Online activities - Families of Veterans Guild

Wellbeing walk and lunch in Sydney for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 23:28:48 +0000

War widows, defence and veteran families — join us for fresh air and good company

This wellbeing activity brings a morning outdoors, walking through the gardens, finished with lunch by the harbour. On Friday 17 July 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can come along to our wellbeing walk and lunch for fresh air, easy company and connection through one of Sydneys most popular gardens.

Wellbeing walk and lunch

This 60-minute wellbeing walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney will be followed by lunch and a drink at a cafe. We will meet at 11 am at Piccolo Me, near the Macquarie Street entrance to the gardens — look for the yellow umbrellas. The gardens are easy to reach from Martin Place, Circular Quay, Wynyard, or Town Hall stations.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “It was such a lovely morning getting outdoors, enjoying the sunshine, and connecting with other defence families.”

Event information

Location: Meet at Piccolo Me, Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW.
Date: Friday 17 July 2026.
Time: 11am – 1pm.
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Monthly cook & connect: veteran family dinner online

Kelly Taylor — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 06:55:01 +0000

Join our monthly online family dinner for war widows, defence and veteran families

Pull up a chair at one of our most loved wellbeing activities — our monthly cook and connect: veteran family dinner. Running on Thursday evenings from July to November 2026, cook along with other families across Australia from your own kitchen, share a meal, and enjoy some good conversation over Zoom. You are free to join us for any months dinner or all five!

Cook & connect: veteran family dinner online

War widows, defence and veteran families are invited to get together and join our social work team over Zoom to cook, chat, and enjoy a meal together from home. Each registered household will receive a $20 Coles gift card to help with ingredients, and a Mingle all-natural seasoning sachet that makes cooking simple. Each recipe is designed to feed four people (with leftovers for smaller households).

Registrations open six weeks before each session and close two weeks before. Please register once per household for each session you are attending.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “Thank you for organising the activity, it was a wonderful experience for our family to connect and have fun together.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (Zoom link will be sent to you).
Dates:

- Thursday 30 July 2026
- Thursday 27 August 2026
- Thursday 24 September 2026
- Thursday 29 October 2026
- Thursday 26 November 2026

Times: 5.30pm – 6.30pm (AEST/AEDT)

Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Indemnity waiver

By registering and participating in the virtual Veteran Family Dinner hosted by Families of Veterans Guild, at any location in Australia or virtually, I, the registered participant, hereby acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions;

Assumption of Risk: I understand that participating in cooking activities involve certain inherent risks, including but not limited to; cuts, burns, slips, falls, allergic reactions, and other risks associated with cooking activities, knives, heat, and other dangerous tools. I personally assume these risks when participating in this activity.

Medical Condition: I certify that I am physically fit and able to participate in the cooking activity. I agree to inform the facilitator of any medical conditions, allergies, or dietary restrictions that may affect my ability to safely participate.

Release of Liability: I hereby release and discharge Australian War Widows NSW Ltd (trading as Families of Veterans Guild), its facilitators, employees, directors, members or managers from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, or causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me or any property belonging to me while participating in the cooking class.

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Online Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) workshop for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:43:03 +0000

Tension and Trauma Release Exercises for war widows, defence and veteran families

Take part in our online Tension and Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) workshop, running across three Wednesday evenings starting 5 August 2026. Attendance at all three sessions is required to complete the program. This wellbeing activity will teach you practical ways to release tension and support your wellbeing from home, anywhere across Australia!

Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) workshop

War widows, defence and veteran families are invited to join Richmond, the National TRE Coordinator of Australia, for a three-week online program of Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE). Running on Wednesdays 5, 12, and 19 August, Richmond will guide participants with a gentle, body-based practice designed to help release deep muscular tension, calm the nervous system, and support overall emotional and physical balance.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “These sessions became a powerful tool for releasing tension, reducing stress, and helping me feel supported, relaxed, and connected with others.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date: Wednesday 5, 12, 19 August 2026 (attendance at all three sessions is required).
Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Waiver:

By attending all three online sessions, participants acknowledge that TRE is a self-care and wellbeing activity, not a therapeutic or clinical treatment, and that they will engage at their own pace, listening to their body’s limits and needs.

Participants accept that the workshop is intended to help them learn new skills and strategies to support their wellbeing, including techniques for recognising and releasing tension held in the body, while also encouraging the development of an intentional, ongoing self-care practice. Participants understand that participation is voluntary, they may pause or stop at any time, and they are responsible for ensuring their physical environment is safe and suitable for movement during the sessions.

This is a 3 week program.

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Ceramic coaster painting session for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:36:49 +0000

An evening of coaster creating for defence and veteran families

Grab a paintbrush — On Wednesday 22 July 2026, we’re hosting a ceramic coaster painting session. This wellbeing activity is bringing families together online for some creative time at home using the provided kit.

Ceramic coaster painting session

Defence and veteran families will join social workers Gabby and Hayley over Zoom to design and personalise their very own set of ceramic coasters. Each registered household will receive a kit containing three ceramic coasters, paint, and a paintbrush, posted out ahead of the session so you’re ready to create from home.

Previous attendees have said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a different activity.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date and Time: Wednesday 22 July 2026, 7pm – 8pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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Science experiment: build your own volcano for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Thu, 21 May 2026 01:45:55 +0000

Lava and learning: build your own volcano from home for defence and veteran families

Science meets messy fun in this wellbeing activity! Defence and veteran families are invited to join us online on Wednesday 8 July 2026 to build, paint and erupt their very own volcano using a National Geographic kit posted out to you ahead of the session.

Build your own volcano

You will create, paint, and erupt your own volcano while learning about tectonic plates, earthquakes, volcano formation, volcanic rocks, and other geology and science concepts through a guided educational activity.

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date and Time: Wednesday 8 July 2026, 6pm – 7.30pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

Buy Tickets on Eventbrite

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Online mindful colouring for veteran families

Kelly Taylor — Fri, 08 May 2026 01:50:20 +0000

Mindful colouring experience for war widows, defence and veteran families

Pick up a coloured pencil, switch off from the day and join us for our latest online wellbeing activity on Thursday 18 June 2026; mindful colouring! Spend an hour creating your own artwork alongside others, sharing the experience and connecting from home.

Mindful colouring evening

If you are a war widow, defence or veteran family, we invite you to join others for a creative evening together. There is something special about doing something creative in good company — the chance to relax, share the experience, and connect with people who understand. Settle in with mindful colour-by-number activities, with a kit provided to support your experience. Facilitated by our social workers, this session offers a welcoming space to connect with peers and enjoy a creative hour together from the comfort of home.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed having something hands-on to focus on, I found it was a relaxing way to unwind.”

Event information

Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).
Date and Time: Thursday 18 June 2026, 7pm – 8pm (AEST).
Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

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