Descendants of Bega’s WW1 soldiers plant moving tribute at show

It was an idea conceived by the show secretary, Narelle Griffin, but even she didn't realise just how much support she would receive.

Her idea was to commemorate those who enlisted in the Bega Valley Shire for the Great War and died, by planting a ceramic poppy garden.

With the help of Valley Potters the poppies were individually crafted by Robyn and Gus Britten, Tanya Salter, Narelle Griffin, Rhonda Jones, Margaret Van de Scheur, Barb Rogers and Prue Kelly.

They stand approximately 30cm tall.

While the poppies were being made, the show society members with the help of Pat Raymond, the author of Remembering the Servicemen of World War One: Battlefield and Related Deaths, contacted the families of those local service people who died during the Great War asking them to plant a poppy for their relative at the opening.

Ms Griffin said that from the list only two people were unable to come.

The family members were ushered into special seats in the showground before the official opening began.

Everyone stood at the start of the ceremony as the members of the Bega RSL sub-branch, John Lehmann, Bill and Bob Flood, Bob Grimes, Tom Blake and Ken Wishart held flags which were lowered over the empty poppy garden stand as bugler Nicholas Hassenoff played the Last Post.

Mr Blake read the ode, the Reveille was played and the flags lifted.

Then slowly and respectfully the families of the Great War dead picked up a poppy near the fence and crossed the field to the poppy garden and placed their poppies down.

The Cubs and Guides followed with more poppies and the last poppy was laid by His Excellency, the Governor of NSW, David Hurley and his wife.

After the ceremony, photos of those who had died in the Great War and poppies were planted on a memorial pathway at the showground.

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