New day to to recognise silent sacrifice of Australian war widows

Widows and widowers who lost their loved ones to war will be recognised by a special day in NSW to recognise the sacrifice of those left behind.

Widows and widowers of war veterans will now be recognised with their own day to pay tribute to their unique sacrifice.

Widowers such as Meg Green, who lost her husband Gordon to Agent Orange-linked cancer, said October 19 will recognise their long-forgotten contribution to keeping Australia safe.

“The powers that be need to know that women who are married to servicemen or partners with servicemen are the backbones of the families and those servicemen and women couldn’t do their job unless there was someone supporting them,” Ms Green said.

Mr Green never spoke much about his time in the Vietnam War, but for Mrs Green the signs of PTSD were clear to see.

“You would hear some funny stories but never anything in depth,” she said.

War widow Meg Green. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I think he did exhibit signs of post traumatic stress initially when he first came home. But then as he got older, I think that those signs and symptoms started to be more on show.”

After her husband’s death she turned to the War Widows Guild, where finding a likeminded group of women helped her heal.

Meg Greens husband Gordon Green. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The pair on their wedding day in 1973. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“We’re extraordinarily grateful to the NSW Government for recognising this as a as a day of significance for us and also of course, that helps to promote our organisation,” she said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said War Widows Day will recognise the sacrifice of women such as Mrs Green.

“Establishing a special day is a small token in recognising and honouring our war widows and widowers of those who made the ultimate sacrifice by serving in the defence forces,” Mr Perrottet said.

“War Widows Day is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution and personal sacrifice made by more than 15,000 surviving widows and widowers of servicemen and servicewomen across NSW.”

The day will join other wartime commemorations such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day in NSW. Picture: David Swift

Veterans minister David Elliott, who met with widows at a Vietnam veterans reception on Saturday, said the new day marks the birthday of War Widows Guild founder Jessie Vasey, who lost her husband in the Second World War and spent her life fighting for better support for widows.

“The Australian War Widows NSW provide essential support to improve the lives of widows and their families impacted by defence service through understanding their needs and advocating on their behalf,” Mr Elliott said.