Families of Veterans Guild

Honouring Australia’s war widows

Kelly Taylor — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 01:14:46 +0000

To mark our 80th anniversary, we have been collecting 80 years of stories, 80 years of war widows connecting with each other and supporting one another. This month, as we also mark War Widows Day on 19 October, there is no better time to invite war widows, their families and friends to add to this collection by paying tribute to a war widow they have known and love on our War Widows Honour Roll.

Behind every war widow is a story

Ruby Terry stood by her husband Rupert, a Fifth Battalion veteran who carried the wounds of World War I. She understood what service had cost him. “Ruby was his rock,” her family remembers.

Margaret Tanner was 29 when her husband Noel died, leaving her a war widow and a sole parent to their young son. She lived independently until well into her 100s, supported by family and friends.

Elizabeth Wright cared for her husband Reg, a wartime pilot, through the lifelong effects of his service. After he passed, she found her feet among other war widows. At 93 she put up her hand to coordinate the Chatswood Social Club, and did so until she was well into her 100s so the ladies could continue to meet each month.

Joan Adams raised three children while her husband Ross lived with the impact of his war service, at a time when families were expected to keep challenges to themselves. She cared for Ross until his death.

These are four of the many stories on the War Widows Honour Roll. There are thousands more to be told.

A living record of war widows’ stories

The War Widows Honour Roll is a living record where war widows, families and friends can add the name and story of a war widow in their lives, so her story is preserved for future generations.

To mark the anniversary, we are gathering 80 years of stories, a collection of memories from across our community. This is the opportunity for you to share your story, and an opportunity to honour our mothers, grandmothers, or a war widow we once knew. The stories we share help preserve what our war widows have built, and reminds the country why remembering them matters.

Why sharing our war widows stories matter

More than 28,000 war widows and widowers live across Australia, including more than 8,000 in NSW. Behind every one of them is a story of love, service, grief, resilience, friendship and empowerment. These thousands of women deserve to be honoured.

Our story began in 1946 with Jessie Vasey CBE OBE and a room of war widows who refused to be overlooked and forgotten. This story has lasted 80 years within every single war widow in Australia. Much of their stories were never written down.

Today we are fortunate enough to be able to preserve these stories and honour these thousands of war widows across Australia properly.

How to add a story to the Honour Roll

Visit the War Widows Honour Roll and select ‘share a story’.

Share only what you want to share. A story can be a few lines or several pages, and it does not need to be polished. Attach a photo of who you are honouring if you would like.

If you would rather talk it through, or need a hand putting it on paper, call us on (02) 9267 6577 and we will help.

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War Widows Day pin 2026: a special edition created to mark our 80 years

Kelly Taylor — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 02:39:14 +0000

War Widows Day is on Monday 19 October 2026. It is a day to recognise the courage, resilience and contribution of Australia’s war widows, and this year marks the fifth War Widows Day in NSW.

It also falls in the Guild’s 80th anniversary. To mark the milestone, this year’s War Widows Day pin has a special design. Only 250 have been made.

As it has every year, the pin gives every Australian a simple way to honour war widows and the families whose lives were shaped by service and sacrifice.

What the War Widows Day pin means

The War Widows Day pin is an act of remembrance you can wear. It honours the sacrifices made by war widows, widowers, and families of our veterans, and makes visible a sacrifice that often goes unseen.

More than 28,000 war widows and widowers live across Australia, and more than 8,000 in NSW. Behind every number is a story of love, service, grief and resilience. Behind every veteran’s service is a family whose life was shaped by it too.

Anyone can wear the pin, on a lapel, jacket or bag. It shows solidarity with the war widow community and often starts a conversation. When you wear the pin, you carry our war widows stories into your community.

Why the wattle?

Golden wattle is Australia’s national floral emblem. Its link to service also runs deep. During the First World War, sprigs of wattle were pressed and sent to wounded Australian soldiers overseas as a reminder of home. Pressed wattle were also buried with fallen soldiers far from Australia.

More than a century on, the wattle connects those generations with today’s war widows and families. It mirrors the sprigs laid at War Widows Day commemorations. It stands for resilience, strength, endurance and renewal, and reflects both personal grief and national remembrance.

A special design for the Guild’s 80th year

Each year’s War Widows Day pin carries the familiar golden wattle and the year it was made. For 2026, the pin has a special design to mark the Guild’s 80th anniversary. Using a wattle slightly different this year and marked “War Widows Day 2026” as a special edition for this year.

