Vera is currently in the window of the Nhill Free Press And Kaniva Times.
This unique work of art sprang from an idea put forward by Nhill locals Pamela Deckert and Rosie Clark of the Nhill RSL Sub-Branch in 2021. Over 50 volunteers from all over Australia rallied to knit or crochet the poppies. A button or pearl has been carefully glued onto each poppy to make the centrepiece of the ‘flower’. The finished dress took approximately 150 hours to complete and is a fitting tribute to the sacrifice of our servicemen and women.
The dress was named ‘Vera’ in honour of Dame Vera Lynn DBE. OStJ. Born in 1917, Dame Vera was an English singer and entertainer. During WW2, she became known as the ‘Forces Sweetheart’, giving outdoor concerts for the troops in Egypt, India, and Burma. Dame Vera is well known for songs such as ‘We’ll meet again’, ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’, ‘A Nightingale sang in Berkley Square’, and ‘There’ll always be an England’. During the 2024 Nhill Airshow many of these songs were sung by the ‘Pacific Belles”’, much to the delight of the audience. Dame Vera Lynn died in England in 2020 at the age of 103, having topped the singing charts on many occasions during her lifetime.
Nhill will be holding a service at the Nhill cenotaph, Goldsworthy Park at 11.00am for Remembrance Day. Please gather at 10.45am for the 11.00am start.
Kaniva will be holding a Remembrance Day service at Kaniva Band Park, gathering at 10.45am for an 11.00am start.
This article appeared in the  Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 6 November 2024.
