War Widows Day around Australia
War Widows Day 2023 was celebrated on 19 October in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. This day is significant to Australian War Widows as it is the birthday of our founder, Mrs Jessie Vasey. Our organisation was founded by Jessie in 1945 after the Second World War.
In 2022, the first War Widows Day was commemorated in Queensland and NSW. This year, there were four Australian states and one territory celebrating the occasion.
Australian War Widows is happy to announce that we are planning a National War Widows Day for 19 October 2024. This will ensure that all war widows in Australia can be part of this day to recognise and honour their sacrifices and the grief they faced due to the loss of their loved ones in the name of our country.
Please get in touch with Australian War Widows if you are a war widow in Victoria, Northern Territory or Tasmania to find out how you can be part of our celebrations in 2024.
– Jenny Gregory, National President, Australian War Widows Inc.
Image: War Widows ACT President Robynne Mitchell (left) with Australian War Widows National President Jenny Gregory
Australian Capital Territory
When a child called Jessie Halbert was born in Roma, Queensland, in 1897 our country would have had no idea of the impact she would have on the lives of war widows and their families after the Second World War throughout Australia.
On the 126th anniversary of her birth, we remember Jessie and the loss of her husband, Major General George Allan Vasey. Jessie became a war widow on 5 March 1945 and changed the lives of other women and families who had lost their husband and father defending our country in wartime.
Members of the Australian War Widows ACT Inc are grateful to the ACT Government, especially the Minister for Veterans and Seniors Ms Emma Davidson and her team, who worked tirelessly to put on a morning tea at the ACT Legislative Assembly.
MC Nicole Longley did a heartfelt welcome to our distinguished guests, widows and the representatives of the organisations who have given their support to the Australian War Widows ACT, some since its inception in 1965.
Other special guests were the great niece of Jessie Vasey, Jocelyn Vasey-Flannery and her family, as well as Victoria Benz, DVA Deputy Commissioner for the ACT and NSW. The highlight of the morning was the Military Wives Choir taking us back to the war years where we knew all the words and were able to join in with a singalong.
The afternoon reception began with a one-on-one audience with our Patron, Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, and Governor General His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd) at Government House. Mrs Hurley ensured the spirits of the audience were uplifted by a singalong of tunes of the era we all remembered – and she did not forget “You are my Sunshine”.
We also welcomed representatives of organisations where their veteran members have passed on and their widows are in left in their care. Among these were the National Council of the Vietnam Veterans Associations, as well as state presidents who were unable to celebrate this day in their own state and are behind us for next year when we are planning for War Widows Day to “go national”.
– Australian War Widows ACT
Image: ACT War Widows at the Legislative Assembly, Canberra
New South Wales
This year, Australian War Widows NSW (AWW-NSW) partnered with Sydney Legacy to mark War Widows Day. This partnership is more than symbolic: it is a commitment to war widows and the families of veterans that our two organisations will stand together supporting our shared community. Together, AWW-NSW and Sydney Legacy support more than 4,500 widows in NSW.
A service was held in the afternoon at The Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney. The focus was on war widows past and present, with widows holding a floral tribute of their own: one by one, they stood at The Cenotaph to lay a branch of wattle, in remembrance of each other’s, and indeed their own, sacrifices and in acknowledging their priceless contribution to our nation.
Prior to this service, NSW war widows were hosted by the Governor General and Mrs Hurley at Admiralty House for morning tea, which was followed by a lunch at the Fullerton Hotel. At the service, we had the privilege to hear from the great niece of Jessie Vasey, Ms Pru Bennett, who shared the experiences of her great aunt and how and why she established the Australian War Widows organisation.
The service featured a War Widows Day address given by Afghanistan war widow Bree Till who spoke of the harsh reality of being left behind and raising a family following the passing of her husband, Brett Till. She spoke of her heartbreak when sitting with a friend on her first wedding anniversary after Brett had been killed.
In NSW, the day had traditionally been observed as Founders’ Day and used to feature war widows walking through Hyde Park en masse to be seen and heard. To see it now turn into a formal day recognised by the NSW Government makes it a priority for the people of the state on that day. It is our honour to provide the platform for our widows to tell their stories in the most public way possible. To be seen and be heard.
– War Widows NSW Ltd
Queen Dunbar, State President of War Widows NSW Ltd, with Heather Gillam
Queensland
War Widows Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about the resources and support available to war widows and widowers. It also stands as a poignant reminder of the profound loss experienced by the families and friends of those who have served Australia. War widows have consistently played a crucial role in supporting their loved ones, both during and after their military service.
