On War Widows Day this year, former State President Wendy Thompson and former Board Director Lynne Boyd delivered a heartfelt tribute to two remarkable women. The late Audrey Blood OAM and Diana Bland who were former presidents of the War Widows Guild of NSW. Both Audrey and Diana dedicated their lives to serving others and left an enduring legacy within the community. 

“When I first met Audrey, I remember a lady of tremendous “presence” who had style and was always impeccably groomed.  A favorite saying of hers was “The State President is the face of the Guild.” And she certainly was, putting forward her best. Yet she also always had a softness to her which showed how much she cared about every war widow.” Said Wendy 

“Diana was an incredible woman who, like Audrey embodied the meaning of service and the War Widows motto, particularly “in serving each other and in sacrificing for our common good we are finding our true life.” Said Lynne.  

Wendy reflected on Audreys influence stating, “Audrey was an inspiration to so many. She knew how to make people feel welcome and encouraged the best in us all.” Audreys service spanned over 30 years, and her dedication was recognised with an OAM in 2002, yet her compassion for war widows never waned. 

Lynne shared memories of Dianas friendship, describing how she helped her through widowhood by creating bonds of support. “Diana showed me that though I had lost my husband, all was not lost” Lynne said, noting Dianas dedication even in her final months. 

Both women left behind a legacy of care and compassion, inspiring others to continue their important work in the war widows community. 

Video tribute 

In a moving video tribute, war widows Jenny Ware, Lynne Boyd, Mary Palframan, Wendy McKean, and Dawn Welfare share heartfelt memories and thoughts of Audrey Blood OAM and Diana Bland, the two extraordinary women who left a lasting impact on the War Widows Guild. These widows reflect on the strength, compassion, and leadership that defined Audrey and Diana’s contributions to the community in this touching video about War Widows Day.

Please view below. 

The post Tribute to war widows that have passed first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

Born Jessie Mary Halbert, Jessie was the eldest of three girls, daughter of a Queensland grazier, and a university graduate with first-class honours. Jessie Halbert married George Alan Vasey on 17 May 1921 and together had two sons. 

In 1945, after a weekend at home with his family, General George Vasey was returning to New Guinea when is RAAF aircraft crashed into the sea as it was preparing to land at Cairns. Mrs Jessie Vasey became a war widow on Monday 5 March 1945.

The War Widows Craft Guild (later to become The War Widows Guild and more recently Australian War Widows) was established by Mrs Jessie Vasey in Melbourne on 22 November 1945 and in New South Wales on 4 June 1946. Thereafter the Guild was established in every Australian state and the Australian Capital Territory.

Almost single-handedly Jessie Vasey founded a self-help organisation that assisted women widowed through war to come to terms with their loss and sacrifice and to provide for themselves and their children.

Through her remarkable and indomitable nature, she became the inspiration that helped heal so many other widows. She gave the rest of her life in pursuit of her vision – to bring war widows together to speak with one voice in the improvement of their circumstances, and to help each other overcome the disadvantage they had suffered.

“The Guild was much more than one woman, but Mrs Vasey was the Guild for many members and the community. She personified the statement What can one woman do?” – from the book No Peacetime Cinderellas.

Mrs Vasey was the President of the Guild from 1945 until her death in 1966.

The strength of the Guild Jessie Vasey founded continues today. AWW NSW has and will fight to improve the financial and social circumstances of members and offer a place to seek peer-to-peer support.

Read more about our history, our founder Jessie Vasey and our services.

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