Soala Wilson, the organiser behind Anzac Project Poppy Palmy, hopes to create thousands of poppies to honour soldiers on Anzac Day next year.
Her goal is to make 6,000 to 10,000 poppies, which will be displayed at Te Marae o Hine – The Square in Palmerston North.
Wilson’s project aims to bring together ethnic groups and community organisations for a meaningful activity. “Our country has been through a lot,” she explained. “This is a great project to unite people.”
To help create the poppies, Wilson is hosting two public events at Te Manawa Museum. The first will be held on Saturday, November 2, and the second on Saturday, February 15. Both sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving people plenty of time to participate.
She hopes the project will lift spirits. “A lot of people feel overwhelmed with life, and this gives them a chance to work together,” she said. “There’s no politics here, just unity.”
Wilson’s personal connection to the project comes from her family. She learned that her uncle had served in the New Zealand Army and helped recruit Pacific Islanders. “The freedom we have today is because someone sacrificed their life for it,” she said, expressing her deep respect for veterans.
