Asked why there are 378, one of the residents, Noreen Bird, is down-to-earth and practical in her answer: "We ran out of wool, glue, sticks and time."

But the result is moving in any case, the little pops of red signifying someone has taken the time to make an effort and commemorate the fallen of war.

Many of the poppies were handcrafted at the Friday morning craft gathering, the ladies of the retirement village knitting and crocheting as they chat and sip tea.

"We're not that old but my mum had five or six brothers who went to World War I, she was the youngest of 17," one of the residents, Helen Crennan said. "I think most of us have been affected by it."

Last Anzac Day, the coronavirus pandemic was at its full height and the residents stood at the end of their individual driveways for a minute's silence at 11am.

This year, it will be more communal. One of the residents, a Vietnam veteran, will conduct a service and then they will all gather for morning tea, including Anzac biscuits. And wander past the poppies, of course.

"The other residents have said how much they enjoy looking at them. It gave everyone a project to work towards together," Mrs Bird said.

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