Together we still stand On Monday 26 October, war widows, their families and friends gathered at the Cenotaph in Martin Place to honour Australia’s war widows. It was to commemorate the fifth War Widows Day in New South Wales, and it fell in a milestone year: 80 years since war widows in NSW first came […]
War Widows Day 2026: Honouring 80 years of stories Read More »
Commemorations, Events
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
Honouring Australia’s war widows Read More »
Commemorations, Contribution, Events
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
War Widows Day pin 2026: a special edition created to mark our 80 years Read More »
Commemorations, Contribution, Events
Twenty-one years at the helm: Aileen Watkins OBE and the making of the Guild Part of our 80th anniversary series, honouring the war widows who built this organisation. When the War Widows’ Guild began in NSW in 1946, it had almost nothing. No offices of its own, no housing, no reliable income. What it had was a founding idea
80 years of stories: Aileen Watkins OBE Read More »
Member Stories, War Widows Program
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
Holding each other close: Muswellbrook Social Club Read More »
Member Stories, War Widows Program
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
Share your story: 80 years of war widows and veteran families Read More »
Awareness, War Widows Program