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On Monday, 9 December 2024, The Entrance Long Jetty War Widows hosted a festive Christmas lunch at Diggers The Entrance, attended by 34 members and guests from across the region as well as by Board Director Lynne Sullivan. The lunch was made possible through our volunteers and a generous grant from Diggers The Entrance and aimed to strengthen regional connections while celebrating the holiday season.

Joyce, Fran, and Janice from the Entrance Long Jetty Social Club, alongside our War Widows Program’s team were able to adorn the space with Christmas decorations and shared information for attendees. Guests began arriving from 11:00 am to enjoy a two-course meal featuring chicken supreme and Christmas pudding.

War widows travelled from The Entrance, Toukley, Ettalong, Newcastle, and some as far as Kurri Kurri, where members of the newest social club attended their first official outing.

Highlights of the day

The day featured lively discussions, Christmas crackers, party hats and delivered a great Christmas themed lunch to wrap up the last meeting for 2024. Lucky door prizes of wine bottles, generously donated by Diggers The Entrance were also provided.

Significant moments included the screening of a War Widows Day video tribute, as well as updates on one of our large events of the year, the upcoming Field of Remembrance, scheduled in April 2025.

Discussions were made of the new war widows social group, a private Facebook community designed as a secure space for war widows to connect, share experiences, and find updates on in-person events. 

“What a lovely lunch; thank you so much. I have not been out for a year”, one of our attendees said.

War widow gatherings like this show the importance of connection. For more information on joining the new War Widows Social Group on Facebook, or joining a local club, contact Families of Veterans Guild at (02) 9267 6577 or email programs@fov.org.au.

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Back in late September, Families of Veterans Guild hosted a regional luncheon for war widows in the Albury area at the SS&A Club. This gathering brought members together for connection and updates, led by President Queen Dunbar and War Widows Program Manager Jo. Key moments included updates from the AGM, introducing new board members, and discussing highlighting events like War Widows Day. One highlight of the day was honouring the dedication of Albury Social Club leaders, with special recognition for former Coordinator Miriam McInerney and current Coordinator Marlene Sullivan. Their unwavering commitment to Albury’s war widows has helped foster a close knit community, and their efforts were celebrated by all in attendance.

Our programs and news for the war widows community

During the lunch, Jo and Queen were able to discuss a vast amount of helpful information regarding our programs, with our members hearing about interesting opportunities for volunteers such as the Friendship Line, the new Social Work and Wellbeing Program, and the supports for war widow social clubs. 

The Friendship Line is a cherished program where volunteers make calls to war widows for a chat and providing a listening ear. Many attendees were able to consider interest in volunteering or receiving calls, flyers and information were distributed, encouraging members to get involved!

Exciting news was shared about the local organisations, including the SS&A Club, Diggers Club, and RSL branches for their generosity and vital support, enabling Albury’s war widows to maintain regular gatherings and social events. The Families of Veterans Guild’s annual financial support ensures that Albury’s war widows, and all war widow social clubs can stay connected, with increased funding to meet rising costs and help cover transportation needs for those who would otherwise have difficulty attending events.

For members who couldn’t travel to Sydney for War Widows Day on October 19, Marlene Sullivan arranged a local gathering on October 18 at SS&A, giving Albury members the chance to commemorate the occasion closer to home.

A warm closing to the day with reciting of our motto together, followed by lucky door prizes donated by SS&A Albury brought some fun surprises, with members Beryl Anderson, Wyn O’Connell, and Barbara Chappell each winning a bottle of wine.

Joining a war widows social club

If you’re interested in joining a war widows social club in your area, reach out via email at programs@fov.org.au or phone 9267 6577 and find a fitting club like Albury’s war widows, where friendships, support, and shared memories continue to thrive.

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After a successful outreach lunch in Southwest Sydney, we are thrilled to announce the official launch of the Macarthur War Widows Social Club! The inaugural morning tea saw 23 attendees sharing meaningful connections and conversations in a warm, welcoming environment. 

Meet the club coordinators 

Meet the club coordinators, Fran O’Donohoe and Kay Meredith. Fran, an army veteran with a long standing connection to service life, and Kay, who recently moved to Campbelltown to be closer to family, both expressed their dedication to making the club a supportive and enjoyable space. 

Fran and Kay have already set plans in motion by gathering input for the club’s name, organising regular meeting schedules, and arranging a special Christmas lunch. Their goal is to create a strong network where members can meet, share stories, and find a sense of community and support. 

Club luncheon  

Recently, on 23 October, members in the Southwest Sydney area gathered for a beautiful luncheon at the Campbelltown RSL 

The gathering kicked off with introductions from Fran and Kay, who outlined their vision for the new club. Attendees enjoyed coffee, tea, and treats while discussing upcoming events, including Kokoda Day on 3 November at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway and Remembrance Day Service on 11 November at Mawson Park. 

Special guests from the war widows community shared insights and reflected on our War Widows Day 2024, celebrating recent achievements and memorable moments.   

Save the date – Christmas lunch 

As for the Christmas celebration, the group voted to reschedule the November meeting to Wednesday 11 December for a festive lunch at Campbelltown RSL. The gathering will take place at Loft Dining, where Fran and Kay will create a festive atmosphere with seasonal decorated tables to add some holiday cheer. Lunch is complimentary for financial members. Non-members are welcome to becoming financial or pay for lunch on the day and enjoy the celebration. Please RSVP by calling the office at 9267 6577 or email programs@fov.org.au 

Interested in joining a club? 

To join the Macarthur War Widows Social Club or to find a club near you, view our War Widows Program page and use our handy interactive map on to locate clubs in your area. 

Reach out to the War Widows Program team at programs@fov.org.au for any support regarding clubs or call the office at 9267 6577. 

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