Poppy Park is a grand plan to ensure every fallen Australian soldier is remembered by name at ANZAC Day.
More than 102,000 poppies — one for each fallen hero — are being be planted at Judges Park in Penrith, creating a stunning memorial that people will be able to visit for five weeks from this Saturday, March 21 right up to ANZAC Day.
Each poppy will be tagged with the name of a soldier listed on the Australian War Memorial as well as where they fought and died.
People can help by buying a poppy online with all funds going towards building the park and Legacy.
When the park is taken down after ANZAC Day, the poppies will be posted to those who purchased one, giving them a soldier to research and remember by name.
Brothers Martin and Owen Rogers thought of the idea after a trip to Belgium and France to visit the graves of two great-uncles that died in World War I.
‘‘Whilst over there the question came to us: when generations pass and families fade, sometimes those names fade out,’’ Martin said.
‘‘Who will remember those names?’’
The western Sydney community has supported the vision, with hundreds of people volunteering time, skills and effort to help spread the word and set up the park, but the Rogers brothers want this to be something for all of Australians.
‘‘The whole inspiration behind it is, every year, how to we ensure that each of our fallen soldiers is remembered, personally, by at least one person in Australia,’’ Martin said.
St Dominic’s College student Connor Jurkovic came up with the 3D design for the park which resembles one large red poppy.
Emu Plains carpenter, Chris Wyllie, has a strong family ANZAC Day tradition — holding overnight events at his house each year — and he has built the centrepiece for the park that will become the middle stem of the flower.
Kathleen Leary purchased a family pack and recorded a touching video about why she supported the vision.
‘‘The first time is when you physically die, the second time is at your funeral, and the last time is when your name is spoken for the last time,’’ Mrs Leary said in her video tribute.
‘‘I don't want these soldiers to die that third time.’’
Martin demonstrated the sort of connection that can be built with a fallen soldier while on a trip to Kiama where he researched the life of Australia’s first recorded fallen soldier.
Private Robert Weir, from Kiama, died in Sudan in 1885 but in a short time Martin was able to find out about his life, where his war memorial was in Kiama and a bit about his family.
The Rogers brothers hope all Australians build a connection with our fallen heroes by purchasing a poppy and remember that solider by name.
Details: poppypark.org.au