Only 250 pins have been made, so we encourage you to order early.

Three ways to take part this War Widows Day

1. Wear the pin. Order the 2026 War Widows Day pin from our shop. Every purchase supports our services for war widows.

2. Add a story to the War Widows Honour Roll. The War Widows Honour Roll is a living record. Add the name and story of a war widow in your life so her legacy is preserved for future generations. Every story becomes part of “80 years of stories”.

3. Join us at the Sydney service on Monday 26 October. This year the service is held a week after War Widows Day. We gather at the Cenotaph, Martin Place, at 10:30 am. To register, call (02) 9867 6577 or email guild@fov.org.au.

Honour their sacrifice. Share their story.

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Online decluttering workshop for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:35:39 +0000

Decluttering made doable: workshop for war widows, defence and veteran families

Do you have too much in your wardrobe? Are you getting posted again and tired of feeling like you have just too much stuff? Not sure where to start?

Join us online on Saturday 14 November 2026 to learn practical ways to sort, organise, and let go of the ‘too much’. Just on time before peak-posting season, this online declutter your wardrobe workshop is a hands-on wardrobe declutter you can follow from home. This wellbeing activity is free for war widows, defence and veteran families.

Declutter your wardrobe

Join us online via Zoom for a 90-minute decluttering workshop led by Amy Revell of The Art of Decluttering, focused this time on wardrobes. Amy will share practical strategies for both organising and decluttering your wardrobe, so you can make the most of your space and keep what works for you.

It’s a friendly, no-pressure session you can join from home, whether you’re tackling a full wardrobe overhaul or just want a place to start. 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: Saturday 14 November 2026.
Time: 2pm – 3.30pm (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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Media release – The Families of Veterans Guild responds to ‘Scrap the Cap’ campaign success

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:50:47 +0000

The Families of Veterans Guild says today’s backdown on the proposed $5,000 veteran allied health threshold is a direct result of sustained community pressure, but the fight to protect veteran health care is not over.

Sydney, 17 September 2026 – The Federal Government has today abandoned its proposed $5,000 annual threshold on allied health services for Veteran Card holders, confirming the associated increase to allied health provider fees announced in the 2026–27 Budget will proceed without the threshold attached. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs said the Government had been listening to concerns raised through consultation and was, “taking the proposed $5,000 threshold off the table.”

Alongside many other people and organisations in the veteran community, the Families of Veterans Guild (the Guild) has campaigned against the cap since it was first announced on 12 May 2026, warning it would leave the community’s most vulnerable people, including ageing war widows managing chronic conditions and families of veterans with complex health needs like children of deceased service members, worse off. Since then, the Guild has briefed and met with parliamentarians across the political divide, engaged directly with Senators Jacqui Lambie, David Pocock and David Shoebridge, stood alongside advocates including Phillip Thompson OAM MP, taken the issue to national media including Sky News and ABC Radio Sydney, and written to every member of the House of Representatives and the Senate calling for the cap to be scrapped.

“This is what happens when a community refuses to quietly accept bad policy,” said Renee Wilson, CEO of the Families of Veterans Guild. “Veterans, war widows and families told the Government very clearly that a spreadsheet limit on healthcare was no way to decide whether someone could keep seeing their physiotherapist or psychologist, and today the Government has listened. That is a win for every person who wrote a letter, made a call, or shared their story over the past four months.”

The Guild recognises that this outcome reflects the effort of the whole veteran community, including the Coalition of Veterans’ Voices, Senator Lambie’s cross-bench bill, and the many veterans, widows and families who added their voices to the campaign.

Today’s statement leaves open how the Government intends to protect system integrity and manage over-servicing without a numerical cap, and how the removal of the 12-session treatment cycle, which is still proceeding, will work in practice. The Guild will continue to engage with the DVA through the current consultation, closing 30 October 2026, to ensure whatever replaces the cap is simple, transparent, and does not shift new administrative burden onto unwell veterans, widows and families. Furthermore, war widows and the children of deceased veterans must not be overlooked in any future design.

“Scrapping the cap is the right call, and the Government deserves credit for listening,” Ms Wilson said. “But our community will keep watching closely as this policy is redesigned, because the same principle applies: veterans, war widows and veteran families should never have to fight this hard for care they have already earned.”

