ADF families

Holding each other close: Muswellbrook Social Club

War Widows Social Clubs have always been a place where friendships are forever remembered, even decades later. From the beginning, our social clubs have existed to make sure no war widow faces life alone. Formed in the tradition set by our founder Jessie Vasey CBE OBE who “welded” widows together so they had voice, companionship and practical support, the clubs offer belonging built on a shared loss that only those who’ve lived it […]

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Member Stories, War Widows ProgramADF families, ADF Member Families, Australian War Widows, connecting war widows, defence families, Guild social clubs, Jessie Vasey, social club connection, social connection, veteran families, war widow community, war widow friendships, war widow gatherings, war widow support, war widow wellbeing, War Widows, War widows social clubs

July 31, 2026

An object with a story – Patterns of comfort

80 years of the Guild means 80 years of history and memories woven into personal possessions. War widows and veteran families carry pieces of our shared history in their homes, these pieces holding the stories of those who owned them and a reflection of the time they lived in. Through the years, our members have been kind enough to occasionally share items with us so we can pass on those memories and

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Member Stories, War Widows Program80th Anniversary, ADF families, ADF Member Families, Australian Comforts Fund, Australian veterans, Australian War Widows, defence and veteran families, defence families, family history, Jessie Vasey, veteran community, veteran families, War Widows, war widows Australia, wartime knitting

July 31, 2026

National advocacy for Australia’s war widows

80 years ago, Australia’s war widows came together in the aftermath of World War II to advocate for recognition, rights and each other. What began as a small community guild soon became a powerful national movement, one that drove powerful advocacy for war widows across Australia and could not be ignored by the government. That

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Advocacy, Awareness, Important UpdatesADF families, ADF Member Families, Australian veterans, Australian War Widows, defence families, Defence spouse, Families of veterans, National, veteran community, veteran families, War Widows, War Widows NSW

July 22, 2026

July Wellbeing Tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

July wellbeing tips for veteran families

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families There are benefits in slowing down long enough to notice what we’re actually feeling. For war widows, defence and veteran families, life can move at a pace that leaves little room for reflection, and the weight of grief, service, or change can make

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Social Work and Wellbeing, Wellbeing tipsADF families, ADF Member Families, Australian veteran support, Australian veterans, Australian War Widows, defence families, Defence spouse, Family Wellbeing, self-care, social connection, veteran families, veteran family support, War Widows, wellbeing, wellbeing defence

July 22, 2026

Together we still stand text with two war widows in the background standing side by side. The Guilds 80th Anniversary.

Share your story: 80 years of war widows and veteran families

80 years ago, war widows in NSW came together for the first time. They were demanding fair treatment, fair compensation, and a place in the system that had largely overlooked them. Jessie Vasey gathered them, not to seek sympathy, but to build a community grounded in dignity, self-help and mutual support. That community has lasted 80 years. The need it answered has not

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Awareness, War Widows Program80th Anniversary, ADF families, ADF Member Families, Australian War Widows, connecting war widows, defence families, Defence spouse, Jessie Vasey, Jessie Vasey CBE OBE, The Guild, veteran families, War Widows, War Widows NSW

July 1, 2026

June Wellbeing Tips for war widows, defence and veteran families

June wellbeing tips for veteran families

Sharing our latest wellbeing tips for war widows, defence and veteran families So much of our wellbeing comes down to two things: knowing what’s going on inside us, and giving ourselves room to slow down. Neither comes easily when life is busy, when service has shaped your family’s routines, or when you are carrying grief.

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June 22, 2026

An object with a story – Patterns of comfort

National advocacy for Australia’s war widows

Share your story: 80 years of war widows and veteran families

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