Queensland champion of war widows celebrated on War Widows’ Day

• Life of Mrs Jessie Vasey OBE CBE has been honoured in a digital story at the State Library and Anzac Square Memorial Galleries
• Roma-born trailblazer founded the War Widows Guild in 1947
• Recognised today on War Widows’ Day, which is also Mrs Vasey’s birthday

Queensland’s second annual War Widows’ Day today is being marked by the official launch of a digital story about the founder of Australian War Widows Queensland Jessie Vasey OBE CBE.

The Queensland Government contributed $10,000 for the State Library of Queensland to create an oral history of Mrs Vasey’s achievements in founding the War Widows Guild, which became Australian War Widows Queensland.

Mrs Vasey, who was born in Roma, founded the War Widows Guild in Toowoomba in 1947 so that Australian war widows would be recognised by government and provided with financial support and services.

Australian War Widows Queensland supports approximately 2,000 members and 10,000 widows and widowers across the state.

The Palaszczuk Government announced in 2021 that Queensland would be the first Australian state to formally hold War Widows’ Day, with 19 October chosen to mark Mrs Vasey’s birthday.

The digital story about Mrs Vasey is presented on the Queensland State Library’s website and at the Anzac Square Memorial Galleries in Brisbane.

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans' Affairs and the Public Sector Bart Mellish:

“This digital story celebrates Mrs Jessie Vasey and her great work in supporting Queensland’s widows so that governments would care for them and consider their welfare.

“Mrs Vasey was a pioneer who ensured the people left behind by those who had served and fell faced a more certain future thanks to the work of Australian War Widows Queensland.

“She established a great organisation which protected the interests and wellbeing of Queensland’s widows, and it has grown into an important support service for widows and widowers across Australia.

“It is important that we honour the widows and widowers of members of the Australian Defence Force and Mrs Vasey’s story is at the heart of the support provided by the Queensland Government and governments nationwide.

“I commend everyone involved in creating this wonderful digital story about a remarkable Queenslander.”

Background

To watch Jessie Vasey's digital story, visit: https://vimeo.com/861840410

For more information about the Jessie Vasey story, visit State Library of Queensland (slq.qld.gov.au) 

ENDS