The Australian War Widows
The Australian War Widows Inc. represents the interests of war widows throughout Australia. The War Widows’ Craft Guild was founded by Mrs. Jessie Mary Vasey, OBE, CBE (1897 – 1966) in 1946. Mrs. Jessie Vasey was the widow of Major General George Vasey CB, CBE, DSO (1895 – 1945). The organisation was founded in response to a lack of government support and recognition of widows and families following World War I and World War II. The organisation has continued to support and give a voice to war widows since, at both State and National level, as well as providing companionship and a supportive community for war widows.
In 1945, while on leave, Major General Vasey called in on the widow of one of his fallen men. He was appalled at the living conditions of war widows and decided that after peace was declared it would be his intent to fight for better compensation for war widows.
In an ironic twist of fate, when he left to return to the front, his plane went down. Mrs. Jessie Vasey took it upon herself to take up the banner and remind the Government of their promise made to the men who enlisted, that their widows and children would be cared for.
Throughout the early years Mrs. Jessie Vasey campaigned to improve the lot of war widows. “Our first job is to ask the powers-that-be for decent compensation for the family of the dead serviceman and our second is to put the widow back on her feet,” Mrs. Vasey said.
Much of the War Widow’s activities since 1946 has been devoted to improving the war widows’ lot in life, succeeding in gaining a number of entitlements for its members: The War Widows’ Pension, tax-free and indexed to the CPI; the Domestic Allowance; Income Support Supplement and health and medical entitlements. Other successes have come in the form of concessions such as those for transport, water and council rates.
Today the War Widows are still continuing to advocate for the protection of war widows’ benefits.