Poppies bloom for remembrance day

Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals will bloom with poppies on Remembrance Day to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Staff, volunteers and community members are invited to contribute to the memorial project, which hopes to create a thousand knitted and crocheted poppies as a mark of respect to those who served in all conflicts and peacekeeping activities.

The project was inspired by the 5000 Poppies movement, a global community tribute of respect and remembrance to those who have served in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, their families and communities.

“Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals both have ANZAC memorial gardens, and we thought a poppy project would be a fitting tribute to our local community for Remembrance Day on 11 November,” said Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals Fundraising and Events Manager Sonia Daniels.

“Being a hospital, we felt it was important to recognise the women and men who served in medical, nursing and support roles so we felt this was a fitting tribute to their skill, dedication and courage.”

Poppies can be donated at Blacktown Hospital reception any time up to October 26 where they will be finished and delivered to both Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals.

“Contributors should include their contact name and details with their poppies, and if they wish to dedicate their poppy to a particular family member or friend who served, they can include a note and a photo with their donation,” Ms Daniels said.

Donations of 8-ply red wool will also be gratefully accepted.

Information, patterns and the submission form are available on the BMDH Project website. More patterns and YouTube videos are also available by googling “5000 poppies”, she said.

Poppies can be any design as long as the petals are red.

“We have had a lot of enquiries about white poppies (for peace) and purple poppies (for animals) but we are asking for red poppies only,” Ms Daniels said.

“We have one symbolic white and one purple poppy for each location to recognise military animals, and hope for peace.”

For more information, patterns and delivery details visit the BMDH Project website at http://www.bmdhproject.health.nsw.gov.au/News-and-Events/Events