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Families of Veterans Guild - owned by Australian War Widows NSW Ltd

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Families of Veterans Guild - owned by Australian War Widows NSW Ltd

Australian War Widows NSW was originally established in 1946.

The Families of Veterans Guild is owned and operated by Australian War Widows NSW Ltd and is an inclusive non-for-profit organisation whose focus is to provide war widows, defence and veteran families with a voice and a community With a recently expanded constitution, the AWW NSW can now provide support to much larger segment of the veteran community, including spouses/ partners parents, grandpare

nts, children and siblings of veterans. AWW NSW is currently developing a new service offer to support all of those who are now part of its community.

20/06/2026

For 80 years, peer connection has been at the heart of everything we do for war widows.

From the very beginning, our founder Jessie Vasey understood something that research now confirms: being known by others who truly understand your experience is one of the most powerful things for your wellbeing.

This month's wellbeing tip looks at how war widows and veteran families can build meaningful connections in their community — because making new friends as an adult is something many of us find harder than we expect, and for defence and veteran families, frequent moves, deployments and loss can make it even more so.

Swipe through for some practical thoughts on building connection, and find more helpful wellbeing resources in our Resource Hub. 💚

🔗 familiesofveterans.org.au/resource-hub/

19/06/2026

"… we are asking them to get back to the best that was within them." — Jessie Vasey CBE OBE, 1946

Jessie Vasey did not want war widows to be pitied. She wanted to bring out the best within them — self-confidence, self-reliance, and the strength that comes from standing together.

It is where our anniversary line originated from: Together We Still Stand — 80 years of bringing out the best in each other. Eighty years on, it is still what we do.

What does the Guild mean to you? Tell us in the comments.

18/06/2026

Yesterday, war widows gathered at Government House for an afternoon tea hosted by our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, and Mr Dennis Wilson.

It was the first gathering of our 80th anniversary year, and there could not have been a better way to begin.

80 years ago, war widows in NSW came together for the first time. They did not seek sympathy. They came to find one another and to empower each other. Yesterday, that same spirit filled the room. Stories were shared, and women who understand each other without explanation sat side by side, as we have done since 1946.

This is what our founder, Jessie Vasey CBE OBE, set out to build: a community where no war widow stands alone. 80 years on, we are still here. Still standing together.

Thank you to the Governor of New South Wales, who welcomed us warmly and spoke of our history, the sacrifices and the contribution war widows have made across generations. To be recognised by our Patron meant a lot to the women in the room. And thank you to every woman who joined us. This year belongs to all of you.

Read more: https://familiesofveterans.org.au/best-within-us-80-years-government-house/

16/06/2026

The Autumn 2026 edition of The Guild Digest has landed in Guild Members' inboxes.

This is a special edition and there is a lot inside - a reflection on our 74th ANZAC Field of Remembrance and the regional gatherings that brought war widows together across NSW, alongside advocacy and entitlements updates, news from South Australia, wellbeing activities and more.

If you'd like future editions delivered to your home, we'd love to welcome you as a Guild Member. In the meantime, the Digest is available to read in our Resource Hub.

📖 familiesofveterans.org.au/resource-hub/

📞 To become a Guild Member, call us on 02 9267 6577 or email [email protected]

14/06/2026

Not every act of strength looks like strength. And yet this community is full of it.

The war widow who keeps turning up to life, even on the days that ask a lot of her. The defence partner holding the family together through another deployment. The veteran family member who checks in on others even when they are carrying something heavy themselves.

We see you.

13/06/2026

Earlier this year, we took a step we had been working toward for some time.

In March, we hosted our very first wellbeing activities in Adelaide and Townsville, bringing war widows and veteran families together in both cities for the first time as part of our growing Wellbeing Program.

In Adelaide, war widows gathered for a morning walk through the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, followed by lunch. For many, it was the first time they had seen one another since the closure of War Widows South Australia. As one widow shared with our team: "Thank you for bringing us together again."

That same evening, war widows and veteran families came together for a dinner at Pirate Life Brewing in Port Adelaide. One young attendee summed up the room perfectly: "I can see the happiness."

In Townsville, families came together for a guided meditation session at the Inner Light Meditation Centre. With 11 families in attendance, it was a gentle, warm introduction to what our Wellbeing Program is all about.

Since then, with the support of Government Grants, and following the positive responses from attendees, we have hosted and continue to host regular activities in both locations.

We now deliver activities across NSW, SA, ACT and QLD, and our online activities are open to defence and veteran families right across the country, including those in regional and remote areas.

If you haven't joined us yet, we'd love to see you at an upcoming activity. 💚

📖 Read more: familiesofveterans.org.au/wellbeing-activities-south-australia-queensland/

📅 Find an activity near you: familiesofveterans.org.au/defence-families-wellbeing-events/

12/06/2026

This week marks the 16th anniversary of the Battle of Shah Wali Kot, fought from 10 to 14 June 2010 in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan.

On 10 June 2010, Australian commandos began a large-scale disruption operation in the Shinazef Valley, an enemy stronghold in the Shah Wali Kot district of northern Kandahar. SAS troops on standby were called in when high-value targets were located in the area.

The battle was one of the most significant operations of Australia's engagement in Afghanistan. Behind every soldier who served were families at home carrying the weight of that deployment. Partners, parents and children who lived with the uncertainty, the distance, and in some cases, the grief that followed.

We honour all who served, and we hold their families in our thoughts this week.

Lest we forget.

RSL NSW Defence Australia

11/06/2026

Our campaign to restore concession equality to war widows on council rates in NSW is gaining momentum. Since December 2025 we have engaged with 90 Councils and State Government representatives.

Currently, section 134 of the Local Government Regulation still limits eligibility for full council rate concessions to war widows who would qualify for a Pensioner Concession Card. In practice, this means some war widows in NSW lose a concession they previously received as a household once their veteran spouse dies.

The Minister for Local Government, has told us that a review is underway. We encourage members of our community to send letters of support for this change to the Office for Local Government at [email protected] or continue speaking with their State Member.

Find out more: https://familiesofveterans.org.au/restoring-concession-equality-war-widows/

10/06/2026

A warm welcome to the more than 50 former War Widow SA members who have joined us since the start of the year. We have now commenced operations in SA, delivering support, connection and wellbeing services to war widows and veteran families.

Now that transition is complete, SA war widows will keep meeting with support from the Guild's team and local volunteers, and can access our online activities and social work services, including wellbeing support and advocacy, and information. Former War Widows SA members can transition their membership to the Guild free for the first 12 months, and Life Members will retain their status.

Monthly Social Club meetings are resuming this month. If you would like to connect with us, please call us on 02 9267 6577 or 1800 451 615.

Learn more: https://familiesofveterans.org.au/south-australia-update/

09/06/2026

In March 1945, Jessie Vasey's husband, Major General George Vasey, was killed in an aircraft crash near Cairns.

Already 47, and shaped by years of wartime and supporting other women, she believed war widows deserved more than sympathy. They deserved recognition, fair support, and the means to rebuild their lives on their own terms.

By February 1946 she had written over two thousand letters by hand, urging women across the country to come together — not for charity, but for self-help, friendship, and a voice that governments could not ignore.

That work she started over 80 years ago became our Guild. This month we are telling the story of the woman who started it all.

Eighty years on, we still stand.

Find out more about our story and our anniversary, visit: https://familiesofveterans.org.au/the-guild-80th-anniversary/

Address

9 Help Street
Chatswood, NSW
2067

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61292676577

Website

https://www.familiesofveterans.org.au/

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