Preparations underway for Queensland’s first War Widows Day
A message from Australian War Widows Queensland
There was great excitement among war widows in Queensland when the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that from 2022 the date of 19 October will be known as War Widows Day in the state. It is a first for Australia and a means to acknowledge the sacrifice of widows from all conflicts.
Seventy-five years ago in 1947, Mrs Jessie Vasey founded the War Widows Guild in Queensland. She was born on 19 October in Roma and it is only fitting that each year war widows throughout Australia celebrate her, and the organisation she founded, on that day.
The first Queensland branch of the Guild was formed in Toowoomba on 8 August 1947. The Guild is now known as Australian War Widows Queensland (AWWQ) and there are 27 Sub-branches in Queensland.
On 19 October this year, there will be a special celebration attended by the Premier in Brisbane as well as the lighting up of the Story Bridge, Parliament House and City Hall as a tribute to Jessie Vasey and to AWWQ.
At present, there are more than 10,000 war widows in Queensland who benefit from the work that Jessie Vasey began all those years ago. Her tenacity and hard work resulted in improvements to their pensions, health entitlements and resulted in the great services and support provided by AWWQ. In her honour AWWQ, has commissioned sculptor Wayne Strickland to create a sculpture of Jessie Vasey (artist’s impression below).
Celebrations for War Widows Day and the 75th anniversary of AWWQ are being planned throughout the state by way of luncheons and other activities to bring Queensland’s war widows together in their local areas. A commemorative 75th Anniversary pin will also be extended to all AWWQ members (picture below) through an event that each AWWQ sub-branch is planning. For further information, contact the AWWQ head office on 07 3846 7706.
