Arch of Remembrance - Poppies pay tribute on Remembrance Day

29 October 2018

A group of Albany ladies have been busy making 1,000 poppies that will pay homage to the Anzacs in the Town Square during the commemorations of the centenary of Armistice starting next week.

The Birdcage Ladies group have been meeting regularly with wool and needles in hand to knit an array of flower tributes that the public will be able to place on an Arch of Remembrance being crafted by members of the Albany Men’s Shed.

Among the collection are red poppies representing the soldiers and nurses, purple poppies for the horses, and white poppies for the dogs that were involved in the war.

The Arch of Remembrance will form part of the event hub in Town Square for the Armistice commemorations, which will run from November 8 to 11 with Anzac Albany ambassadors providing event information to visitors.

Birdcage Ladies Group member Anne Aitken said the group were honoured to be making the poppies. “Albany is a beautiful place, it’s very special,” she said. “The Anzac Centre is a worldwide memorial and helping with this project is contributing to Albany and our community, that’s what it’s about.”

People will also be able to write a message on a gratitude card to place on the Arch of Remembrance in honour of those who served for Australia and New Zealand.

The event hub will include medal and poppy-making workshops for children, and a stall will be selling Remembrance Day poppies for a gold coin donation.

Look out for a full Anzac Albany program of events in local newspapers this week.

Anzac Albany 2018 has been made possible with the support of the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and the City of Albany.