War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW

Last updated

The War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd is a not for profit membership-based organization whose mission is to promote and protect the interests of war widows in New South Wales. [1] Established by women and for women in June 1946 the Guild has fought over the years to improve the financial and social circumstances of members. [2]

Contents

After years operating as an incorporated association, the NSW Guild became a public company limited by guarantee in 1998. [3] It is a public benevolent institution with deductible gift recipient status. [1]

History

Mrs Jessie Vasey established the War Widows' Guild of Australia in Victoria in 1945 [4] to bring war widows together to support each other and to speak with one voice to improve their circumstances. Within two years the organisation had spread across Australia, with the Guild being established in NSW in 1946. Guild clubs were established to support war widows across Sydney and NSW. Secretaries, including Mrs Una Boyce AM OBE, who was State Secretary of the Guild from 1961 to 1989, succeeded in achieving a range of concessions and benefits for war widows. [5] Since its inception, the Guild has continued to advocate on behalf of war widows and offers friendship and services to its members. [6]

Motto

The Guild's Motto is an extract from King George VI's Christmas message of 1941 and was adopted by the national Guild in 1949 at its third annual conference. The extract was considered a suitable expression of their ideals: [7]

"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."

The Guild's founder, Mrs Jessie Vasey, was the originator of the idea for the design of the Guild's badge. It features the kookaburra, an industrious and cheerful bird who mated for life, was fearless and aggressive in the defence of its young and the area of territory it regarded as its own. The bird also had a unique call, not a song but a laugh; a chortle of rollicking mirth (to bring the widows back to laughter [8] ). Also the kookaburra is a typically and completely Australian symbol, one that could be worn proudly by every widow whatever her creed or ideals. The kookaburra was also the mascot of the 7th Division, commanded by Mrs Vasey's husband, Major-General George Alan Vasey. [9]

Mrs Vasey asked the Hungarian sculptor, Andor Mészáros, who was living in Melbourne, to design a badge featuring this Australian bird. The badge was made of sterling silver in England, and depicted a kookaburra alighting in flight on to a branch of gum leaves. Sometime later, as membership increased, smaller badges were made out of base metal as the price of sterling silver had become prohibitive. [10] The Guild has adopted the kookaburra badge design as its logo.

Milestone

To mark the Guild's 60th Anniversary in 2006, the NSW Guild commissioned their own history. No Peacetime Cinderellas, written by historian Roslyn Burge, tells the story of the Guild since its establishment in New South Wales. [11] The book was launched in October 2008 by the Guild's Patron, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales. [12]

Membership

Membership in NSW is open to women defined as war widows in the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 who have not remarried, [13] to widows and dependants covered by subsequent legislation, and also to eligible war widows from allied countries. In 2011 there are about 9,500 members around NSW. [1]

Services

The Guild advocates for war widows to the Commonwealth, NSW and local governments and to other organizations. [6] The NSW Guild built 13 blocks of self-care units at nine locations between 1953 and 1988, [3] and continues to provide low cost self care housing to war widows. The Guild also provides information, advice and help to its members. The Guild has over 100 Guild and Social Clubs based in Sydney and in regional NSW. [14]

Magazine

Communications with members are important for the Guild and in 1948 it commenced publishing the News Sheet. [15] In 1957 the name of the magazine, published quarterly, was changed to the Guild Digest. [16] The publication is registered as a serial title with the National Library of Australia. [17]

Major events

Four major events are held each year: the ANZAC Field of Remembrance, the Annual General Meeting, the War Widows' Walk and Picnic, and the members' Christmas Party. [1]

War Widows' Guilds in Australia

The War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd is part of an Australia-wide network of state based Guilds in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. Each State Guild is a member of the national organisation, War Widows' Guild of Australia Inc.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocoparra National Park</span> Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

The Cocoparra National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 8,357-hectare (20,650-acre) national park is situated 457 kilometres (284 mi) southwest of Sydney and 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Griffith. The name of the park comes from the Aboriginal cocupara'’, or kookaburra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Returned and Services League of Australia</span> Australian veterans service organisation

The Returned and Services League of Australia, known as RSL, RSL Australia and RSLA, is an independent support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland cricket team</span> Australian cricket team

The Queensland men's cricket team or the Queensland Bulls is the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket side in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury Park Racecourse</span> Racecourse for horse racing in Sydney

Canterbury Park Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located 11 km (7 mi) from the Sydney Central Business District, in King Street in the suburb of Canterbury, adjacent to Canterbury railway station. The racecourse is operated by the Australian Turf Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Alan Vasey</span> Australian general

Major General George Alan Vasey, was an Australian Army officer. He rose to the rank of major general during the Second World War, before being killed in a plane crash near Cairns in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burley-Sekem</span>

Burley-Sekem Pty Ltd is an Australian sports equipment manufacturing company. It was formed in 1985 from the merger of "Burley Sports Pty Ltd", and "Sekem Pty Ltd.". The company has since merged with Kookaburra Sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Burge</span> Australia international rugby league footballer & coach

Frank Burge was one of the greatest forwards in the history of rugby league in Australia. Later Burge became one of the game's finest coaches. His club career was with Glebe and the St. George Dragons. He represented New South Wales on twenty-six occasions and played thirteen test matches for the Kangaroos and played for Australia in a further twenty-three tour matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Rayner</span> Australia international rugby league footballer and coach

