Grati-Tuesday 15 Mar 16

Written by AHQ

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15 March 2016

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Hi All, well I am writing this late on Monday night but by the time you read this I will be in Canberra getting ready to meet one of my recipients and his wife. More on that in coming days with their blessing.

Before sharing the thank you messages a quick note about the Block Party – please note one block per person please. That way everyone gets the same chance to win a prize.

Ok, so the business is out of the way… now for the great messages we received today.
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G’Day Jan-Maree,

I received one of your lovely hero quilts here. I have to admit I knew nothing about your volunteer organization and what you do for deployed servicemen. It was ordered for me by a fellow soldier on my deployment for me which I knew nothing about, so it was a pleasant surprise to receive this gift out of the blue.

I have attached a photo of my new quilt made by Nancy. It design fits perfectly with my photos of Australian countryside and the Aussie flag at the head of my bed.

Your gift has definitely put a smile on my face and I now have quilt envy from my fellow Kiwi mates living next to me. As you probably know we are a ANZAC Unit and the friendship of Aussie and Kiwis is as strong as ever In this the centenary year of the Somme battles of WW1.

Once again thank you, I will be bringing this home to my family when my deployment finishes, I am now a fan of Aussie hero Quilts and you can count on me as a supporter of your excellent work.”

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Hi Cath,

. Thanks for the greetings from the sunshine state. Beautiful one day, perfect the next 🙂 Your letter has found me in good spirits as the time for me and my work mates to return home is close.
Thank you very much for the quilt that I received today, it is GREAT
I have been a Melbourne fan since they joined the competition along with one son, my other son is a Bronco fan and my wife goes for whoever is winning at the time.

I wanted to reply to your letter and your kind gift of the quilt with heart felt feelings as it reminds all of the people away that we are in the hearts and minds of not only our loved ones but other people who we don’t even know.

Please thank your husband and sons for their interest in the ADF and I hope that the Melbourne Storm and their colours were deemed not TOO lame for the purpose of my quilt.

Know that it will be proudly positioned on a wall of my house when I return home.

Once again thanks and I hope that you and yours are and will always be happy and healthy
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From the grateful mother of a recipient for a quilt made by Carol S

Hi, just wanted to say a big thank you for my daughter’s amazing quilt. The time and thought that went into it to make it so special for her was wonderful. What a fantastic service you give to our soldiers.

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Hi Su,

I just received my Aussie Hero Quilt and wanted to express my thanks (it was the quilt with a picture of Pan the faun). When I unfurled the quilt I was blown away by the detail of the design and the quality of the work. I had my doubts that anyone would be able to stitch a faun onto the quilt but it looks fantastic. The rest of the guys in the squadron were stoked with it too.

I’m currently posted to XXXXXX but grew up in SA, my brother and grandparents both still live in Adelaide so I will be using my time off to travel down there. Once again thank you very much for the amazing quilt and keep up the good work. Everyone who receives a quilt really appreciates the time and effort you put in and to know that people back home are thinking of us.

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Hi Jean & Wendy,

Thank you very much for the hard work and hours you have put into making my quilt and laundry bag. Our boss here surprised us with them and I was over the moon!

I am currently in XXXXX and it’s still very much winter over here so the quilt will get plenty of use. My new laundry bag which is awesome, makes me stand out among the Americans here whenever I go to the laundry.

Again, I thank you kindly for your support and work, it is little gifts like these these that raise our moral when we are away from home!

Thanks,

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G’day Leah,

First of all, the quilt and bag you made for me arrived safe and sound. Secondly, you have done an amazing job! I am a massive Liverpool fan and am glad you choose to make run with the Liverpool theme vice a sports in general. I am heading over to the UK to watch them play after this deployment so the quilt has just got me more excited. Things like this, as I am sure your husband can attest to, do make a big difference whilst deployed and I hope you keep up your work with AHQ.

A little about myself, I am working on the F/A-18 Classic Hornets and this has been my first deployment. It has been great so far but we are all looking forward to getting home (only another few weeks). I am currently living in XXXX with my partner and our dog.

Thanks again and I hope everything is going well back in Aus!
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Hi Joan & Rob

Thank you so much for my laundry bag. When I opened the care package and saw it, it brought tears to my eyes. It is absolutely perfect and the patchtwork is beautiful. Worlds cannot describe how grateful I am for what the two of you are doing for deployed sailors. This is my first big deployment with the Navy and before I left I was so scared because I had no clue what to expect but it has already been one of the best experience of my life. I have seen so many cool place and a have only been gone a month. I can’t wait to see what comes my way next.

