On 20 November, defence families gathered at the Randwick Family Centre for an art activity centered on gratitude and collaboration. This special activity aimed to address the unique challenges defence families face, including social isolation, the demands of caring roles, and the pressures of military life. 

The art activity invited attendees to paint flowers of gratitude onto a canvas, a creative practice designed to encourage self-care and social interaction, allowing the chance to connect over shared experiences. For a few hours, participants put aside the weight of their caring responsibilities and daily demands, embracing the opportunity to focus on their own wellbeing.

By the end of the session, the group had created not only a beautiful garden of gratitude through their artwork but also new friendships and a stronger sense of community. Activities like these remind us of the importance of connection and self-care in our lives. 

Impact of gratitude and collaboration 

Gratitude and collaboration was the thread that tied the event together, fostering mindfulness and encouraging everyone to pause and notice the glimmers of positivity in their lives. These moments, no matter how small, serve as powerful reminders of resilience and strength, helping defence families navigate life’s challenges. 

Defence families can sometimes experience overwhelm when balancing the demands of supporting family, the impact of ADF service, and/or in caring roles due to illness, injury, or transitions. Social connection is at the core of our wellbeing activities. In addressing social isolation and loneliness, we acknowledge that defence families may face barriers in developing and maintaining peer connections due to the unique nature of defence life. The purpose of this art activity was to encourage defence families to engage in a self-care practice and expand their social network by connecting with like-minded peers. 

“It is not joy that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful” – Brene Brown 

The post A creative day of gratitude for defence families first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

What is the Friendship Line?

The Friendship Line is a service that we offer to our members, especially those who live in rural areas or are socially isolated, to provide them with regular phone calls from our volunteers. The aim of the service is to extend a line of friendship and support to our members, and to keep them connected to our organisation and to other war widows.

Meet Fiona, a Friendship Line Volunteer

Fiona is one of our dedicated volunteers who calls 20 of our members every five weeks or so. She became a volunteer on the Friendship Line about five years ago, after her husband, who served in the Vietnam War, passed away. She said volunteering gave her a sense of purpose and a way of giving back to the organisation that welcomed her after her loss.

How the Friendship Line Transcends Generations

One of the members that Fiona calls regularly is Noni, who is 97 years old and lives in far north NSW. Noni’s husband served in World War Two, and she does not attend one of our social groups. She said she loves the Friendship Line and Fiona, and that they talk about everything and nothing, like old friends. They also exchange text messages, often about books they have read or movies they have seen.

Fiona said she enjoys hearing the stories of the members she calls, and learning from their experiences of service life and loving a veteran. She said the Friendship Line is different from other conversations because of the connection to a loved one’s Defence service. She said the Friendship Line transcends generations and creates a bond between war widows of different eras.

How to Join the Friendship Line

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer on the Friendship Line, or if you would like to receive calls from our volunteers, please contact us on (02) 9267 6577 or email programs@fov.org.au. You can also click here to become a volunteer. You can start with a small list of members to call, and you will receive training and support from our staff. Volunteering on the Friendship Line is a rewarding and fun way to make a difference in the lives of our members.

The post How the Friendship Line Connects War Widows Across Generations first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.