Leading a green revolution in commemorative tributes

A message from Australian War Widows SA Inc. (AWWSA)

In a powerful step towards sustainability, AWWSA hosted an inspiring workshop that brought together diverse veteran and ex-service communities to rethink how tributes are made and laid at commemorative ceremonies. 

The session was conducted by Shirley Lynott from The Little Flower Shop. Shirley’s personal connection to the cause is deep: her mother was a war widow. Drawing on her floristry exper­tise, Shirley demonstrated how to source and create natural wreaths using sustainable materials such as grapevine, jute, and native Austral­ian flowers. Attendees learned how these organic alternatives not only honour our fallen heroes with dig­nity, but also protect our precious environment from harmful pollut­ants commonly found in traditional wreath-making materials. 

Centennial Park Cemetery, renowned for its commitment to environmental stewardship, kindly provided a function space for the event. The workshop attracted par­ticipants from across the veteran community – including representa­tives from the War Widows, Partners of Veterans, Vietnam Veterans Fed­eration, Veterans SA, Legacy, and the Malaya Borneo Association – highlighting broad support for this important cause. After a morning of hands-on learning and heartfelt discussion, participants enjoyed a delicious morning tea, fostering a warm sense of community and shared purpose. 

Driving this movement is Diane Carr, a passionate war widow and former AWWSA President. Diane is calling for a national policy among veteran organisations to commit to fully sustainable tributes at all commemorative services. She cred­its her inspiration to His Majesty King Charles III, who set a profound example by ensuring that only locally sourced flowers were used both at the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and his own cor­onation – symbolising respect for tradition coupled with environmen­tal responsibility. 

The event garnered formal recog­nition with a written endorsement from AWWSA’s patron, Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, underscoring the impor­tance of this environmental shift. 

This initiative, funded by AWWSA and supported by a generous envi­ronmental grant from the Burnside Council, marked a milestone in pro­moting eco-friendly remembrance. A collaborative effort between vet­eran communities, environmental advocates, and local government, it sets a hopeful precedent and demonstrates that honouring those who served can be done in a way that respects not only their memory, but the world they fought to protect. 

For more information or to join the sustainable tribute ini­tiative, contact AWWSA (www.warwidowssa.org.au) or Centennial Park Cemetery.