After the cancellation of 2020 Anzac Day commemorations, the members of the Hillgrove House Auxiliary were uncertain of the response they would receive when they decided to continue the long tradition of making wreaths for Anzac Day services.
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Each year volunteers create numerous floral bouquets for individuals and organisations to place on war memorials throughout the Far South Coast from Tilba to Eden.
However, the response was a record demand - they made 103 wreaths this year - as well as very strong support with the donations of flowers and greenery from throughout the area.
In particular, the auxiliary would like to thank Brent Whiter from Tura Beach Nursery for his support in collecting the donations from Tura, Merimbula and Pambula and delivering them to Hillgrove where the members of the auxiliary and other volunteers demonstrated their skills in constructing the wreaths.
There were many new faces among the volunteers and this was particularly pleasing to the auxiliary members who had been wondering how they would cope with such a big demand.
The wreaths were laid at many of the war memorials throughout the district and in Bega they were hung on the Memorial Gates once the commemoration service had concluded to provide a very fitting tribute to our district servicemen and women.
Auxiliary members were also well supported by the staff at Hillgrove House in setting up the area for preparations and in providing refreshments for the volunteers throughout the day as they created the wreaths.
Once again the people of Bega and the surrounding areas have shown support for a local community-run organisation with Sapphire Coast Community Aged Care operating Hillgrove House and Imlay House as community-based facilities for the care of the aged in our local district.
The Hillgrove House Auxiliary would like to thank everyone for this support including the local media and congratulate the members of the RSL for their work in organising the commemoration services.
