Purple poppies sculpture at Romani Aged Care will honour Australian war animals

A state government grant will enable a statue of purple poppies to be created for Murray Bridge’s Romani Aged Care facility.

Purple poppies symbolise animal victims of war. Photo: Dominik Scythe/Unsplash.

RSL Care SA will receive a $6300 grant for the production of a sculpture of purple poppies, which will be homed at the Romani Aged Care facility at Murray Bridge.

The sculpture will reflect the animals who served at the Battle of Romani.

The purple poppy, one of four different coloured Remembrance Poppies, remembers animal victims of war and human violence.

RSL Care SA is one of 10 organisations that will share in more than $48,000 in the second round of the State Government’s Anzac Day Commemoration Fund Program.

The fund offers grants to organisations and community groups who deliver events and programs that educate South Australians about Australia’s military history, support commemorative activities for all conflicts and support those who have served Australia.

Such projects include peer support programs, community educational displays and military memorial restorations.

The purple poppies statue at the Romani Aged Care facility will join another statue that honours the animals who served in Australia’s wars and military operations: Ty Manning’s statue of the heroic horse from WWI, Bill the Bastard, and his rider Major Michael Shanahan.

Ty Manning’s statue of Bill the Bastard and his rider Major Michael Shanahan in a courtyard at the Romani Aged Care facility. Photo: Michael X. Savvas.

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