Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices is a Central Coast public art and history installation conceptualised and coordinated by local historian and artist, Merril Jackson. This installation commemorated Australia’s 100 Years of ANZAC Centenary from 2014-2018. Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices in 2015 and 2016 was made possible thanks to Gosford City Council’s Community Funding Program. In 2016, the Terrigal Poppy installation was supported by Brisbane Water Historical Society as an auspice. Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices – Gosford 2015, sparked widespread local, national and international recognition, with public admiration for the spectacular sea of handmade red poppies displayed near Gosford City’s waterfront. Originally planned as a four year project, Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices had visions of the event moving to different localities across the Central Coast. This was to highlight the movement of war and the many theatres of war specific to the First World War, and to demonstrate the vast drawing area of the Central Coast which enlisted to serve. The overall concept plan involved a staged process year by year with an ANZAC Grant vital to ensure the entire vision could be realised. The unrealised plan included a handmade poppy mesh (for Gosford War Memorial), a film, a mini VIVID projection installation (of local soldiers and photo project images for projection onto Central Coast Cenotaphs and other landmarks), and the materials for the community to make over 265,000 poppies over the projected four years. Unfortunately, the Federal Grant funding for this four year project was unsuccessful; hence, the poppy project planned for Norah Head Light House and the Woy Woy peninsula, with staked poppies and the envisioned mini light installations, did not proceed in 2017 nor 2018. The event, Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices originated from historical research based upon First World War records of local soldiers. One soldier from Matcham, Private Cyril Henry Martin war experience, his subsequent death after the battle of Fromelles in 1916, and his Mother’s heartfelt plea for someone in France to plant flowers on her son’s grave, was the inspiration to have the community from the place he once lived, stake a poppy to remember all those who sacrificed so much in answering the call to duty to serve King and Country. Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices was considered an event thought impossible to be a success. The thought of not paying our respect as a community in the Australian 100 year Anzac Centenary was not an option for the creator of this event. Poppy Project: Never Forgetting the Sacrifices was a memorable and fitting tribute to our fallen, past and present war personnel, and those former community citizens so tragically touched by the First World War. It was an absolute pleasure and honour in introducing such a hands-on ANZAC event to the Central Coast.
