War Widows Day 2024
War Widows Day is a significant occasion dedicated to recognising and connecting war widows, ensuring they feel honoured and acknowledged.
This day allows us to appreciate their bravery, resilience, and sacrifice.
Across New South Wales alone, more than 15,000 war widows and widowers face the challenges of grief and isolation.
These resilient individuals, the silent figures behind our nation’s peace and security, deserve our unwavering support.
It is essential for the Australian community to get involved, understand their experiences, and ensure they never feel alone.
What's on this War Widows Day
Ceremony at the Sydney Cenotaph
We warmly invite you to join us at the War Widows Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney. The ceremony will commence at 10:30am. This is a public event, and everyone is welcome to come and show their support for the incredible war widows of our nation. No registration required, if you require a seat, please email us or call us on (02) 9267 6577.
Local War Widows Day events
We encourage all war widows’ social and guild clubs across NSW to commemorate War Widows Day with their own events. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share stories, and support one another. By coming together, we can create a strong network of solidarity and understanding. To ensure your event reaches as many war widows as possible, please register your local event with us. To register or find an event near you, call us at (02) 9267 6577.
Show your support
War Widows Day is an opportunity for the wider Australian community to show their support and appreciation. Limited edition 2024 War Widows Day pins are available for purchase, symbolising the resilience and strength of our war widows. Additionally, our annual “Buy a Widow a Coffee” campaign invites the public to contribute to the activities of our social and guild clubs. The funds collected help facilitate connections and gatherings among war widows, ensuring they feel supported and valued.
This War Widows Day, help us connect war widows
War Widows are part of the fabric of Australia. They are bound by the experience of a shared loss—one that is often misunderstood by those outside the defence community. Many cared for their veterans long before they passed and have dealt with the weight of service and sacrifices every day as a veteran spouse. Military life can often be isolating and nuanced, with the experience of war widows and their families often overlooked.
Their partners made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, and now they are left to carry the weight of that sacrifice. They often bear this burden in silence, their emotional and mental health impacted by a society that may not fully comprehend the depth of their grief.
Our “Buy a Widow a Coffee” initiative transcends a simple act of kindness. It’s a statement of recognition, that we acknowledge their struggles, and value their continued strength and sacrifices for the peace and security of the Australia we know today.
Your donation provides war widows, regardless of their location in Australia ,the opportunity to connect with their local War Widow’s social club and enjoy a coffee amongst friends who have similar lived experiences.
By making a small donation, you can also help provide war widows with services that offer them comfort and companionship. Every dollar goes directly towards providing practical support to these women, helping them stay connected and reducing the sense of isolation that many experience.
Buy a Widow a Coffee
Our “Buy a Widow a Coffee” initiative, is an opportunity for Australians to create a moment for our widows that gives them support and friendship. It is an opportunity to donate a widow a coffee, tea, or a cake that they can have with their social groups, ensure they are lifted away from social isolation and offering them the care and connection they deserve.
We also encourage anyone who knows a war widow or widower to take a moment during the month of October and beyond to share a coffee—or tea—with them. Your simple gesture, can light up their world, reminding them that they are seen, valued, and never alone.
With this campaign, we hope to create a tapestry of support that echoes far beyond a single cup of coffee.
Pre-order our limited edition lapel pin
Those wanting to support war widows and have a lasting keepsake can also purchase our War Widows Day 2024 wattle lapel pin for the price of $10 each.
These limited-release pins of our national flower represent the resilience, strength and solidarity of our war widows and widowers. The wattle also serves as a poignant reminder of the World War I tradition of sending pressed wattle flowers to soldiers on service abroad as a reminder of home to the wounded, or to be buried with fallen soldiers.
Wearing the pin is a way to spread awareness about the unique challenges war widows and their families face, demonstrating your commitment to honouring their sacrifice and remembering their stories.
Become a Member
We welcome all defence and veterans’ families as members of our organisation.
Everyone’s situation is unique, but our shared experience is what helps us relate to and support each other.
Defence service is what connects our members – no matter their age, connection to their veteran or family structure.
Stay Informed
To learn more about how Families of Veterans Guild is supporting and advocating for the veteran community, please sign up to our monthly newsletter here.