Anticipation has built over the months for many members excited and waiting for the unveiling of the wall of poppies at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway. Through our recent Digests, newsletters and online posts, we’ve shared the Poppy Project and its collaborative, remarkable initiative, directed by Kokoda Walkway Board Director, Jennifer Collins AM.

This beautiful project has finally come to life with the hard work and skill of our members and the community, allowing all of your hand made poppies to decorate the tree in the memorial garden at the track, the memorial honoured to Bruce Kingsbury VC who was killed protecting the village of Kokoda in Papua New Guinea in WW2 and also a wall of poppies.

The heart of the project consisted of over 7,500 handcrafted poppies, lovingly created by our members and community from NSW, ACT, QLD, many of them being war widows and their families. These small yet powerful symbols of respect have come together to form an art installation that honours the sacrifices of veterans and their families.

A thank you to those who collaborated

The Poppy Project was supported by a network of club coordinators and Kokoda staff who provided participants with wool, patterns and reply envelopes to make the crafting process seamless. This project could only come to life and be this successful with the help of our members and the community across the states. Each and every participants unique poppy is accumulated with the thousands of others to create the memorial garden and wall of poppies.

This initiative has demonstrated not only the enduring gratitude felt towards veterans but also the strength of community ties, as individuals from all across Australia worked together for this meaningful cause. Now every person passing through the track are able to stop and appreciate the beauty and hard work it took to create the wall.

The project has touched the lives of many, including one of our member Yvonne, a war widow, and her sister Jennifer, who together crocheted poppies for the installation. Their dedication goes beyond crafting as Yvonne connected with her local RSL Club in Old Bar, NSW, to share the story of the project and its significance.

During her search, she discovered Major Scott Babington, an RSL member who frequently leads treks along the Kokoda Track. Major Babington has since become an ambassador for the project, honouring the memory of four local men from the Manning area who gave their lives on the Kokoda Track. On his next visit to Papua New Guinea, he plans to place poppies on their graves as a gesture of remembrance.

A community united in Remembrance

The display of poppies will stand as a stunning visual tribute to those who served and their families. Each handcrafted poppy embodies not only the gratitude of those who created it but also the stories and connections formed through this shared effort.

Projects like this remind us that honouring the past is a collective responsibility and an opportunity to unite communities through acts of care and remembrance.

If you’d like to see the project, make sure to visit the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway to view the sea of poppies and poppy wall, knowing that many of your own handcrafted efforts are in that artwork.

The post The poppy project brought to life first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

For many veteran families, the challenges of military service don’t end when the uniform is folded away. The transition back to civilian life can be a challenging journey, particularly when a loved one has experienced trauma during their service. Yet, even amid these challenges, there is a path forward—a journey of hope and healing through post-traumatic growth (PTG). This concept speaks to the potential for positive change and deeper connections that can arise out of adversity. 

PTG, introduced by psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun in the 1990s, offers a different perspective on trauma. While much focus has been placed on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), PTG emphasises that trauma can also lead to personal and collective growth. It doesn’t downplay the pain but suggests that through healing, families can find new strength, hope, and purpose. 

For veteran families, PTG can begin with a renewed appreciation for life. After enduring the hardships of Defence service – whether through deployments, injuries, or the psychological challenges of service – families often come to value the simple, everyday moments that might have once been taken for granted. Feedback from spouses indicates that working through these challenges helps families start to cherish the little things, like just sitting together in the sunshine of their backyard. These moments of appreciation are not just fleeting; they serve as a foundation for healing, helping families to reconnect and rebuild. 

Hope is further nurtured through the strengthening of family bonds. Trauma can test relationships, but it can also fortify them. Veteran families who face these challenges together often emerge with a deeper sense of unity and understanding. Many have shared that despite the difficulties, they talk more, listen more, and feel closer than ever before. The shared experience of overcoming adversity can lead to better communication, greater empathy, and a renewed commitment to one another’s wellbeing. In this way, trauma doesn’t just tear at the fabric of family life; it can also weave it back together, stronger and more resilient. 

Healing is also found in the discovery of new personal strengths. Veteran families often find themselves facing challenges that seem insurmountable, yet time and time again, they rise to meet them. Community members have expressed that despite initial doubts, they realised they are capable of much more than they had ever imagined. This process reveals an inner resilience that may have been hidden, a strength that propels them forward. This newfound confidence not only aids in recovery but also empowers families to take on future challenges with hope rather than fear. 

Finally, PTG opens the door to new possibilities. For some veteran families, this means embracing a renewed sense of purpose, whether through community service, supporting other veteran families, or simply finding new ways to support each other. 

Post-traumatic growth reminds us that even in the darkest times, there is a light that can guide us through. While the scars of trauma may never fully fade, they can become the marks of a battle fought and won, symbols of a family’s courage, resilience, and unwavering hope for the future. 

The post Growth after trauma first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.