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Mindfulness course online for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:47:50 +0000

Six weeks of mindfulness: an online course for war widows, defence and veteran families

Give yourself an hour a week to slow down and learn how to be more present. This six-week wellbeing activity is a practical, evidence-based introduction to mindfulness you can join from home. With the first session on Tuesday 10 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can now join our mindfulness course online.

Mindfulness course

Join us online via Zoom for a six-week mindfulness course led by Lydia Vorona from Living Aware. Each one-hour session explores a different theme — from what mindfulness is and isn’t, to autopilot versus being present, the evidence-based benefits, stress physiology, and bringing mindfulness into daily life. Every week also includes two guided meditation practices and time for questions.

The course covers formal and informal practice, mindful breathing and body practices, mindful walking and eating, and the difference between responding and reacting. The content is drawn from the acclaimed eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Dates:

- Tuesday 10 November 2026
- Tuesday 17 November 2026
- Tuesday 24 November 2026
- Tuesday 1 December 2026
- Tuesday 8 December 2026
- Tuesday 15 December 2026

Time: 7pm – 8pm (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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Beachside lunch and boardgames for Sydney veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:47:40 +0000

A beachside games afternoon for war widows, defence and veteran families

A little friendly competition, a good lunch, and the beach as a backdrop. This wellbeing activity at Dolls Point brings families together for a casual afternoon of games and good food. On Friday 6 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our beachside lunch and boardgames for a relaxed day out by the water.

Beachside lunch and boardgames

Join us at Coffee in the Park in Dolls Point for a relaxed afternoon at the beach, with plenty of chances to have fun, connect, and enjoy some friendly competition. We’ll have a range of games to choose from, including UNO, card games, Guess the Brand, Categories, Quiddler, Imposter, and Pass the Pigs. Lunch is part of the day too, so there’s time to sit back, share a meal, and spend time together in a casual beachside setting.

Lunch and games are provided, and there is no cost to attend. Children are welcome with adult supervision. One thing to note: beach tables can’t be guaranteed and, where available, don’t have back support — so the group may need to sit on picnic blankets on the grass, or you’re welcome to bring your own chair.

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 an activity and get to know some of the other attendees at the same time.”

Event information

Location: Meet outside Coffee in the Park, 179 Russell Ave, Dolls Point NSW.
Date: Friday 6 November 2026.
Time: 12pm – 2pm.
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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Trivia night for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:41:07 +0000

Online Trivia session for war widows, defence and veteran families

How’s your general knowledge? Join us online for a night of questions and a bit of friendly rivalry. This online wellbeing activity is a trivia night for all ages, played from the comfort of home. On Friday 20 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our trivia night for an easy, fun evening in.

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 everyone can get involved — no trivia experience needed. There’s a $20 Coles gift card up for grabs too, posted out to the winner on the night.

To join in, you’ll need to set up a free Kahoot account beforehand. We’ll share the instructions and game PIN at the start of the session. There is no cost to attend, and children are welcome to play with adult supervision. It’s a lighthearted way to spend an evening together and have a bit of fun as a family.

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 20 November 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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September wellbeing tips for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 23:14:53 +0000

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

Wellbeing often grows in the spaces where we connect — with others, with our bodies, and with the moment we’re in. It can be found in a shared story between generations, or in the courage it takes to step onto a dance floor and move to the rhythm alongside strangers. For war widows, defence and veteran families, these moments of connection and presence can offer real belonging and joy. This month’s tips, drawn from our latest Wellbeing Newsletter, explore the power of connecting across generations, and how line dancing can be a joyful, grounding form of self-care.

Connecting and supporting across generations

Having connections with peers close in age is incredibly important for physical, emotional, and mental health. But connection across generations matters just as much. Whether with family, friends, or people in the community, taking time to connect across age groups can improve wellbeing for everyone involved, offering a sense of purpose, support, and belonging.

Older generations can share stories, life experiences, and wisdom. Younger generations bring energy, new skills, and fresh perspectives. Together, these exchanges can help people navigate life’s challenges, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness, and strengthen resilience. Research shows that loneliness and isolation take a real toll on psychological and physical health, so these relationships can help buffer against those effects. This is particularly relevant for the veteran community whether talking to family or others from the veteran community. Generations that have lived through and experienced defence life and challenges can provide support, understanding, guidance and feelings of connection that is hard to find within the wider community.

