Brighton Jetty Anzac Display

During the week of Anzac Day, I went down to Brighton Beach (South Australia) to see the commemorative display of knitted and crocheted poppies. It had a very brief mention in my previous blog entry but today I can share more photos and details about the project.

The centrepiece of the display with Brighton Jetty in the background.

I must confess that I have had no involvement with this project apart from an invitation to participate but with so many other things happening in my life, including ill health, I never got around to contributing any poppies by the deadline. 

The project was coordinated by local crafter, Dianne Schroeder who called out to local crocheters and knitters in February 2016.  The display of the sign 'Lest We Forget' was first installed at the jetty in 2015 for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.  This year, Dianne made additions to the installation to include the words, "Army", "Navy" and "Air Force".  

The poppies were made by members of the Corner Uniting Church craft group, local school students and members of the public. Approximately 600 poppies were needed.

"Army" displayed near the start of the jetty.
The lights of Kingston Park and Hallett Cove can be seen in the distance.
This photo did not use a flash.

These photos are a good demonstration of why it is best to photograph your crochet in daylight and avoid flash photography!  Unfortunately I was unable to get down to Brighton during the day so when I found myself at the beach late one evening (reasons explained in "A Busy Time" ) I took the opportunity to visit the display before it was dismantled and take pictures.

It was close to midnight and, if it weren't for the need of a flash, it was a good time to take photos because there were no other people (besides my  party) to get between my phone-camera lens and the poppies!  The weather was calm and cool and I appreciated the fact that I live in a neighbourhood where a person can be out and about with a camera at such a late hour and still feel safe.

Compare the differences between this photo taken under flash
and the photo before it.

The banners are made up of rectangular wire mesh frames with the poppies attached to the mesh and arranged in the letter shapes, with a row of poppies along each border.  It is a clever design because the memorial at the beach is subject to windy weather and the mesh allows the coastal breezes (and wild wind gusts) to go right through the banners without causing them to flap about, be ripped away or place extra forces on the jetty structures from the force of the wind.

The "Air Force" sign is facing the "Army"  display at the start of the jetty.
As the railings turn a corner on the right hand side, you may see a glimpse of the main sign "Lest We Forget".
Its frame's bottom edge can be seen behind the 'C' in 'Air Force'.

The "Navy" banner was next to the "Army" banner further along the jetty.
This banner had a reflective sign right above it which caused this photo to be washed out on one side.
It looks like this banner needs more poppies to finish the bottom border.
Perhaps there was previously a border but the poppies have been used elsewhere?
I hope to receive an answer from Dianne about that.

The project used poppy patterns published in Better Homes & Gardens magazine (Christmas 2014)–one knit and one crochet pattern–and those patterns were quoted from the leaflet distributed for the 5000 Poppies project (2014) which was in my list of "Poppy Patterns" of 2015.  I also recognised other poppy designs from that same list that I collated last year.  

I wonder whether that was the coincidence of many people ending up on the same pattern page as we all seek poppy patterns at the same time, or whether my little list was used to find it.  I will never know but recognising the same poppies in the real-life banner gives me a feeling of connectedness with other crocheters.  When a lot of my crochet connections are via the internet and in far away places, it is still exciting to feel a connection with other crocheters in my own neighbourhood even though we have never met!  Do you think that is silly and letting my imagination run too wildly?

Congratulations to Dianne Schroeder for the work she has done on this project. According to the newspaper, this Anzac Day Poppy Project is a way for Dianne to honour her grandfather who fought at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.  In so doing, she and her helpers have also honoured their local community and country.

It was a very popular display, generating a lot of interest and appreciation from the local and wider community. 

 

References

Berry, Lynn, 5000 Poppies, "Knit and Crochet Patterns" [leaflet], PO Box 115 Ashburton, Victoria, Australia 2014

• Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5000Poppies
• Wordpress: https://5000poppies.wordpress.com

Better Homes & Gardens, "Better Craft: let's remember … make a poppy", p. 191, Better Homes & Gardens [magazine] Christmas 2014, bhg.com.au, Pacific Magazines Pty Limited, 8 Central Avenue, Eveleigh NSW 2015, Australia, 2014.

Better Homes & Gardens [web site]: https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/

• knitting & crochet: https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/craft/knitting-and-crochet/#page1

Boisvert, Eugene, "Anzac tribute all stitched up" [article] p. 8, Guardian Messenger, Messenger Newspapers, Adelaide, Australia, 20 April 2016 ; digital edn: http://messenger.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Related Posts on Lupey Loops

"A Busy Time", 5 May 2016: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/a-busy-time.html
An activity update and why I was at the beach around midnight!

"What Happened to All Those Poppies?", 11 November 2015: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/what-happened-to-all-those-poppies.html
Another way to commemorate with poppies. 

"Poppies Shaping Up", 4 June 2015: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/poppies-shaping-up.html
You've crocheted your poppy: now to make it 'bloom' beautifully. This post shows how to use blocking techniques for a finished result.

"Poppy Patterns" 20 April 2015: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/poppy-patterns.html
This is the start of a long list of poppy patterns to crochet.