Isobel Foster and Kelly Quigg stand beside four years’ worth of Poppy Projects.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Four years ago, a dynamic duo from Seymour College never expected that they would touch thousands of knitted poppies when beginning their inspired project.
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When defence mentor Kelly Quigg began her role at the school, it was almost like fate that she was sharing an office with librarian Isobel Foster.
They joined forces and together devised the Poppy Project, which was an instant success.
“When we initially started, it was just going to be this small little project,” Ms Quigg said.
“But, nothing’s small when it comes to us, I think.”
The Poppy Project was a way for the school, which itself has ties to the local military with 73 current defence students, to shine a light on wartime history.
It began as a call-out to the community for 200 knitted and crocheted red poppies, used to create a fallen soldier.
In its first year, over 500 red poppies were amassed.
Over the years, the Poppy Project developed to tell stories that had been often forgotten.
It was purple poppies for animals in its second run, red and white for nurses in its third, and this year, blue symbolised the PTSD faced by many within and outside the military.
“The whole idea of it was to create a story that told the stories of war,” Ms Quigg said.
“I think the best thing about it is that it’s been a massive community project, and being that it’s part of the defence club, we’ve broadened it to the school as well.
“It brought everyone together.”
Isobel Foster and Kelly Quigg at the Seymour Show during the Poppy Project’s second year.
Photo by
Supplied
The pair have been overwhelmed by the significant number of poppies donated by the community throughout the course of the project.
They thanked students’ grandparents, the Seymour Men’s Shed, local knitting and crocheting groups, Karingal, the Rotary Club of Seymour and the Lions Club of Seymour Goulburn, and even a few interstate contributors.
“It was amazing, we even had some come from interstate,” Ms Foster said.
“There was a lady in NSW whose granddaughter was walking through the main street visiting a relative, and she saw the signs.
“She sent them to her grandmother, and she then sent about 20 over.”
While the project has been a highlight at the Seymour Show each year, taking home many blue ribbons, the pair have decided that this is the end for the Poppy Project.
And although it’s sad to see it go, Ms Foster and Ms Quigg said it created connections that would last long after the project itself.
“I think, too, with Isobel and I doing this, we’re hearing all these stories from the veterans,” Ms Quigg said.
“For some of them, we’re the first to hear their stories.
“I think it’s really been about opening up that conversation.”
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