I love my job so much but I never really get to be a girly girl so this lovely laundry bag let me connect with my inner lady. I have put a photo of me with my laundry bag in the envelope so it can be added to the Aussie Hero Quilts blog. Once again, thank you so much for this laundry bag, I will cherish it forever.

Take care

P.S. All the girls are so jealous of how good my bag looks.

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To Joan & Rob

Thank you so much for my laundry bag, I love it. So beautiful, I will definitely come and visit you at SHF as I do live in Sydney. Still have a few months to go here though. Your work is much appreciated by all the girls- everyone who received one was so happy.

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Hello Chris,

Firstly thank you. This quilt is wonderful it brought a big smile to my face when I opened it up. You are indeed creative!

Again I thank you very much for this wonderful creation of yours and appreciate it greatly. It also managed to arrive on my birthday which was very special, especially when you have been away from home for a long time and cannot celebrate with the ones you love.

I hope you find great enjoyment in your upcoming retirement and the restful years ahead of you.

With great appreciation,

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Dear Clarissa,

Thank you very much for this beautiful laundry bag. I am so happy. I am not sure whether I can use it or just keep it as a present from you all. I will keep it together with my quilt.

Would you please pass it on to Bridget my regards and a big thank you for the work that you all do for the soldiers.

May God bless you all with all that you need to keep up this great work supporting our troops.

Blessings.
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Dear Karen,

Thank you for the beautiful laundry bag.

Congratulations on it being the first one you have made, I’m sure by now you have done plenty more.

Are you enjoying being part of Aussie Heroes Quilts?

Thank you for taking the time out to make us such special gifts, it means a lot that we have support and when it’s from strangers it makes it so much more special.

I am finally heading home soon, it has been a long time away from my Husband and kids, so I cannot wait.

Hope you are well.

Continue to make beautiful things.

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Dear Mae,

Thank you so much for my beautiful quilt!

I know I didn’t specify what I wanted, but the patchwork is made up of all things I enjoy!

Chocolate, cocktails, cakes and strawberries.

It has come at a perfect time as I am about to change bases and need something pretty for the bed in my new bunk.

I found it funny you are from XXXXX, I had not heard of it, but I was actually born in Wagga being an Air Force child. I have now been serving in the Air Force for seven years as a Logistics Clerk and I’m based in Sydney with my Naval husband and mini dachshund.

Thank you again,

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Jan M,

It is hard for me to describe how much your package meant to me.

The quilt and laundry bag are just amazing. I can see that sewing is your passion as it is absolutely amazing.

I will treasure it as a major reminder of my time spent on deployment.

Believe me when I say the chocolates are going down really well and I treasure every bite.

The XXX is perfect as well.

Most of all it’s your lovely words that seem to make it all worthwhile.

I have a wife and two boys (4 & 2) at home in Darwin that I miss tremendously.

It is very easy to forget why we do this when the loneliness becomes too much.

Your words and reassurance just puts it back into perspective.

Once again, thank you ever so much and please thank Sue as well.

Sincerely,

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Dear Karlene,

Sorry it has taken me so long to write this, I have been meaning to thank you for some time now.

I can’t thank you enough for my fantastic quilt, it is a pride and joy of my little 1/8th of a tent that I have been calling home for the last few months. I am continuously impressed with the detail and the subtle features that you have put into it!

Well, Thank you once again Karlene. What you do really does make a big difference in our moral, it truly is a fantastic thing, I appreciate it very much!

All the best and take care.

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Good morning Barbara

I received my quilt today, gee whiz the effort you put into it is phenomenal. I cannot thank you enough. In simple words, it’s perfect. I have shown the quilt to some of my mess members and they were in awe.
How lucky was I to have a fellow St Kilda supporter make the quilt. I also have a bit of a sweet tooth, thank you for the goodies. I rang my wife and told her, she thinks that I have been kissed by the fairies.
I am so glad you had the pleasure of listening to the one and only premiership win, unfortunately for me I have watched two losses and a draw, very disheartening. Two of my sons also follow the Saints.

So far the deployment hasn’t been too bad, we had a few port visits prior to entering the operational area. I don’t know whether you saw it on the news, but we had a massive weapons haul on our first week of patrol.

