In the Atrium of Federation Square, a group of ladies can be seen at work sitting round a table covered with poppies in all shapes and sizes. They are at work on The 5000 Poppies Project.

In a stunning departure from the usual cement floor, rows upon rows of poppies line The Atrium walkway, crocheted together and interwoven with personal tributes to service men and women.

The poppies are lined up, counted and stored, more are being made and at the table there is a constant hum of activity and the conversation flows freely.

Many of the ladies taking part in the project have some family connection to the ANZAC’s and for them this project is of personal significance.

For Melanie Drew the poppies have always held a fascination for what they symbolise.

“My mum grew up in London during WWII and she’s always had a thing about poppies. She’s always been really attached to them but never fully explained the significance of them.”

For Susan Mcdougall it was her family’s involvement in service to the war that drew her to the project. Her uncle was a prisoner of war, her grandfather an ambulance driver and her grandmother a nurse.

Both women also agree that the strong sense of community and involvement also played a part.

Susan says, “It’s a really great thing to do. The sense of community that you get from all the women and men that have been helping us but also each one of those poppies has been touched by a hand all the way through.”

“None of them are mechanically made so they’ve been made with love, dedicated to someone who has been lost.”

“There’s so much love and honour in each of the poppies, so much love and respect for the men and women who lost their lives”

For Melanie a lifelong interest and the power of people coming together for a worthy cause cannot be understated.

“I loved the idea of being able to make them and send them. Just the whole feeling of huge group of people working on something like this and not for monetary gain, just to give something to the community.”

“[It’s especially significant because of] the fact that it’s for the Anzac centenary and for all those lives that were lost and changed forever.”

 “Lest we forget remembering what was given.”