Thousands of blooming poppies for Anzac Day

Hand-crafted red poppies have been blooming across the Waikato as the public comes together to pay their respects to our country’s fallen soldiers on Anzac day.

The Matangi community recently joined forces for the second year in a row to take part in the Anzac poppy project, covering a tree in the Jack Foster Reserve with knitted or crocheted poppies.

Faye Douglas is part of a group of Matangi residents who helped initiate and plan their area’s project which began last year.

“There were 65 locals in the Matangi area that were in World War I,” said Faye.

Making the poppies has proved particularly popular amongst the older residents, with Waikato District Council supplying the red wool for a number of eager hands.

“The elderly can become isolated from the community, but this project has helped to pull them back in.”

The project has also helped instigate a soon to be erected memorial board for World War I in the Matangi hall.

Matangi is just one of the many townships taking part in the project, with a multitude of Waikato residents getting involved in projects including the Te Awa Cycle Way, where more than 1200 homemade poppies have been dotted along the cycle way and the connecting Perry Bridge.

District Council community development co-ordinator Lianne van den Bemd said she expected at least 40 yarn bombed trees would be dotted around the Waikato this year. The National Army Museum has also got involved, with their Centurion and Scorpion tanks covered in camouflage nets, covered with knitted poppies. Children from five different primary schools made the nets themselves while learning the history of Anzac day.

“It’s about partnerships, engagement and getting people involved,” van den Bemd said.