	{"id":100237,"date":"2025-03-01T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/?p=100237"},"modified":"2025-03-01T02:46:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T15:46:46","slug":"purple-poppies-and-paws-portarlington-remembers-service-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/purple-poppies-and-paws-portarlington-remembers-service-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"Purple poppies and paws: Portarlington remembers service animals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>DOGS of all sizes and breeds joined with members of the community on Sunday for a special commemorative walk honouring the deeds and sacrifices of all war and service animals.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the weekend&#8217;s scorching temperatures, the inaugural Purple Poppy Walk Portarlington, which was held to mark National Day for War Animals, saw participants complete a short one kilometre walk along the foreshore trail.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_100342\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-100342\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100342\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04548-2-935x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04548-2-935x1024.jpg 935w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04548-2-274x300.jpg 274w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04548-2-768x841.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04548-2.jpg 1355w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-100342\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Participants and their four-legged companions each wore a purple bandana or hand-knitted poppy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Each wore a purple bandana or hand-knitted poppy, the remembrance symbol adopted in recognition of the important role animals have played in all wars in which Australian soldiers have been involved.<\/p>\n<p>Hosted by the Woofers and Walkers Responsible Dog Owners&#8217; Dog in conjunction with the Portarlington Pony Club, the walk also aimed to raise awareness of the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO).<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_100340\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-100340\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100340\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-890x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-890x1024.jpg 890w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-261x300.jpg 261w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-768x884.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-1334x1536.jpg 1334w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04577-copy-1779x2048.jpg 1779w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-100340\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The dogs gathered afterwards to enjoy some treats and a nice drink of cool water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Event organiser and Woofers and Walkers secretary Julie Elterman said she was delighted that the community found a way to participate in the event, despite the heat.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s so lovely, the feeling of people wrapping themselves around the experience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-100242\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04567_23293-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-100344\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-868x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-868x1024.jpg 868w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-768x906.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-1301x1536.jpg 1301w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04570-1735x2048.jpg 1735w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>All participants were encouraged to make a donation to support AWAMO&#8217;s work as part of the event, with the Portarlington Community Bank alone donating $500.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful gesture and we&#8217;re very grateful,&#8221; Ms Elterman said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;ll build a stronger awareness of AWAMO, and hopefully we can keep building on that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-100249\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04574_23339-1-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04574_23339-1-rotated.jpg 800w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04574_23339-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04574_23339-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04574_23339-1-768x1152.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Melinda Austin, who represented both the Portarlington Community Bank and the Portarlington Pony Club at the event, said both organisations were pleased to support the walk.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a great event and it&#8217;s close to everyone&#8217;s heart,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We all have our fur babies, big and small and all in between, and this is something, as the community bank, that we wanted to get behind and support, not just for the local community, but for all the animals and the organisations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_100341\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-100341\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-100341\" src=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2-775x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2-775x1024.jpg 775w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2-227x300.jpg 227w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2-768x1015.jpg 768w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2-1163x1536.jpg 1163w, https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/03\/DSC04555-copy-2.jpg 1550w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-100341\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A cool breeze helped to keep the heat down during the walk, despite temperatures rising above 35 degrees earlier in the day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The event was opened by Portarlington St Leonard&#8217;s RSL Sub-branch president Travis Smith, who spoke about how few of the animals who have served Australia in war have returned home.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A lot of them are just forgotten,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ms Elterman said the event had &#8220;planted a lovely seed&#8221; within the community, and the Purple Poppy Walk will return next year.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about AWAMO, head to <a href=\"http:\/\/awamo.org.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">awamo.org.au<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOGS of all sizes and breeds joined with members of the community on Sunday for a special commemorative walk honouring the deeds and sacrifices of all war and service animals. Despite the weekend&#8217;s scorching temperatures, the inaugural Purple Poppy Walk Portarlington, which was held to mark National Day for War Animals, saw participants complete a [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/purple-poppies-and-paws-portarlington-remembers-service-animals\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":100339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-100237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Purple poppies and paws: Portarlington remembers service animals - 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