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The story of the Guild and my story, by Lynne Sullivan 

The Australian War Widows Guild was started by Mrs Jessie Vasey (widowed just before the end of World War Two) to assist widows following World War Two. Established initially as a craft guild teaching women to weave as it could be done at night while the children slept and due to the post war shortage of fabric its sale was a means of supplementing a meagre pension paid by the government.  

Jessie was highly motivated to keep a promise her husband had made to his men to look after their wives and families should they not survive. She worked tirelessly to improve the war widow’s pension to the equivalent of the basic wage, then raised funds to provide basic housing for widows and fought for free medical services for widows and their families. Many of the benefits war widows receive today had their origins in Jessie Vasey’s advocacy to a largely unsympathetic government whose focus was primarily on the veteran and not those left behind. 

Living with the impact of service  

While I was not married to my husband during his years of active service, I lived with him and the impact of that service for 24 years. Losing a life partner in battle would be devastating. However, living with a veteran who bears the scars, physical and/or mental, of their service can be traumatic for their partner and family creating tensions that are rarely understood by those outside of the Defence community creating societal alienation. This may be manifested in the stress of family members never knowing if when they come home what they will be confronted with. Will their partner/sibling/child be in violent mood capable of injuring them, have punched holes in the walls, have intentionally injured themselves or in the worst case committed suicide. These experiences are just a few examples raised in submissions to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Lived Experience section.  

Current information indicates that 52% of members live in regional areas possibly due to the uptake of soldier settlement blocks post WW1 and 2, War Service Home Loans and the more regional location of many defence bases. This may add to social isolation but is not the exclusive cause. Life in a city can be just as isolated when someone does not feel connected to their community. 

The work of the Guild 

For nearly 80 years our organisation has been focused on providing social support for the widows of those who died in or as the result of their active service. For a time, membership was limited to those who held a DVA Gold Card which also created some divisions within the war widow community itself. Over the last few years, the NSW branch has changed its constitution to make it more inclusive by:

1. Removing the Gold Card requirement
2. Acknowledge that the family of veterans need to be welcomed into our community as they too have been impacted in ways most do not understand 
3. Welcoming the widows and family members of Armed Forces Allied to Australia 
4. Removing the requirement that the veteran had to have seen active service as it is acknowledged that by its nature defence training and life imposes a particular set of stresses that have long term effects 
5. Welcoming those who are committed to the objectives of FOV and would like to help our organisation 

Our new trading name: Families of Veterans Guild 

To reflect our broader focus, the Australian War Widows NSW has changed its trading name to The Families of Veterans Guild this year to make it easier for those seeking our help to identify an organisation that could help them even though they may not be a war widow as the previous name implied. Under the auspices of our Board, we are expanding our services and reflecting some of Jessies Vasey’s objectives:

• We are maintaining the War Widows program through Social Clubs, Friendship Line calls, referrals to Aged Care services and transport services with 150 members now registered with Community transport providers, had meeting with 490 regional members encouraging the reestablishment of regional social clubs which have been severely affected by COVID and the age of the cohort  
• Establishing wellbeing and social work programs. This service is relatively new. 245 families have become engaged in this program and social work serviced have been provided to 22 members this financial year to date. Two dedicated social workers have been employed. 
• Increasing advocacy to improve the lot of the families of veterans such as participating in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide, presenting submissions to government on legislation that may adversely impact on concessions to veteran’s families and argue for improvements to existing ones. Of the 64 issues that the Guild has advocated on 64% seek to provide benefit to veteran’s families, 33% are directed to War Widows and their children only and some have the possibility to provide benefit to the community in general. 

Get involved 

Statistics indicate that there are approximately 40,000 war widows Australia wide, 10,700 in NSW alone and 1 in 5 Australian families have an association with the Australian Defence Force. Some of the issues the Guild seek to address may not be as relevant for all, but if a war widow would like to establish their own Social Club, all that is required is to become a member, form a group of at least two and get someone to volunteer to Co-ordinate activities. Alternatively, they could seek to join an existing club. The Head Office in Chatswood can help with its establishment and provide information on the benefits available to members. There is a small membership fee of $30/year of $85 for 3 years. 

