ANZAC Poppy Field To Grow Online

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND RETURNED AND SERVICES’ ASSOCIATION

NEWS RELEASE - 17 April 2009

ANZAC Poppy Field To Grow Online

From today New Zealanders at home and abroad can get an ANZAC poppy sent directly to their mobile phone by making a donation online.

For every poppy sent, another is planted in the online field of remembrance at www.anzacpoppy.com, says RNZRSA chief executive, Stephen Clarke.

The internet site gives Kiwis - wherever they are - the opportunity to remember and commemorate war-time heroes on ANZAC Day (25 April).

On-line donations also go to assisting with war veterans’ welfare, Dr Clarke said.

``Visitors to the website can donate and download poppies, as well as related content such as the ‘Last Post’ ringtone and ANZAC images.

``They can leave personal tributes on a wall of remembrance and monitor the growth of poppies in the on-line field of remembrance.’’

He said the internet poppy site brought the RSA’s core values of remembrance and welfare into the 21st century.

When the RSA established poppy day in the 1920s it took months to deliver the French hand-made poppies to New Zealand.

``Now it takes just seconds for anyone to express their support online at www.anzacpoppy.com for a mobile poppy for their phone.’’

For a copy of the photo that accompanies this release please visit:

http://mediacom.nzpa.co.nz/attachments/11674_md12543%20pic-1.jpg
Caption: The mobile phone poppy enables people around the world to support the 25 April ANZAC Day commemoration.

ends

© Scoop Media