A record number of wreaths have been made by the Bega nursing home auxiliary for Anzac Day commemorations across the Bega Valley and beyond.
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A team of two dozen volunteers were busy all morning on Tuesday, April, 24 creating 110 wreaths for organisations and community groups to lay at Anzac Day ceremonies from Candelo all the way up to Batemans Bay.
“We’ve never had this many orders for wreaths before, so it’s fantastic for us, all the ladies are working together beautifully,” Bega nursing home auxiliary president Helen Slater said.
It is an annual effort organised by the Bega nursing home auxiliary, assisted by volunteers from the Bega Valley floral art group and the wider community, held for the first time this year at the former nursing home, Casuarina.
Annette Warby of Tathra has made Anzac Day wreaths for Bega Valley ceremonies for over 40 years, and has always enjoyed it.
“It used to be a lot harder back in the day because all of the flowers needed to be pegged and wired individually,” she said.
“Back in the day we used to make them out on a farm and bring in a whole car-load of flowers the day before.”
Ms Warby said wreath making was a creative outlet that she enjoyed in the company of other volunteers.
“I love making wreaths because I love flowers, there are so many different types and you can really use your imagination,” she said.
But Anzac Day isn’t always as joyous for Ms Warby, who lost an uncle in Gallipoli.
“I never met him, but it’s a very upsetting to think of all of those beautiful men being killed at war,” she said.
Annette Robertson of Tathra also has a long history making wreaths, growing up as a florist’s daughter in Melbourne.
“It was all hands on deck helping mum make them before Anzac Day, so this brings back a lot of nostalgic childhood memories for me,” she said.
Ms Robertson attends the dawn service at Tathra every Anzac Day.
“It’s a very moving scene, to see the sun rise over the ocean, it’s a beautiful environment to remember and be grateful for their service,” she said.
Ms Slater thanked all of the volunteers and the floral art group for lending their expertise and artistic eye to the project.
“This could never happened without the ladies here this morning or the people who donated flowers and plants for us to use today,” she said.
Ms Slater said there were a few new faces at the wreath making workshop this year and invited more to come along next year.