KVI Network Creations · Community & Cultural Coverage · Western Australia
An act of remembrance brings together handmade poppies, wartime history, and the generosity of a school community.
By KVI Editorial 5 November 2026
At first glance, it is a Remembrance Day display. Look a little closer, however, and another story emerges: one of generosity, cooperation, and a community taking the time to remember.
As Australia prepares to observe Remembrance Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, KVI Network Creations documents this local initiative and the individuals who helped bring it to life.
The people behind the poppies
Ms. M. McDonald was the person behind this Remembrance Day initiative, taking the lead in organising the activity and bringing everything together. Through her efforts, the school created a fundraising display featuring historical information, photographs, commemorative objects and handmade poppies.
It gives students an opportunity to learn about Australia’s wartime history, understand the meaning of remembrance and take part in an activity that connects the past with their own school community.
The handmade poppies are a special part of this initiative. Each one was carefully made by educators who generously gave their time and skills to support the fundraising effort. Their contribution has helped bring the display to life.
With gratitude
KVI Network Creations acknowledges and thanks the following women who made the poppies:
- Mrs. L. Seedy
- Ms. M. White
- Mrs. M. Manju
- Mrs. M. Owens
- Mrs. F. Awa
- Mrs. S. Mrasic
- Mrs. P. Bangera
- Mrs. H. Offer
- Miss A. Kayangala
Each poppy takes time and care to make. When hundreds of them are brought together, the work of many hands becomes something the whole school community can appreciate. It is a simple but meaningful way for people to show their respect and remember those who served.
Through these handmade flowers, remembrance becomes more than a ceremony; it becomes a shared effort by people who want to make a contribution.
Student counsellors will also be involved, helping to sell poppies on Monday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 10. Their involvement gives students a chance to take part rather than simply learn about Remembrance Day in the classroom. By helping with the fundraising, they become part of a school community tradition and gain a better understanding of why we remember those who served.
What the red and purple poppies mean
The display features both red and purple poppies, each with its own meaning. The red poppy is widely recognised as a symbol of remembrance for military personnel who lost their lives in war, particularly since the First World War, when the poem In Flanders Fields by Canadian soldier and physician John McCrae helped make the flower an enduring symbol of sacrifice and respect.
The purple poppy remembers the animals that also suffered and served during wartime, including horses, dogs and pigeons. They carried supplies, transported soldiers and delivered messages, often working in dangerous conditions.
Having both colours in the display is a way of recognising not only the people who served but also the animals whose contributions are often forgotten.
Remembering the Walers and the Australian Light Horse
One of the most noticeable items in the display is a sculpture of a mounted soldier and his horse. Nearby, information about the Australian Light Horse and the Walers explains the important role these strong, hardy horses played during the First World War, particularly in campaigns involving Australian mounted troops.
The photographs, sculpture and historical information help visitors understand what these animals went through and how closely their lives were tied to those of the soldiers. It is a part of wartime history that is not always discussed, but deserves to be remembered too.
A fundraiser with a purpose
The poppy display is also a fundraising activity, with proceeds going to the Returned & Services League of Australia, Western Australian Branch (RSLWA). Those who buy a poppy are not only supporting the organisation but also taking part in a tradition of remembrance.
A handwritten thank-you note beside the flowers adds a personal touch, showing appreciation for everyone who contributes, no matter how small their donation.
Every year on November 11, Australians pause to remember those who served and lost their lives in wars and conflicts. Remembrance Day marks the armistice of 1918, which brought an end to fighting on the Western Front during the First World War.
More than a century later, the tradition continues through ceremonies, school activities and community events. This school initiative is a good example of how remembrance can bring people together.
The women who made the poppies, the student counsellors helping with sales and Ms. M. McDonald, who organised the activity, have each played a part. Their contributions may be different, but they share the same purpose: keeping the memory of those who served alive.
A memory kept alive
At KVI Network Creations, we believe local stories like this are worth sharing. Behind the photographs of the poppy display are the people who gave their time, effort and care to make it happen.
Ms. M. McDonald’s work, the generosity of the women who made the flowers and the involvement of the students have turned a simple school activity into an opportunity for remembrance, learning and fundraising.
The display will eventually be packed away and the poppies will go home with those who purchased them, but the people and the effort behind this initiative deserve to be remembered.
Lest We Forget.