HONOURING WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO OUR DEFENCE

WOMEN and families from across Australia whose lives have been impacted as a result of Defence service have tonight come together at the Honouring Women United by Defence Service (HWUDS) dinner in Canberra.

 

Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the HWUDS dinner seeks to acknowledge and honour all those women and their families united by service with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

 

“Following the centenary of the First World War ending last year, 2019 celebrates the Year of Peace, and tonight we honour those women who have served and made sacrifices for that peace, and for those who continue to make those sacrifices on a daily basis,” Mr Chester said.

 

“Women who wear our nation’s uniform are also mothers, partners, sisters and daughters and these roles brings their own set of unique challenges.

 

“It is important that we recognise, and seek to better understand, the service and sacrifice of women who have either served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) themselves or been affected by the service of a loved one.” 

 

Mr Chester said photographs of women and families from the ‘Thank you for your service’ photographic exhibition were on display at the dinner.

 

“The exhibition is made up of remarkable photographs taken by Alex Ellinghausen, one of Australia’s most respected photo-journalists and 2018 Press Gallery Journalist of the Year,” Mr Chester said.

“The photos showcase the diversity of our current ADF members, veterans and their families and tonight’s dinner was the perfect opportunity to showcase some of the photos and the stories their subjects have to tell.”

Australians can view an online gallery of the photographic exhibition on the DVA website.