The RSL WA Poppy Ladies are a dedicated group of over 50 volunteers, veterans and community members alike, who knit and crochet thousands of handcrafted poppies each year to honour Australian service personnel. Founded in 2014 by Judi Welch, a former Army Airforce member, the group has become a beloved part of Western Australia’s commemorative landscape.
Their vibrant installations, including the iconic displays at Kings Park for Remembrance Day and Government House for Anzac Day, serve as powerful visual tributes to those who served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. One of their most moving projects featured 62,000 red poppies, each representing an Australian life lost in the First World War. Working year-round, the Poppy Ladies produce around 15,000 new poppies annually to maintain installation quality and support fundraising efforts through merchandise. In addition to their commemorative work, they have also contributed 2,000 hand-knitted beanies and scarves to troops in Afghanistan.
The group welcomes new volunteers and donations of completed poppies, with patterns and tutorials available via RSL WA.
 | RSL WA Poppy Ladies 📍Pop-Up Activation Space (12) Raine Square 📆1 to 13 November, 10am - 5pm | In honour of the Remembrance Day service on 11 November, the Poppy Ladies’ iconic crochet works of art will be planted and on display throughout the State War Memorial precinct from Friday 7 to Friday 14 November.For the first time, the ladies will be hosting a pop-up shop in the luxury precinct of Raine Square between1 to 13 November. Guests are invited to visit, learn to knit and ravel in the knitted works of art and take a moment to honour Remembrance. Dating back to 1923, the Poppy Appeal is RSL WA’s largest and longest-running fundraising campaign. Held annually in November, donations are collected in exchange for poppies and merchandise, proudly worn to honour those who have served. Every contribution helps RSL WA deliver vital support to veterans and their families. |
 | Remembrance Day
📆11 November, 11am | At 11am on the 11th of November, Australians pause to reflect on the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, this solemn occasion, now Remembrance Day, honours all who served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions. RSL WA encourages everyone to observe one minute of silence to remember their courage and resilience. While not a public holiday, commemorative services are held nationwide, reminding us of the enduring hope for peace.
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 | About RSL WA
| RSL WA has supported veterans and their families since 1916, offering vital services in welfare, advocacy, employment, mental health, and community engagement across 106 Sub-Branches statewide. The organisation leads key commemorative events including ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, honouring those who served. In Autumn 2026, RSL WA will open the Goldsworthy Veterans and Families Centre in Rockingham, a purpose-built facility named after Australia’s most decorated WWII naval officer, Lieutenant Commander Leon Verdi Goldsworthy GC DSC GM, dedicated to supporting current and former ADF members, their families, and carers. |
