This month, we bring you exciting updates including the latest from War Widows\’ Day, Gold Card concessions, and the much-anticipated Our Space ACT and Our Space Online. Plus, we share news concerning the Royal Commission and the Defence & Veteran Community Forum. Stay tuned as we also give you a glimpse into what lies ahead in the coming months.

Read the October 2023 newsletter online HERE or download HERE.

Read our previous e-Newsletters here:

AWWNSW eNewseltter August 2023

AWWNSW eNewsletter June 2023

AWWNSW eNewsletter May 2023

The post AWWNSW ENEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2023 first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

This month we have again understood deeply that grief is the price we pay for love.

Not only we have all felt the loss of Diana Bland recently, but as a veteran community, our hearts also broke for the four families of Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. Families who bid their loved ones farewell on another exercise never imaging that they wouldn’t return.

Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with these families and the family of our dear Diana during and beyond this difficult time.

From all of us at AWWNSW, take care of yourselves and one another.

This edition of the newsletter contains an update on the many things that are and have been happening this month.

Read the August 2023 newsletter online HERE or download HERE.

Read our previous e-Newsletters here:

AWWNSW eNewsletter June 2023

AWWNSW eNewsletter May 2023

The post AWWNSW ENEWSLETTER AUGUST 2023 first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

April and May are significant months for the veterans community as numerous commemorative events and anniversaries fall on these two months. We have been busy attending these events and sharing as much as possible with you through social media platforms and our publications.

It was also an opportunity for us to advocate strongly for our community, with opportunities and media coverage focusing strongly on ANZAC day and the anniversaries of the Vietnam War this time of year.

After a month of paying our respects and of reflection, our hearts and thoughts go to all our veterans and their families, past and present, and their sacrifices. Lest we forget.

In this eNewsletter, we share the advocacy work we are doing and provide an update on support for bereaved children of veterans. Plus, we share our submission to the Government on the Veteran Legislation Review.

The Field of Remembrance and ANZAC Day were special days for our community. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to share our thoughts on what it means to be a part of AWWWNSW and the importance of the Field of Remembrance with ABC News viewers.

Our Northern Beaches Social Club celebrated its 70th anniversary. Members of our Board met with the His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley at Admiralty House.

To read these May eNewsletter articles plus more, click here or download here.

Read our previous eNewsletters here:

AWWNSW eNewsletter April 2023

AWWNSW eNewsletter March 2023

The post AWWNSW ENEWSLETTER MAY 2023 first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

Welcome to this April 2023 special edition of our Newsletter dedicated to our upcoming Field of Remembrance!

You will find information on how to be involved this year, whether you are near or far including:

• What ANZAC Day means to war widows and information about the ANZAC Day march
• The history of the Field of Remembrance
• How to be part of the Field of Remembrance
• Attending the service at St Andrew’s Cathedral

We look forward to hosting this meaningful ceremony again this year.

Click here to read the entire special edition April 2023 newsletter online or download here.

Read our previous eNewsletters here:

AWWNSW eNewsletter March 2023

AWWNSW eNewsletter February 2023

The post AWWNSW ENEWSLETTER APRIL 2023 first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

2023 is an exciting year of new social groups, events, activity opportunities, partnerships, and the rebuilding of services. The next few months are particularly exciting with many events coming up for our community. Enjoy the read.

A Message From the CEO

A belated happy new year to you all. Whilst 2022 was a very interesting year with a lot of changes and the amazing announcement of a War Widows Day in NSW, I am very excited for what 2023 has in store for you all!

This year, my priorities centre around growing the organisation and removing barriers to connecting with us. There are more than 15,000 war widows in NSW alone, yet we only know 2,000. There are at least 500,000 veteran family members nationwide, yet we only know a handful. There are a lot of people that need us, and we look forward to getting to know them.

As this new year commences, so too will our new social groups. Some of you may have already seen our online group ‘Our Space’ and seen that the first new group will be established in Canberra for contemporary widows and veterans’ families.

We will officially launch that expansion with a family-friendly event on 4 March 2023, if you are in Canberra and would like to attend, please register here. Following this, we will launch a new social group in Sydney around midyear. Stay tuned for more details.

We have already undertaken a lot of work to improve what we do and how we do it – this will continue throughout 2023. We are working hard to demonstrate our promise, you will not be left behind as we grow. Recently I heard a new member say “I wish I had you ladies much earlier…” that’s what our growth as an organisation aspires to achieve.

We are here to support veterans’ families when they need it, sometimes before the worst happens – because the life of a veterans’ spouse can be isolating and hard long before that veteran passes. Veterans’ families, in particular their parents and spouses, are rarely seen or supported until something bad happens, even then that support is short lived. We are here when everyone else leaves, we are here before you need us, we are your safety net.

2023 will be a big year and I look forward to sharing it with you all!

Renee Wilson, Chief Executive Officer AWWNSW

Click here to read the entire newsletter online or download here.

Check out our previous update:

AWWNSW Christmas Message December 2022

AWWNSW eNewsletter November 2022

The post AWWNSW ENEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2023 first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.