Jonette Ruatara with the display of paper poppies she helped make at the Whangarei Papermill. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Papermakers at the Papermill in Whangarei have made a large display of handmade poppies to commemorate Anzac Day.
Using the tried and true techniques that have seen the charitable trust turn out artisan paper products since 1989, Jonette Ruatara, Rae Alexander and Rebecca Brown made the poppies under the guidance
of arts tutor Kitty Mulder.
The process involved tearing up recycled red cards, soaking, mulching, pulping, moulding and drying over several weeks, before the petals were made into the familiar Anzac memorial poppies.
The poppies will stay at the Papermill studio and shop in Kamo Rd until being taken to the new war memorial and relocated cenotaph at Laurie Hall Park for Anzac Day commemorations.
The Papermill business and charitable trust was set up to enable people with intellectual, physical and emotional challenges to build confidence and life skills through papermaking.
