Poppy sales are still blooming

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG war veterans say they are disappointed with the city’s Remembrance Day turnout last Saturday.
Dandenong Returned and Services League (RSL) president Alec Kowarzik said 150 people turned out to the Saturday morning ceremony at Dandenong’s Pillars of Freedom war memorial.
But Mr Kowarzik said that figure was less than previous years.
“It is a bit disappointing because the attendance was not as good,” he said.
But despite the less-than-expected turnout, the veterans are happy with the Remembrance Day poppy sales.
Volunteer poppy seller and Korean War veteran Les Hughes was selling poppies at last Saturday’s Dandenong Show.
“The younger people are generally getting supportive but for a few years the interest was down,” he said.
“I’ve sold lots of poppies out the front (of the pavilion) today.”
The Dandenong RSL hosted a stall at the show selling commemorative paraphernalia including statues of Aussie diggers, RSL cloth badges, and modern books detailing some of the battles Australian troops have been involved in through the last century.