Although there was no official event this year, throughout the month of October branches across Queensland hosted their own unique celebratory events to honour this significant date in our organisation’s history.
Iconic landmarks once again illuminated the night sky in blue and white, including City Hall, Story Bridge, Parliament House, Government House, and Sandgate Town Hall. Additionally, our Australian War Widows Queensland banner was proudly displayed on the Story Bridge.
Last year the Queensland Government pledged funding for an oral history project dedicated to Jessie Vasey. This year, the digital story was officially launched by the State Library of Queensland at the Anzac Square Post 1945 Galleries, with Governor Dr Jeanette Young and Mr Bart Mellish, Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans’ Affairs, in attendance.
The digital story features two of Mrs Vasey’s granddaughters and celebrates her remarkable contribution to supporting Queensland’s war widows; it can be viewed on the Queensland State Library’s website.
The Queensland State Guild, now known as Australian War Widows Queensland, owes its success to the founding members who rose to the challenge in the early years following the establishment of the Guild. Current war widows today enjoy security and benefits thanks to the efforts of Mrs Vasey and the women she inspired to work alongside her.
– Australian War Widows QLD
Image: AWWQ State President Judy Smith with Governor Dr Jeanette Young and Chair of AWWQ Mr Stephen Scott
South Australia
In a poignant and heart-warming display of gratitude and remembrance, the inaugural War Widows Day in South Australia was celebrated with an event at the historic Ayers House. It was a resounding success, bringing together nearly a hundred war widows for an afternoon of camaraderie and reflection.
With the accompaniment of a Scottish piper, the event exuded a profound sense of respect and unity. The gathering, organised in recognition of the sacrifices made by war widows and their families, was a testament to the enduring strength and resilience of those who have lost loved ones in service to their country. Amidst the backdrop of Ayers House’s grandeur, attendees were treated to a delightful high tea, leaving with beautiful gift bags curated by Australian War Widows SA with donations from local business partners.
The day’s significance was further elevated by the reception held at Government House, graciously hosted by our patron, Governor Frances Adamson, who paid tribute to the war widows and acknowledged their sacrifices in the name of South Australia.
In attendance at the reception were other distinguished figures, including the Minister for Veterans Affairs Geoff Brock and former Premier Steven Marshall. Their presence symbolised the government’s commitment to supporting and honouring those who have suffered loss due to war.
A particularly heartfelt gesture by the government was the illumination of South Australia’s Parliament House in the colour of royal blue, which is a symbolic nod to war widows. It was a testament to the enduring strength and resilience of the war widows, as well as a gesture of gratitude from the government and the community.
As this day finds a place on South Australia’s calendar, it promises to become an enduring tradition of respect for years to come.
– Australian War Widows Inc (SA)
Image L to R: Peter Williams (Virtual War Memorial), Jan Milham (AWW-SA Vice President), Governor Frances Adamson, Jan Grosvenor (War Widow), Geoff Brock (SA Minister for Veterans' Affairs), Diane Carr (AWWSA State President), Thao Coates (War Widow), Maria Barclay (War Widow) and Jill Davidson (War Widow)
Western Australia
Australian War Widows WA celebrated its first ever War Widows Day on 19 October with a morning tea hosted by our Joint Patrons, Governor Christopher Dawson and Mrs Darrilyn Dawson.
Joining our widows were Paul Papalia, Minister for Police, Corrective Services, Defence Industry and Veterans Issues, Peter King, DVA Deputy Commissioner for WA and Mr Alan Vasey, grandson of our founder Mrs Jessie Vasey, and his wife Andrea.
Our widows were delighted to be at Government House and they are very honoured to have an official day where they can be acknowledged and remembered. War Widows Day should remind all Australians that the great lifestyle we enjoy is due largely to the ultimate sacrifice made by the loved ones of our widows, widowers and their families in defence of our country.
Alan gave a very poignant recollection of his grandmother. He recalled her being a very busy but kind woman and, together with her husband Major General George Vasey, one who thought deeply about other people. In particular, how they could improve the lives of those who had lost their partner because of war.
Jessie Vasey’s vision was to bring war widows together to speak with one voice on the improvement of their own circumstances and to help each other overcome the disadvantages they had suffered. There have been many tenacious women over the past 76 years, none more so than Jessie Vasey, who have shaped Australian War Widows into what it is today.
– Emily Cook, WA State President
Image: Hazel Donald (AWW-WA Member), WA Deputy Commissioner Peter King and Clare Curtis (AWW-WA Member)