By Melissa Coleman
Member for Southern Downs James Lister attended the Warwick War Widows event at the Warwick RSL Services and Citizens Memorial Club.
Four widows and about 15 others attended the luncheon to mark 75 years since War Widows Australia started.
Mr Lister said the war widows have a proud place in today’s veterans community.
“I was very pleased to have lunch with local war widows in Warwick last week as part of Queensland War Widows Day.
“Apart from being our local MP, I’m a veteran myself, and also the Shadow Assistant Minister for Veterans, so spending time with our local war widows was a great joy to me,” Mr Lister said.
“Australian War Widows Queensland is a terrific organisation which serves their membership with advocacy, assistance with the Department of Veterans Affairs, access to accommodation, and fellowship.
“It was very interesting to listen to the stories of the ladies and to think about the sacrifices they’ve made and the hardships they’ve experienced,” he said.
The Warwick sub branch of the War Widows Guild acting president Nancy Payne said the day is the birthday of Jessie Vasey who founded the War Widows Guild in 1947.
“The day acknowledges the sacrifices widows have made and their support to their loved ones.“
“There are only four of us left, when I started in the committer there were 30.“
“We are all in our 90s now,“ Ms Payne said.
Presently, more than 10,000 war widows in Queensland continue to foster friendships and provide advice and support to one another.
Member for the Southern Downs James Lister will be hosting an informal lunch on Saturday 29 October for local War Widows and their guests/carers, including for widows who may not be members of Australian War Widows Queensland.
The event will be at the Warwick RSL Memorial Club at noon.
Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP by calling Mr Lister’s office on (07) 4524 7700, or by emailing southern.downs@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Numbers are limited RSVP by 12 noon this Friday.