Three major events are organised each year by our organisation:  

1. The ANZAC Field of Remembrance Service held prior to ANZAC Day in St Andrews Cathedral Sydney and now available online to regional groups 
2. The Annual General Meeting usually around August. The attendance of Regional Co-ordinators is encouraged and sponsored by the Guild 
3. War Widows Day 19th October (Jessie Vasey’s birthday)  

Membership payment also help to subsidise some of the cost of club outings, assistance in drafting grant applications to further finance club activities, provides a monthly newsletter and a quarterly Digest. The latter highlights social event, information relevant to members such as available benefits, raises issues affecting members, such as health and wellbeing, safety, scamming etc. The Guild is also starting to collate a list of venues that are safe for particularly less mobile members to attend. There are some already established Clubs all around New South Wales. Click here if you wish to find a club near you or call our War Widows Program team on (02) 9267 6577. They can also support you if you wish to open a club in your area.  

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The War Widows Guild, founded in 1946, grew from humble beginnings into a powerful organisation under the leadership of Jessie Vasey CBE OBE. Initially a small craft guild, it soon became a force that could not be ignored by politicians, thanks to Jessies tireless efforts and visionary leadership. Her goal was clear, to ensure that the women left behind by war were not forgotten, and to fight for their rights and dignity. 

Jessie’s vision for the Guild was inspired by the changing role of women in society. She believed that the era of the dependent female was coming to an end and that Australia had a duty to care for the war widows who had sacrificed so much. She stood against the prevailing gender and social biases of her time, holding the government accountable for its promises to support these women.

Jessie’s words of encouragement, such as “THINK BIG! – Wear your prettiest hat – tell that man behind the desk he’s there to help you!” became a rallying cry for many widows, empowering them to stand up for themselves in a system that wasn’t built to support them. 

The reality for many war widows in the post-World War II era was harsh. These women, often young brides with children, were left to navigate life without their husbands. Financial insecurity was a common struggle, as the war widows pension offered little, often leaving women with less than the lowest army wage. Jessie, having lost her own husband, Major General George Vasey, in a tragic plane crash, knew this struggle all too well. Her first victory for the war widows came when she successfully fought to have her husband’s death, and the deaths of others in similar circumstances, recognised as war caused. 

Driven by a deep sense of responsibility, Jessie fought not only for her peers but for the future generations of war widows and veteran families. She secured better pensions, advocated for housing stability, and created practical initiatives like jumble sales and shops to help these women rebuild their lives. Jessie’s work was not just about financial aid, it was about restoring dignity, purpose, and hope. She inspired war widows to rise above their grief and take control of their futures, giving them the confidence to reclaim their independence. 

 Jessie Vasey’s legacy lives on through the lives she touched. Her dedication ensured that war widows would never be forgotten, and her work continues to inspire today. She transformed a group of women from a position of vulnerability into one of strength and unity, leaving an indelible mark on history. Her example is a reminder of the power of determination, resilience, and the enduring strength of women coming together to support one another.  

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At the Premier\’s Vietnam Veterans\’ Day reception, War Widows Day was announced. Minister for Veterans\’, the Hon. David Elliot acknowledged the importance of recognising the more than 15,000 widows in NSW.

Former State and National President; and Vietnam War Widow, Ms Meg Green AM attended the reception and spoke of the gratitude in being recognised and the importance for our community and for the Australian Community.

\”This day is for all who have been touched and bereaved by the death of their spouses as a result of their Defence service.\”
– Queen Dunbar, State President NSW, Australian War Widows

Since World War One, war widows have been part of the fabric of NSW. Contributing in many ways to this wonderful community. While definitions of war widows have changed over time one thing hasn’t, and that is their sacrifices.

We are very grateful to have those recognised in perpetuity, in what is the first day that honours the significance of the sacrifices of veterans’ families.

19 October is significant as it is the birthday of our founder Mrs Jessie Vasey OBE CBE. Jessie started more than just an organisation to support war widows and advocate for their needs. She created a community and a movement. One that resulted in widows being included in the veteran system. At AWW NSW we look forward to extending this vision to all veterans’ families.

We know you will all be as deeply touched and moved by the NSW Government’s support and recognition of war widows and widowers as we are.

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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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