1000 poppies for friend and fallen soldiers

High school teachers across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle have assembled an installation exhibition of 1000 red poppies to honour fallen soldiers and colleague, Fiona Donoghue.

The installation has travelled between schools in the Hunter since November last year and recently wrapped up its time at St Joseph’s Lochinvar.

Each school across the diocese hand-made and contributed 100 poppies to the project.

St Joseph’s co-ordinator Melonie Hawke said the goal of the project was for multiple schools to collaborate on an art project that honoured the men and women who sacrificed their lives for Australia.

But there was another, more personal reason.

“At the beginning of last year one of our fellow Visual Arts colleagues, Mrs Fiona Donoghue, passed away from cancer,” Ms Hawke said.

“This was also a way of remembering and honouring her and her contribution to teaching and learning in our Diocese.”

The installation has now moved to St Mary’s and will head to St Peter’s after that.

Story originally published by The Maitland Mercury and can be read here.
Photograph courtesy of Perry Duffin.

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