Violet Day Commemorations
Before the poppy became the recognised flower for remembrance the violet, in South Australia, was the ‘symbol of perpetual remembrance’. Violet day was first held in Adelaide on 2 July 1915. A crowd gathered at the Soldiers’ Memorial Statue, now known as the Boer War Memorial, for speeches and a performance by the Police Band. The Governor addressed attendees, stressing remembrance and honouring of Australian troops and their sacrifice to Empire. Women dressed in white sold posies of violets and purple ribbons to raise money to support returned soldiers, or the Cheer-up fund.
100 years on History SA will commemorate the first Violet Day on 2-4 July 2015, 6pm and 8pm.
Illuminart will animate the Torrens Parade Ground with Architectural Storytelling Projections for the 100th anniversary of Violet Day. Moving image projection mapping on the Drill Hall building will draw from historical images, and documents, to show the First World War experience in South Australia and tell how the Cheer Up Society came to exist. This beautiful and moving display will be presented twice each evening.
For more on how South Australians experienced the First World War, at home and abroad, visit A World Away: South Australia’s War http://southaustraliaswar.com.au/
If you would like to know more about Violet Day visit the SA History Hub http://sahistoryhub.com.au/events/violet-day
