News and notices Pānui

Appeal for volunteer poppy makers

19 March 2021

Help honour our heroes: appeal for volunteer poppy makers to make flower wall pop on ANZAC Day

A desire to honour ANZAC soldiers has prompted one of our staff members to create a wall of poppies in remembrance but she says she needs help to give it a ‘wow’ factor.

Debbie Lawrence is creating a wall of knitted poppies at her Tauranga Hospital workplace, having taken inspiration from the commemorative installation at the Tower of London which saw thousands of ceramic poppies fill the moat to mark the World War I centennial.

Come ANZAC Day, on Sunday 25 April, a wall of knitted poppies will be adorning the white villa opposite the hospital’s mental health unit, Te Whare Maiangiangi. But help is needed to create enough poppies to make the wall really pop.

“I started knitting them earlier in the year and so far have over 200 poppies but it would be great if people could help make more and really give the wall that ‘wow’ factor,” said Mental Health and Addiction Service Co-ordinator Debbie.

Debbie has an easy pattern she can supply that can be done on any size needles. If you think you can help, or know someone who can, email Debbie on Debbie.Lawrence@bopdhb.govt.nz