Mount Molloy’s poppy tribute blooms for Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day will look a little different this year thanks to the hard work of Tanya Jenkins, a bunch of crafty contributors, and the dedicated team at Mount Molloy RSL Sub Branch. 

3,000 poppies, 1,000 hours of crochet, and months of planning have all gone into creating an eye-catching new installation set in the heart of Mount Molloy. 

Spanning 8 metres tall and to be draped gracefully over the branches of a gum tree, is 'The Poppy Waterfall’. The piece, set to be unveiled on 11 November 2026, acknowledges the military personnel who have died while serving, including in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.   

From little things, big things grow 

Tanya first connected with Mount Molloy RSL Sub Branch in 2008 when conducting some research on her family history.   

In the process of gathering information about her husband's uncle, a fallen soldier from the Mount Molloy/Julatten area, Tanya realised there was more than one story that had been left untold.   

"We had a memorial in town for all the local servicemen and women who had passed in the line of duty, but it only listed their first initial and last name. It just felt a bit impersonal, so I thought I'd continue to put my research skills to good use," Tanya says.   

With the support of Lanette Hampton, the Sub Branch Secretary at the time, Tanya took on the task of uncovering the hidden histories of those soldiers who never returned home; their stories now proudly displayed in the Mount Molloy Memorial Hall.  

After their successful collaboration, Tanya joined the Sub Branch as a social member in 2010 and was soon made a nominee board member, taking part in fundraising initiatives, commemoration services, and their biggest project to date – The Poppy Waterfall. 

Helping to prepare the poppy waterfall are (from left to right) Mount Molloy RSL social member Daphne Craven, Sub Branch President Kerrie Pashen, community volunteer Tracey McDougall, community volunteer Jenny Clayton and Sub Branch social member Sue Tremellen.

Crocheted with care 

In 2020, Tanya was watching the news when she saw a story that captured her attention. A small town in Winton had planted hundreds of crochet poppies in the centre of town for ANZAC Day.   

"The sea of poppies looked amazing. I thought – why can't we bring some of that creative spirit to Mount Molloy?" Tanya recalls.  

A group of committed local crocheters embarked on the first iterations of the poppy project – initially creating a sea of "planted poppies" like Tanya had seen in Winton, then graduating to a poppy banner that was hung at the cenotaph for commemoration services.  

Buoyed by the community response to the installation, Tanya knew there was the potential to take their idea even further.   

“After the banner was completed, I could envisage a poppy waterfall cascading from the branch beside the cenotaph. So, in March this year, we put a call out on social media for another round of crocheted poppies,” Tanya explains.   

"We've received thousands of poppies over the last five months from our local community in Mount Molloy, and further afield from Julatten, Mount Carbine, Chillagoe, Dimbulah, Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands, Cairns, Port Douglas, Mossman and Cooktown. We even had ladies posting their handmade poppies from New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania!"  

Tanya said they often received notes of encouragement with their deliveries of poppies.  

"People thank us for allowing them to contribute to this meaningful project," she says.   

"It doesn't matter if the poppies were made by someone who has been crocheting for many years, or someone just having a go for the first time. We're grateful for every single one of them."

Just one of the many lovely notes sent in with crocheted poppies.

Community keeping the spirit alive 

After months of work, Tanya is excited to see The Poppy Waterfall make its debut at Mount Molloy's 2026 Remembrance Day service.   

"I think seeing it completed will be quite emotional. I have already teared up just watching it all get assembled," Tanya reflects.   

"We're expecting around 200 people this year – over half the population of Mount Molloy – so it's going to be really special." 

Community volunteer Kerry Doherty attaching the poppies; and Mount Molloy RSL Sub Branch service member Darryl Hobson working out how the waterfall will cascade before all poppies are attached.   

Sub Branch President Kerrie Pashan says the project has bought the community even closer together.   

"The Poppy Waterfall reminds us to honour the fallen and gives us an opportunity to connect with the people around us," she says.  

"We want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has contributed and made this project possible." 

Tanya hopes that The Poppy Waterfall will continue to play an important role in future commemorations and inspire younger generations to remember beyond 11 November.   

"We are proud to do our part and help keep the spirit of remembrance alive," she says.  

For more updates on Mount Molloy's Poppy Waterfall, you can follow their journey here.