On Thursday 12 February 2015, the Wrapped with Love knitting group gathered at Hurstville Museum & Gallery among our Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War exhibition to participate in the 5000 Poppies project. This project was initially aimed at ‘planting’ “a massive field of handmade poppies in Fed Square Melbourne on Anzac Day 2015 as a stunning visual tribute to Australian servicemen and women for more than a century of service in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.”[i]
Images: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery
The request went out far and wide for knitters and sewing enthusiasts to create poppies for the display. It wasn't too long before their aim of 5000 poppies double, tripled and quadrupled, with efforts coming in Australia wide and even around the world. There is now an estimated 140,000 poppies collected and that number is still growing!
Images: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery
The Wrapped with Love knitters were excited to contribute to the project and armed with red wool, buttons, knitting needles and patterns started the task of creating as many poppies as they could. The group made a fantastic effort in creating 191 poppies to be sent to join the rest of the poppies in Federation Square, Melbourne.
Hurstville pictorial honour rolls displayed in the exhibition
'Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War'.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection.
We have sent our poppies with our dedication, a poem from
Anne McFarlane of Mortdale, which was published in the Hurstville Propeller, 16
March 1917.
When our boys come home
When the clouds are lifted
And this cruel was is o’er,
Will our boys be ever with us,
As they were once before.
In the silent watch at night,
My thoughts to them do roam;
Oh, won’t all things be bright,
When our boys come home.
And this cruel was is o’er,
Will our boys be ever with us,
As they were once before.
In the silent watch at night,
My thoughts to them do roam;
Oh, won’t all things be bright,
When our boys come home.
Images: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery
For more information on the 5000 Poppies project please
follow the link https://5000poppies.wordpress.com/.
For more information on any programs and events at Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery, check out the ‘What’s On’ section of our website.
The Wrapped with Love knitters are all volunteers and meet at Penshurst Branch library on the 1st and 2nd Thursday of each month between 1.30 – 3.30pm.
For more information on the Wrapped with love knitters please contact Penshurst Branch Library on 02 9330 6422.
For more information on the Wrapped with love knitters please contact Penshurst Branch Library on 02 9330 6422.
[i]
https://5000poppies.wordpress.com/about/
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