Agnes Water couple Lucy and Andrew Simmons’ special Anzac Day display

A Queensland man who served in the Royal Australian Air Force for more than 20 years and sadly passed away last year will be remembered in a special Anzac Day display.

Lucy and Andrew Simmons' ANZAC Day display at the Agnes Water Cenotaph. INSET: John Weale.

An Agnes Water man who served in the Royal Australian Air Force for more than 20 years and sadly passed away last year will be remembered in a special Anzac Day display that has seen the community come together to make thousands of poppies.

Since moving to Agnes Water two and half years ago, Lucy Simmons and her husband Andrew Simmons have made it their mission to spread the Anzac spirit through their life-size, handcrafted display which showcases Australian Defence Force personnel and animals involved in war.

Made of chicken wire and other every day building materials, the display has been exhibited at Anzac Day services hosted by Agnes Water/1770 RSL Sub Branch.

This year’s display will also pay tribute to Agnes Water’s John Weale, who was in the Royal Australian Air Force for 22 years and passed away in September 2023.

Lucy and Andrew Simmons’ Anzac Day display at the Agnes Water Cenotaph. Picture: Contributed

Ms Simmons, who works at Agnes Water Pharmacy, said Mr Weale’s wife Carolyn had kindly donated his RAAF uniform, which would be part of each future Anzac Day display.

“His wife Carol came into the pharmacy and said she didn’t know what to do with John’s uniform,” she said.

“I had a brainstorm and said why don’t you give it to me and I will cherish it every year. I will make a ghost soldier to represent John Weale.”

Carolyn Weale said her husband John would have wanted that.

John Weale. Picture: Contributed

She said what Lucy Simmons did for the community was “terrific”.

“I think she is very talented,” she said.

“She does a lot for the RSL.”

A highlight of the display is the thousands of handmade knitted poppies.

Lucy Simmons and her husband Andrew Simmons. Picture: Contributed

Ms Simmons was working as a personal carer for BlueCare when she first made the poppies in early 2020 due to Covid restrictions.

She made 1500 poppies, which were placed on the grass at BlueCare’s Wirunya Retirement Village in Carbrook.

“We couldn’t have an Anzac Day because of Covid in April 2020 so I created these little poppies and I thought I would surprise the residents in the nursing home,” she said.

“Covid showed us the ANZAC spirit was still out there.

“It just blossomed from there.”

Her first year in Agnes Water, Ms Simmons said she and her husband decided to surprise the community.

“We planted 3000 poppies in the gardens of the Agnes Water Cenotaph and it just blew the town apart,” she said.

“They didn’t know where all these poppies came from.

“It was the talk of the town.”

This year, Ms Simmons and her husband wanted the community to get involved with their display.

Poppy volunteers Bella Wellsted, Beverly and Marilyn.

They sent out a request over social media asking individuals and groups to embrace their sewing skills and knit thousands of poppies which would help cover the growing display.

“I thought wouldn’t it be great if we had the whole community,” she said.

“I put the post on Facebook and the response was overwhelming.

“I am so proud to say the people from the community of Agnes Water, 1770, Baffle Creek, Captain Creek, Rose Dale, Miriam Vale and one lady from Gladstone all contributed to make more than 2000 crocheted woollen poppies.”

There is now over 5000 poppies, including the handmade poppies Lucy had previously made over the years.

Margaret Bartholomow. Picture: Contributed

Ms Simmons, who works at the Agnes Water Pharmacy, said one of the volunteers who helped make poppies was 92-year-old Margaret Bartholomow.

“She came into the pharmacy and said she was good at crocheting and asked to make some poppies,” she said.

“She’s made so many poppies.

“It’s such a beautiful thing the community have got together and I am just overwhelmed with the love for the ANZAC.”

Ms Simmons’ uncle Joseph Horner served in the Vietnam conflict and her husband’s grandfather, Private Samuel Simmons, was a Rat of Tobruk and his stepdad, Lesley Simmons, also served in the army.

“Andrew and I both had family members involved in WWII and the Vietnam conflict,” she said.

“We not only wanted to pay our respects to them through this display, but to commemorate all individuals who served that gave us the freedom and privileges we have here in Australia.”

Poppy volunteers Charlotte Wintle, Karen and Sue Mckie.

The decorated display will be unveiled to the public at the Agnes Water/1770 Dawn Service at the Cenotaph on Anzac Day at 6am.

Ms Simmons, along with many volunteers from the community, the Discovery Christian College, Agnes Water State School, and pharmacy will turn up at 4am to set up the display.

She said next year they would continue to make the poppies to put on broaches for everyone in the community.

“We will sell the poppies and donate the money to the RSL,” she said.

Originally published as Agnes Water couple Lucy and Andrew Simmons’ special Anzac Day display