Many people are aware of the key nutrients that help flowers grow, but in the case of a Nhill poppy tribute project community generosity has been the most nurturing of all.

If anyone takes a walk through Nhill’s Goldsworthy Park they might notice thousands of crocheted and knitted red poppies covering the park’s palm trees near the war memorial.

The creations – 20,000 of them to be exact – are the result of a volunteer project to help recognise and remember soldiers who served and died in war.

At first organisers Rosie Clark and Pam Deckert, along with Nhill district volunteers, had a goal to make 420 poppies, which was enough to cover one tree.

“But people just started making them and making them, and we started using them and using them. It has just grown,” Mrs Clark said.

“So many people came on board because of Facebook and hearing about it, and the word spread. 

“We had people across Australia donating poppies, as well as volunteers from places such as Ararat and Horsham.

“These people are so generous. Some are using their own wool to make the poppies. It just shows how generous the community is.”

Mrs Clark said Hindmarsh Shire Council and the Nhill RSL sub-branch provided grants for materials, with poppies typically taking about 10 to 20 minutes each to crochet or knit.

Once created, the poppies are attached to a rope and are then ready to be transferred to one of the trees.

In addition to the symbolic red poppy, Mrs Clark said white and purple poppies were now also incorporated into the town’s display.

“It looks stunning. Even when we first started to put them up it looked amazing,” she said.

“The white represents the nurses who served, and it is also a symbol of peace. 

“The purple represents the animals that have been involved in conflict.

“It has been great for the people involved, and it is good for the older women too, who still want to knit. 

“Younger kids these days don’t really want a knitted jumper, so this is easy and something to do to keep knitting.”

Mrs Clark said the influx of donated poppies, which skyrocketed the total from about 2000 earlier this year, had even left the group with leftovers. 

“We have no more trees,” Mrs Clark said.

“But we’ve still got wool and poppies left over, so once that has been knitted and crocheted, that is it – we’ll call it quits.”

Mrs Clarke said the poppies would be on display for a fortnight surrounding both Anzac Day and Remembrance Day each year.

– Lotte Reiter

The entire November 6, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!