Rupert John Rayner was an Australian state and national representative rugby league player and NSWRFL coach. His club playing career was with the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1946 to 1957 and he also represented New South Wales on eleven occasions and played in five Test matches for the Australian national side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union</span>

{{maplink|frame=yes|text=ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union jurisdiction|raw={

 "type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [  { "type": "Feature",  "properties": {"fill": "#ff0000","fill-opacity": 0.3,"stroke-width": 0},  "geometry": {"type": "Polygon",  "coordinates": [[
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod O'Loan</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Roderick John Charles O'Loan, MBE, CBE (1915–1992) was an Australian rugby league footballer for the Eastern Suburbs club in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership. He was also a businessman and a war veteran of distinction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Vasey</span>

Jessie Mary Vasey was the founder and President of the War Widows' Guild of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lloyd Waddy</span> Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot and New South Wales parliamentarian

John Lloyd Waddy, was a senior officer and aviator in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and later served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Minister of the Crown. As a fighter pilot during World War II, he shot down 15 enemy aircraft during the North African campaign, becoming one of Australia's top-scoring aces and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. Waddy went on to command No. 80 Squadron in the South West Pacific, where he was awarded the US Air Medal. He was one of eight senior pilots who took part in the "Morotai Mutiny" of April 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Brain</span> Australian aviation pioneer

Lester Joseph Brain, AO, AFC was a pioneer Australian aviator and airline executive. Born in New South Wales, he trained with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) before joining Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (Qantas) as a pilot in 1924. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1929, after locating the lost aircraft Kookaburra in northern Australia. Having risen to Chief Pilot at Qantas by 1930, he was appointed Flying Operations Manager in 1938. As a member of the RAAF reserve, Brain coordinated his airline's support for the Australian military during World War II. He earned a King's Commendation for his rescue efforts during an air raid on Broome, Western Australia, in 1942, and was promoted to wing commander in 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANZAC Field of Remembrance</span>

The ANZAC Field of Remembrance is an annual event held at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, which is hosted by the War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd. The event involves the planting of wooden crosses in remembrance of those who have died due to their involvement in war.

<i>The Barrier Miner</i> Former daily newspaper in NSW, Australia

The Barrier Miner was a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Broken Hill in far western New South Wales from 1888 to 1974.

Edith Janet Allen Mayo CBE, OBE née Simpson, known as Janet Mayo or (formally) Mrs. Eric Mayo, was an advocate for war widows in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Abbott (artist)</span> Australian painter

Harold Frederick Abbott was an Australian portrait painter, an official war artist and an art teacher by profession.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broughton Hall, Lilyfield</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Broughton Hall is a heritage-listed former residence, convalescent hospital and psychiatric clinic situated in Callan Park, which has its main entrance on Balmain Road, Lilyfield, Inner West Council, New South Wales, Australia. The house, Broughton House or Broughton Hall, was built c. 1841 and variously served as a residence for prominent businessmen and public figures (1841–1914). It is situated within the Callan Park Conservation Area, in Church Street, Lilyfield, near the corner of Wharf Road. It was used as No. 13 Australian Army Hospital during World War I. Other buildings were constructed over time and the precinct was used as the Broughton Hall Psychiatric Clinic (1921–1976). It was merged into Rozelle Hospital along with the adjacent Callan Park Hospital for the Insane in 1976, during which time it became the first premises for the Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Unit. Broughton House fell into disuse, suffering severe damage from fire and vandalism. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ella McFadyen</span> Australian childrens novelist, poet and short story writer

Ella May McFadyen was an Australian poet, journalist and children's writer. For 18 years she conducted "The Children's Page" for The Sydney Mail and was known as Cinderella.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 War Widows’ Guild of Australia NSW Limited website
  2. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006", Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p9
  3. 1 2 War Widows' Guild of Australia (1947-), Trove, National Library of Australia
  4. War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Limited (1946-), Trove, National Library of Australia
  5. Sydney Morning Herald, Obituary for Una Boyce, 27 November 2003, Mick Boyce
  6. 1 2 War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Limited website
  7. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006, Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p31
  8. Archived 28 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, speech, 20 April 2007, Canberra
  9. Clarke, Mavis Thorpe (1986), No Mean Destiny: The Story of the War Widows' Guild of Australia 1945-85, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd, South Yarra, Victoria, ISBN   0-908090-93-5 p18, p144
  10. Clarke, Mavis Thorpe (1986), No Mean Destiny: The Story of the War Widows' Guild of Australia 1945-85, Hyland House Publishing Pty Ltd, South Yarra, Victoria, ISBN   0-908090-93-5 p144-145
  11. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006, Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p20
  12. War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Limited, No Peacetime Cinderellas, Guild Digest, December 2008, p14, ISSN   1449-3691
  13. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006, Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p206
  14. War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Limited, Guild and Social Clubs, Guild Digest, September 2010, p28-30, ISSN   1449-3691
  15. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006, Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p260
  16. Burge, Roslyn (2008), No Peacetime Cinderellas: a history of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in New South Wales 1946-2006, Australia: War Widows' Guild of Australia NSW Ltd, ISBN   9780646477374(hbk.) p274
  17. National Library of Australia Catalogue