Ideas to start building bonds

Here are some simple and achievable ideas to start building relationships across generations:

Looking through old and new photographs together
Sharing stories and experiences from both sides of the age spectrum
Learning new skills from each other, such as technology, crafts, or cooking
Attending community events and activities together
Scheduling regular phone or video calls, or catch-ups
Sharing common interests and passions

Connection doesn’t have to look the same for everyone — what works will depend on the individual and the relationship. Even small moments can make a meaningful, lasting difference. Every conversation, shared story, and act of togetherness helps strengthen bonds between generations. By making time to connect, we can build a strong sense of belonging, support, and wellbeing for years to come.

This month, try reaching out to a family member or someone in your community, and spend time doing an activity or sharing stories and skills. You may be surprised by what you can learn from each other.

The benefits of line dancing

Line dancing is a simple, joyful form of self-care that invites people of all ages to mindfully move, connect, and be present in the moment together. As you listen to the music and follow the sequences moving in time with those around you, your attention shifts away from thinking and into feeling as your body and breath match the rhythm of the music. The repeated steps become grounding, helping you to focus on the moment and let go of the day.

Joining a dance group asks you to be vulnerable as you take those first awkward steps not knowing the moves, laughing at missed turns, or allowing yourselves to be seen. This is all a natural part of learning.

Vulnerability, belonging, and the brave space

Brene Brown’s research into emotions highlights vulnerability as central to meaningful human experiences and reminds us that brave spaces help people show up more fully. Line dancing does not require a partner, perfection, or previous experience. Everyone faces the same direction, learns together, and moves as part of a shared rhythm.

There is comfort in being one person in a line, and confidence in realising that mistakes are part of the dance. This creates a sense of belonging without pressure to perform. For children, adults and older people alike, line dancing can support confidence, playfulness, emotional wellbeing, and social connection. It reminds you that self-care does not always need to be quiet or solitary. Sometimes, self-care looks like music, movement, laughter and the courage to step onto the floor, just as you are.

If you are interested in giving line dancing a try, check out your local pub what’s on page, local council community centre, and line dancing social media pages.

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.

The post September wellbeing tips for veteran families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

Reflection on the month that was: the $5,000 allied health cap for veterans

Kelly Taylor — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 03:20:35 +0000

The proposed $5,000 cap on allied health services has dominated conversation across the veteran community this month. Below, our CEO Renee Wilson reflects on the debate, the advocates who have driven it, and why the Guild continues to call on the government to Scrap the Cap.

This month we saw a lot of debate around the unfair proposed $5,000 allied health cap. I want to, once again, recognise the ongoing, tireless work of the Coalition of Veterans Voices, as well as the support of cross-party advocates including Susan McDonald, Matt Canavan, Dr Anne Webster, Michael McCormack, Phil Thompson, Jacquie Lambie, Colin Boyce and David Shoebridge. Thanks to your work, the media cycle has continued to gather momentum around the cap, and our community’s voices have been heard.

A special thank you to Phil Thompson, Michael McCormack and Dr Anne Webster for recognising that war widows are part of this conversation in your statements and questions to parliament.

What has happened this month is a boiling over of the veteran community’s frustration: we’ve had enough of not being heard by our Minister and our government. In my 16+ years working in this space I have never seen our community come together in the way they have around this issue. We are roaring at the government with one unified message: No to this cap, plain and simple.

Alongside the rest of the community, the Families of Veterans Guild has been speaking up about this issue and persistently calling on the government to Scrap the Cap: for the veterans we love, and our war widows who are already struggling to access the critical healthcare they deserve.

We completely agree with David Shoebridge’s reflection on this policy: it is a savings measure, returning cash to the government to compensate for allied health care providers charging closer to the market rate for their services. This is a trade off no one in the sector agreed to and one that breaks Australia’s promise to look after veterans and families.

Recently, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of the nation’s gratitude for our Vietnam veterans: he reinforced that the government honours, respects and thanks them for their service.

The clearest way to bring that statement to life is to Scrap the Cap: show our veterans, their families and war widows that you honour, respect and thank them for what they have given to Australia. They have given their health and wellbeing so that the rest of us might prosper. Pay what it takes for their healthcare and Scrap the Cap.

Sign Phillip Thompson’s Scrap the Cap petition here: https://www.philthompson.com.au/scrap-the-cap/

Sign Jacqui Lambie’s Scrap the Cap petition here: https://lambienetwork.com.au/pages/scrap-the-cap

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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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