Yesterday, I visited the Giant Poppy installation in Auckland’s domain to write a personal message to my great-uncle, Robert Lusk, killed in action at Gallipoli. Having immigrated from Scotland with his mother and four siblings, his life was cut tragically short.

Robert Lusk – 7/364 – killed at Gallipoli

Thanks to the creativity of artist, Tony McNeight the world’s biggest poppy is being created to honour all those that protected our freedom and democracy.

The Giant Poppy is taking form in the Auckland domain to commemorate those injured or killed in WWI.

McNeight says…. “it gives everyone a chance to make their own personal tribute.”

Make your personal tribute.

The poppy is made of 59,000 red metal discs, representing the number of New Zealanders killed or wounded in WW1. New Zealand had the biggest loss per head of population of any country in the then Empire.

At the front of Auckland’s museum are 812 named crosses, a reminder of those killed from the Auckland region when serving in WW1.

Contribute to the Giant Poppy, open daily from 8am to 6pm until April 24, when the ANZAC commemoration will take place.