Planning Ahead

11/11/2018 will bring the end of the Centenary of  Anzac.  Four years of commemorating our brave Australian heroes from the last 100 years.

For 5000 Poppies which seems to have become a movement of sorts (it seems this amazing tribute has grown legs all over the world),  2018 in Australia will be the culmination, with a stunning final installation at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.  The AWM has been on our wish list from the beginning of the 5000 Poppies project and it’s fitting that Remembrance Day 2018 at the AWM is where our final installation will be.

Have you listened to Dr Nelson’s speech from July last year … our small team was in France installing Fromelles when he gave this speech at the National Press Club … it was so moving … there was not a dry eye in the house. 

As with all of our installations this one will be different to the last one, which was different from the one before.  Bigger, bolder, but also much more accessible.  Phil, Kate and I have worked on a concept that will be incredibly beautiful in its simplicity.  Can’t say more until all the announcements are made but it’s very exciting for all of us.

It will take some pulling together, but I know that we are up to the task, as we have been up to the task many times before.  More news on that soon as well.

In the meantime, we are in urgent need of more poppies.  We have 50,000 poppies to deliver to the RSL by end April next year and that is our key focus for the moment …

Any pattern can be used as long as it is tightly knitted or crocheted maximum 9-10 cm and the rule of thumb is that if you would be proud to wear it then someone else will be too.  There are many beautiful patterns on the blog for you to choose from.  I particularly love Ing’s pattern (crochet) but the Chelsea patterns are also beautiful and quick.  Use your imagination for centres, buttons, flowers, whatever you would like … the more different centres, the better.  There will be workshops announced soon … these are always fun so keep your eye on the workshops page on the blog.  If you have a brooch pin or a standard pin, feel free to attach one to the back of your poppies, it saves the task being done by the RSL.

Marg and I cannot thank you enough for your continued support of our “little” project.  It continues to to remind us of the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, their families and communities, and the money raised by the sale of the RSL poppies will be used in the provision of much needed services to our veterans and their families.

On that note, Kate, Deb and I attended a couple of commemorative services in Ballarat last week.  The first one for the unveiling of the Garden of the Grieving Mother, a beautiful and poignant memorial to the mothers in particular, and families in general who have lost sons and daughters in war … the suffering at home was horrific for these families and their communities.  It was an emotional unveiling and a beautiful tribute.  We were grateful for the opportunity to attend.

The second service was to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Fall of Singapore.   … It was an honour to be there.  It is simply unfathomable to me as it is to all of us … the  sheer inhumanity that those brave souls … men and women … faced … And their battles did not end at the end of the war as we know …

LEST WE FORGET!

With love.