Poppy sales tribute to the fallen of all wars

Anyone shopping at Rigters Supa IGA last Friday would have been greeted by Geraldton Laurel Club member Freida Moses and her infectious smile.

Mrs Moses, 88, was selling red poppies with friend and fellow club member Elizabeth McQuillan, 91, ahead of Remembrance Day services which were held on Monday.

It’s something she has done every Poppy Day for the past 22 years to pay respect to her late husband, Arthur Leslie Moses, who fought in World War II.

“It’s in remembrance not only of him, but of all men and women who died,” she said.

“There were plenty of women who died in the services too.”

Mr Moses’ sister, Norma Brown, who now lives in Sydney, also served in World War II with the air force.

Mrs Moses started selling poppies when she moved to Geraldton from Moora to be closer to family after her husband’s death in 1994.

She said she had made many friends during her time with the Laurel Club, run through Legacy WA.

“We’re a good bunch of ladies. A lot of us have been widowed for a long while,” she said.

“We used to have a lot of members once. We’re getting some of the younger ones now, from the later wars, from Vietnam and that sort of thing.”

Laurel Club members also sold poppies at Northgate Shopping Centre, while other community groups and volunteers did the same across Geraldton.

All money raised will go towards ensuring the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families.