete without Una Boyce OBE AM. From 1961 to 1973, Watkins and Boyce worked side by side, and the Guild’s records describe them as a forceful partnership. Together, the President and her trusted colleague gave the Guild the steadiness and drive it needed to take on its most ambitious work.

Housing was the clearest measure of that work. When Aileen Watkins was honoured by the Queen in 1966, appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, her citation read “particularly for services in the field of housing.” For an organisation that had started with nine bedsitting rooms, that recognition was, in itself, a marker of how far the Guild had come.

She received a Coronation Medal in 1953, and in 1966 it was Sir Roden Cutler, then Governor of NSW and a Guild Patron, who spoke of the pleasure it gave him to invest her with the OBE.

Aileen understood exactly what the honour meant, and who it belonged to. Acknowledging it, she said the leaders of many ex-service organisations had stressed that it “will add prestige to our Guild and I am sure we will go on to bigger and better things.” Then she added the line that says the most about her:

“I love the Guild and feel it is something well worthwhile working for.”

The way she led

Those who worked with Aileen Watkins remembered a leader of real presence. She presided over the Guild’s meetings without notes, and she was known for a remarkable memory. One member, Merle Dwyer, recalled that at annual meetings she would memorise every person’s title, every military and naval detail, and “never, ever made a mistake.”

She carried herself with a distinctive elegance — she was rarely seen without one of her magnificent hats — but those closest to her spoke of something deeper than style. Her friend Maureen Giddings described her as “absolutely charming, a very warm person, very intelligent, very sensible, very caring,” and said she “cared very deeply for the work of the War Widows’ Guild.” To Giddings, Aileen was “the glowing example” of what the Guild stood for.

A place of honour

Aileen Watkins stepped down as President in November 1973, on her doctors’ advice, after nearly three decades of service to the Guild. She died on 28 July 1982.

Una Boyce, who had worked alongside her for so long, wrote in the Guild Digest that Aileen would keep a place of honour in the history of women’s achievements in this country. Her “dignity, her charm, her integrity, her sense of humour, her sense of occasion,” Boyce wrote, “all these qualities and more helped to establish the Guild as the organisation we are so proud of today.”

Why her story matters today

The Guild that Aileen Watkins led is not a distant thing. It is the same Guild, carried forward.

The principle she gave 21 years to is the principle we still hold. In 80 years it has not narrowed but widened. Today the Families of Veterans Guild extends that same support, voice, and connection to war widows, defence and veteran families across Australia, because the need for connection, advocacy, and support continues across generations.

We are not moving beyond the women who founded us. We are extending what they built. When we honour someone like Aileen Watkins, we are not only looking back at a long and generous life. We are recognising the foundation we still stand on.

She thought about what would last. 80 years on, we are the proof that it did.

Together We Still Stand — 80 years of bringing out the best in each other.

Aileen Watkins’ story is drawn from No Peacetime Cinderellas: A History of the War Widows’ Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946–2006 by Roslyn Burge, the Guild’s commissioned history.

Throughout our anniversary year we are sharing the stories of the war widows who built this organisation. If you have a story to share, we would love to hear from you.

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Introduction to gardening online for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:56:51 +0000

Get growing with an introduction to gardening for war widows, defence and veteran families

Whether you’ve got a backyard, a balcony, or a single pot on the windowsill, this online wellbeing activity will help you get growing with confidence. On Thursday 15 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our introduction to gardening session for a practical evening of tips whilst learning and connecting alongside others!

Introduction to gardening

Join us online via Zoom for a two-hour introduction to gardening led by Melanie Thompson from Garden Nerds. The session covers the essentials — why gardening is good for us, where to find reliable information, types of plants and where they come from, and the basics of sun, soil, and water. Melanie will also walk through assessing your site, planning your space, and managing weeds, pruning, pests, and diseases, with plenty of time for questions throughout.

Afterwards, you’ll be sent the Zoom recording, a summary of notes with answers to any questions not covered on the night, and a copy of the slides. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you can also join the Nerds in the Know Facebook page to ask questions down the track. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I appreciate opportunities to learn new things, develop practical skills, and prioritise self-care and wellbeing in a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date: Thursday 15 October 2026.
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm (AEDT).

Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Online Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) workshop for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:56:48 +0000

Advanced Tension and Trauma Release Exercises for war widows, defence and veteran families

Ready to take your Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) practice further? This six-week wellbeing activity builds on the introductory course with deeper techniques to release tension and settle the nervous system. Starting Wednesday 21 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families who’ve completed the introduction to TRE can join our Advanced TRE Course online.

Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) workshop

Join us online via Zoom for six weekly sessions of Advanced Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), led by Richmond, the National TRE Coordinator of Australia. Each session combines a Q&A, a short theory presentation, and a guided group TRE practice. TRE is a gentle, body-based wellbeing practice designed to help release deep muscular tension, calm the nervous system, and support overall emotional and physical balance.

Across the course, weekly topics may include using stop-start to facilitate more movement, muscle activations, adjusting floor positions, working with the face, using standing positions, and working with the breath. This is an advanced course, so places are open to those who have completed the three-week introduction to TRE (held in February or August 2026). There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “These sessions became a powerful tool for releasing tension, reducing stress, and helping me feel supported, relaxed, and connected with others.”

Not done the beginner TRE? Register your interest

If you’re interested in this activity but haven’t yet completed the beginner Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) course, register your interest to be the first to know when we release our next beginner sessions. To register, email your details to wellbeing@fov.org.au or call us on 02 9267 6577.

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Dates:
- Wednesday 21 October 2026
- Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Wednesday 4 November 2026
- Wednesday 11 November 2026
- Wednesday 18 November 2026
- Wednesday 25 November 2026

Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

Waiver:

By attending all three online sessions, participants acknowledge that TRE is a self-care and wellbeing activity, not a therapeutic or clinical treatment, and that they will engage at their own pace, listening to their body’s limits and needs.

Participants accept that the workshop is intended to help them learn new skills and strategies to support their wellbeing, including techniques for recognising and releasing tension held in the body, while also encouraging the development of an intentional, ongoing self-care practice. Participants understand that participation is voluntary, they may pause or stop at any time, and they are responsible for ensuring their physical environment is safe and suitable for movement during the sessions.

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Bowling afternoon for Sydney veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:56:45 +0000

Strike up some fun with a family bowling afternoon for defence and veteran families

Looking for something to fill a school holiday afternoon? Make a day of it in the city with this wellbeing activity at Darling Harbour. On Thursday 8 October 2026, defence and veteran families can join our family bowling afternoon with one game, shared lanes, and plenty of friendly competition to go around!

Family bowling afternoon

Join us at Strike Bowling in Darling Harbour for a game of bowling the whole family can enjoy. To get everyone chatting, families will share lanes with other families on the day — a relaxed way to meet others and have a bit of fun together. It’s a great excuse to make a family day out of it in the city, right in the school holidays.

One game of bowling and shoe hire are included, and there is no cost to attend. Children are welcome with adult supervision. Bowling shoes will be provided, but if you’d rather wear your own, please choose something closed-toe and flat-soled, like trainers, sneakers, or boat shoes.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a a different activity.”

Event information

Location: Strike Bowling Darling Harbour, 58 Lime St, Sydney NSW.
Date: Thursday 8 October 2026.
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is essential, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Watercolour painting online for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 03:40:48 +0000

Calming watercolour painting evening for war widows, defence and veteran families

No skill required, just a brush and a bit of colour! This online wellbeing activity is a calm, confidence-building hour of watercolour painting you can enjoy from home. On Monday 28 September 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our watercolour painting session for a relaxed creative evening alongside others who understand defence and veteran family life.

Watercolour painting

Join us online via Zoom for a one-hour watercolour painting session designed to be calm and confidence-building. You’ll be guided through the basics at an easy pace, so there’s no experience needed — just follow along and enjoy the process. Each household receives one watercolour kit in the post to share.

It’s a screen-free way to unwind, spend quality time together, and connect with other families around the country from the comfort of home. There is no cost to attend, and children are welcome to join in with adult supervision.

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date: Monday 28 September 2026.
Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEST).

Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Trivia night for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 03:40:44 +0000

Online Trivia session for war widows, defence and veteran families

Gather the family, test your general knowledge, and have a few laughs along the way. This online wellbeing activity is a friendly trivia night open to all ages, from wherever you are. On Friday 9 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our trivia night for a fun evening to test your brain!

You’re free to join in on your own, with a friend or with your family beside you and enjoy time with others with a chance to win a $20 Coles voucher!

Trivia night

Join us online via Zoom for a one-hour interactive trivia session hosted on Kahoot. The questions cover a mix of movies, animals, fun facts, and general knowledge, so it suits all ages and abilities — and no trivia experience is needed. There’s a bit of friendly competition too, with the winner posted a $20 Coles gift card.

To take part, you’ll need to create a free Kahoot account before the session. Instructions and the game PIN will be shared at the start. There is no cost to attend, and children are welcome to join in with adult supervision. It’s a relaxed, screen-side way to spend quality time together and connect with other families around the country.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a different activity.”

