Purple Poppy Walk debuts in Portarlington

Janine McGuinness with Gregory, Phil Cameron with Max, Julie Elterman with Ali, June Fraser with Sadie, Joan Kelly with Poppy and Rusty, and Rita Oliver with Gemmey. Photos: ELLIE CLARINGBOLD

THE Bellarine community and their four-legged friends will gather at Portarlington’s Henderson Reserve ahead of National Day for War Animals this weekend to honour the deeds and sacrifices of all war and service animals.

The inaugural Purple Poppy Walk Portarlington 2025 will take place this evening (Saturday, February 22), with participants joining together for a short one kilometre walk along the foreshore trail.

Dogs are invited to walk for all the animals who have played an important part in the wars in which Australian soldiers have been involved, and all attendees will be invited to wear a hand-knitted poppy or a purple bandana in recognition of this service.

To honour the more than 130,000 Australian horses sent to the First World War – of which only one survived – two ponies will also be in attendance, serving as mascot support.

The commemorative event will be hosted by the Woofers and Walkers Responsible Dog Owners’ Group in conjunction with the Portarlington Pony Club, and also aims to raise awareness about the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO).

Dedicated to ensuring war and service animals are remembered, the not-for-profit organisation works to establish memorials at important sites, provide financial assistance to veteran service animals and sponsor animal projects that assist veterans and other animals.

Julie Elterman, the event’s organiser and secretary of Woofers and Walkers, said animals give in our lives in many ways and invited everyone, with or without a dog, to walk in their honour.

“Camels, donkeys, pigeons, horses and dogs have served in war as transport, beasts of burden, messengers, protectors, mascots, mine detection and scouts,” she said.

“Comforting companions in the homes of veterans living with the trauma of service, they are our unsung heroes.”

Registration for the event will begin at 4.30pm, at which time all participants will be invited to make a donation to support AWAMO’s work.

The Portarlington and St Leonards RSL Sub-branch will then officially open the event at 5pm.

For more information about AWAMO, head to awamo.org.au