21/11/2025
On this day 80 years ago (22 November 1945) in Melbourne, Victoria, our founder Jessie Vasey OBE CBE brought together a group of war widows and founded the Australian War Widows Craft Guild, laying the foundation for what would become the War Widows' Guild of Australia.
Jessie became the first President and remained in the role until her passing in 1966. Jessie was appointed an OBE in 1950 and CBE in 1963 for her service to war widows.
Jessie Vasey, herself a war widow following the tragic death of her husband Major General George Alan Vasey, understood firsthand the isolation and hardship these women faced. Her vision was to create a self-help organisation where war widows could find companionship, mutual support, and a collective voice to advocate for their rights and welfare.
The initial meetings focused on practical assistance. Craft groups were formed, providing not only a creative outlet but also a means for widows to supplement their often-meagre pensions through the sale of their craft work. This spirit of self-reliance and shared endeavour quickly resonated, and the Guild expanded across the nation, establishing branches in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
From its inception, the Guild became a powerful advocate for war widows. Under Jessie Vasey's leadership, the organisation successfully lobbied governments for improved pensions, housing, children's allowances, and healthcare benefits and even built self-care units for war widows across several states.
The Guild adopted a powerful motto, an extract from King George VI's 1941 Christmas message: "We all belong to each other. We all need each other. It is in serving each other and in sacrificing for our common good that we are finding our true life."1 This ethos of unity and mutual support has remained central to the organisation's work today.
Another enduring symbol of the Guild is its badge, featuring a kookaburra alighting on a branch of gum leaves. Designed by Hungarian sculptor Andor Mészáros, the kookaburra was chosen by Jessie Vasey for its industrious and cheerful nature, its lifelong mating habits, and its fearless defence of its young – qualities she saw reflected in the war widows themselves. The kookaburra's unique "laugh" was a call to win the widow back to laughter. A symbol of hope and the possibility of finding joy again after loss.
Jessie Mary Vasey died on the 22 September 1966 aged 69. By the time of her death the Guild had grown into an influential national lobby group.
Over the decades, the War Widows' Guild of Australia continued to evolve, adapting to the changing needs of its members and the broader veteran community, establishing social clubs, provided information, advice and support services.
In a significant step towards inclusivity, the organisation officially changed its name in 2020 to Australian War Widows. This change reflected a desire to acknowledge and support a broader range of women who had lost partners due to war and defence service, regardless of the nature of their husbands' passing.
Today, Australian War Widows continues the legacy established by Jessie, providing vital support, advocacy, and companionship to war widows across the country. The organisation remains a steadfast beacon of strength, resilience, and unwavering support for those and their children who have borne the profound loss of a partner who served our nation. Our history is a testament to the power of unity in the face of adversity.