Event information

Location: Online (Zoom link will be emailed to you).
Date: Friday 9 October 2026.
Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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War widows walk and lunch Sydney

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 02:16:18 +0000

Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway walk and lunch for war widows

On Friday 25 September 2026, war widows are warmly invited to join our War Widows walk and lunch at Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway! War widows can join this wellbeing activity for a morning of remembrance and connection that takes war widows along the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, with a guided presentation, lunch, and a little friendly trivia.

War widows walk and lunch

Join us at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway for a morning that begins with morning tea, followed by an engaging presentation and guided walk led by one of the walkway’s volunteers. It’s a chance to reflect and remember, while spending time with others who understand.

After the walk, we will gather for lunch together and a fun Guild-themed trivia session. Morning tea and lunch are both included, and there is no cost to attend. This activity is for war widows.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “The walk gave me time to reflect, remember, and feel connected to a community that understands the sacrifices we’ve made.”

Event information

Location: Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Killoola St, Rhodes Park, Concord West NSW.
Date: Friday 25 September 2026.
Time: 10.30am – 1pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is essential, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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August wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 04:36:24 +0000

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

Connection is vital when it comes to shaping our wellbeing. It can grow through shared interests, familiar faces at a weekly activity, or a moment of curiosity about what we’re truly feeling. For war widows, defence and veteran families, where life often involves change, movement and the demands of service, finding both community and self-understanding can be especially meaningful. This month’s tips, drawn from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter, explore how connection can be found in your community, and how curiosity, guided by Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, can open the door to greater self-compassion.

Finding connection in your community

Connection can be found in many places. Whether it is through a hobby you enjoy such as running, yoga, cooking, art, meditation or photography, shared interests can provide a way to meet others and build meaningful connections. Joining a local club, class or community group can help create opportunities for conversation, friendship and support.

For veteran families, social connection can be especially important. Defence life often involves frequent changes, which can make it harder to maintain social connections. Connecting with others who understand the unique defence experience can provide a sense of understanding and support. Community connections can help families feel less isolated during times of transition and change.

Small moments, meaningful impact

Connection does not always have to mean building close friendships. Sometimes it is simply having people to share an activity with, seeing familiar faces each week, or enjoying a conversation over a coffee. These small moments can make a big difference to wellbeing and help strengthen our sense of community. Getting involved can start with one small step, such as attending a local event, joining a group that interests you, volunteering, or trying a new activity. Many people feel nervous when trying something new, but connections often grow gradually through regular participation and shared experiences.

You can join us at one of our upcoming online or in person wellbeing activities and connect with other veteran families. Our activities provide opportunities to share experiences, meet people who understand the unique aspects of military and veteran life, and build connections in a welcoming and supportive environment.

The power of curiosity

It is common for us to quickly judge and criticise our thoughts and feelings. But what if we look at them through a different lens and become curious instead?

In her book, ‘Atlas of the Heart’, Brene Brown says that curiosity is an important part of our need for making meaning. Curiosity is the recognition of gaps in our knowledge and can lead to exploration and learning.

Curiosity invites us to ask ourselves:

How am I feeling?
What is contributing to these feelings?
What do I need right now?
Are there different ways of viewing this situation?

Turning towards curiosity, not criticism

Curiosity encourages us to step back from the situation and observe through another lens. Curiosity is about creating space to consider alternative perspectives and respond with self-compassion, rather than criticism. Curiosity urges us to recognise that our thoughts may be interpretations, rather than concrete facts, and our thoughts can fill in the gaps, make assumptions and predict future outcomes. However, curiosity for many of us means being vulnerable, as it requires us to venture into uncertainty. This exploration can lead to feelings of discomfort or hurt and lead us to turning towards self-protection. Curiosity is a mindfulness practice that requires consistent practice, little by little, so it is okay if this is hard at first.

Brene Brown reminds us that language matters and that the more accurately we name emotions, the better we can respond. For example, using the word “overwhelmed” to describe our feelings, may lead to a different response than using the word “stressed”. Through accurately naming emotions, we can identify what support and action is required.

A simple practice we can use to curiously explore our challenging emotions is asking ourselves, “Is it true?”. When worrying or negative thoughts arise, we can pause and ask ourselves:

“Is this thought completely true?”
“What evidence do I have for and against these thoughts?”
“What would I say to a friend if they were in this situation?”
“What else could be true?”
“Maybe, I don’t have enough information yet.”
“Am I certain, or just assuming?”

By approaching with curiosity and asking exploratory questions, we can slow down, challenge assumptions, and respond with greater self-compassion, which we all deserve. “Curiosity is an act of vulnerability and courage. We need to be brave enough to want to know more.” — Brené Brown

To find out the latest wellbeing tips or find a free wellbeing activity, please subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter.

You can also find all of our wellbeing tips, practical information sheets and guides to support you and your family’s wellbeing, visit our Resource Hub today.

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