ANZAC DAY 2018

Anzac Day 2018 is rapidly approaching … I can’t quite believe that it will be three years since our fantastic tribute was unveiled in Melbourne’s iconic Federation Square …  and then onto Princes Bridge for the duration of the Anzac Day march.  Such a thrill to see our beautiful tribute of love, honour and respect come to life for this important day on the Australian commemorative calendar.

There has been a lot of water … and an awful lot of hard work … under the bridge since then.

I am, as always astounded by the way our lovely little community project just took off … around Australia and then around the world … and still to this day continues to inspire hundreds if not thousands of small and large handcrafted poppy tributes globally.

I know I say it constantly but for me, this project will always be about my father, and for Margy, about her father …. but we continue to note in the letters and dedications that come with your poppies, that this is a very personal tribute for every single person who has made a poppy and sent it to us …

For Anzac Day 2018 we have a couple of small installations happening … one in Sydney at the Westfield Miranda Shopping Centre.  There you will see the ANZAC letters that were originally crafted for the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience, the AWM’s outstanding travelling Centenary tribute which toured Australia from 2015 to 2017, plus a selection of our original poppy “strings” which were made for our launch display back in 2013, and have been used in a number of tributes in the years since then.  These are coupled with a fabulous display of WWI memorabilia from the local RSL.  A small but poignant installation.  I hope if you are Sydney based, that you will get an opportunity to go along and view the exhibition.  On display now until 26 April.

There will also be a small installation at the Melbourne Museum in support of the Museum’s WWI Love and Sorrow exhibition.  This will be installed tomorrow and be in situ until 26 April.  This is an outstanding and evocative exhibition and one well worth seeing ….. note to self – take tissues.

We now have our sights firmly set on Remembrance Day 2018 for a series of final poppy tribute installations in various locations around Australia.  Watch this space.

And just for nostalgia’s sake, here is a jump back in time for you to Anzac Day 2015 …

Quite simply, breathtaking.

And last, but certainly not least, a reminder to support the  RSL’s 2018 Anzac Appeal helping to raise funds in support of our Veterans and their families. Even if you have chosen to wear your beautiful handmade poppy this year, and we sincerely understanding that … we encourage everyone to buy a badge, and wear it with pride.