Meet the Long-Standing Poppies
For more than 20 years, friends Marion Hooper and Mary Chandler have sat side-by-side along High Street in Echuca, selling badges for the Poppy Appeal. Rain, hail, or shine, the pair are a familiar sight: a symbol of dedication and community spirit.
Both women share strong ties to service. Marion’s husband spent 20 years in the Navy, later training recruits at HMAS Cerberus. Mary’s husband was in the Army, enlisting at just 17 during World War II and serving with the occupation forces in Japan after the atomic bomb.
Their friendship began around the time that Marion’s son married Mary’s daughter. And their connection grew ever stronger as they dealt with loss and grief together, joining the War Widows Guild’s Laurel Club, where Marion served as secretary and Mary as president. Together, they organised events, supported other widows, and built a bond that has carried through to today.
It was only natural that the two would continue their service to the veteran community by supporting the Poppy Appeal.
“The RSL asked us if we were interested in selling badges,” Marion explains, “and we’ve been doing it ever since.”
“When you sell poppies, you meet so many people. Not everyone can buy a $20 badge, but every donation makes a difference. Many people even tell us to keep the change. It’s heartening.”
Mary agrees: “Echuca does support us very well. We see everyone from young children to older community members coming to buy a badge. Some stop just to thank us for what we’re doing. It reminds us that remembrance is still alive.”
For Marion and Mary, the poppy is more than a flower: it’s a lifeline. The funds raised provide vital support for veterans and their families, including housing, emergency assistance, and wellbeing services.
“Please support the Poppy Appeal,” Mary urged. “It means so much to those who need help today.”
Marion nodded. “We don’t mind sitting in the sun or the rain. It’s all worth it, especially for the older veterans who need a little extra help now.”
This November, when you see someone selling a poppy, think of Marion and Mary. Two long-standing friends. Two long-standing volunteers. And two long-standing reminders of why the Poppy Appeal matters.
Together We Remember.