Am looking forward to coming home in July, my wife will travel to Sydney to meet the ship. We will stay in Sydney for a few days then drive home so as I can see the family.

Once again, thank you so much for the quilt, bag, goodies and the kind words in your card. Your organisation means so much to so many.

I wish you and your family all the very best for the future.
Regards

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I received a wonderful gift from Aussie Hero Quilts yesterday. A big thank you to all the ladies who contribute to this cause and a very special thank you to Elizabeth D. You captured all my wonderful travel memories and I could not have envisaged it any other way

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I hear from the chaplain on HMAS Darwin regularly and he often comments on the value of what we do. A couple of days ago he passed this comment and said he was happy for me to share it.

“I was thinking too about this generation of sailors and officers. They live in a world that is more and more digital, electronic and high tech. Quilts and LBs are not digital or high
tech- but they are hand made. That is becoming rare ! And that is another reason why the work of AHQ is so special.”
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I shared this on Facebook and now I am sharing it again here for our non-Facebook members.

Over the weekend I sent an email to the captain of HMAS Darwin with an update on how we are going sending the quilts and laundry bags to his crew. He asked me to share this message with you and to pass on his thanks……

“I hope you have seen the media coverage of our weapons seizure last week, I just would like for you to pass on my thanks to you and your team, as the support that you provide us, helps us stay at sea and do our mission. The weapons seizure we had last week was big and taking those weapons off the ‘street’, will have saved lives. You and your team, deserve to share in the accolades!”

As far as I am concerned it doesn’t get much better than that.

Well done, or should I say, BZ Team!

If you missed the story you can check it out here

Till next time………………keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
Jan-Maree xx

Bobbie S and the Mystery BOMers. Emb Joan Quilted by Philomena and added to by Bridget
LB Ruth S

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Good afternoon Hilary P,

I am writing to say thank you so much for the lovely quilt, laundry bag and letter!

I am amazed at the detail and thought you have put into the quilt for me and I can not thank you enough!It is something I will treasure for a long time and I will definitely be using the laundry bag on my next deployed or trip!

I really appreciate the time you took to write the letter noting how busy you and all the other volunteers are at AHQ. I hope the annual dinner in Canberra goes well. You all deserve to be celebrated for the work you do.

Even though I am back from my deployment now, I am honoured to know there are people like you out there, looking out for those of us away from family, friends and loved ones.

Thank you again!

Kindest regards,

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Dear Sue-Ellen S,

I’m in the Royal Australian Navy posted to HMAS Stuart and currently on deployment in Asia. I am 25 years old and I grew up in Melbourne and joined the RAN when I was 19 and I now live in WA. The other week I received the laundry bag you made along with your letter. Thank you so much for the laundry bag as its well made and the perfect size. I greatly appreciate the work you do with AHQ and at your local RSL (pulling beers is essential work ) and all others who volunteer. As a sailor a sturdy Dhobey bag (laundry bag) is very nice to have and makes life onboard just that bit much easier as the standard issue bags tend to rip and tear. I enjoyed reading your letter and hearing about your family military history. I hope your retirement is going well and I wish your sons the best.

Kindest regards,

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Hi Ruth S,

I just received my laundry bag that you compiled. It is fantastic, so thank you for your time and effort to make us veterans feel people care.

Again, thank you and take care

regards

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Good evening Sue-Ellen S,

I'm an electronics technician in the Royal Australian Navy, proud father to a rabbit named Pickles, and as of the other day, the even prouder owner of a majestic blue laundry bag covered in platypuses (or platypies... whatever the plural may be).

I must admit, I wasn't originally looking for a new laundry bag we get issued a fresh one with every new posting, after all. But the moment I saw that vibrant blue pattern and the platypuses (which happen to be my mother’s absolute Favorite animal and that felt a little bit like the universe was trying to tell me something), I knew I had to grab it right away.

Fun fact about the humble platypus: because they lay eggs and produce milk. So, if you're ever stuck in the bush craving an omelette a platypus is your one-stop shop!

On a more personal note, I hope your sons are doing well. Reading your letter, your pride in them and the work they do shines through so clearly. They are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive mother in their corner.

I personally have not attended one of the charity dinners for the Doby bag cause, however a ex of mine has in 2024, and apparently it was quite the shindig.

Thank you so much for everything you do with your local RSL. The support you provide isn't just vital to active service members, it's a massive morale booster for the entire veteran community.

Please make sure to enjoy a well-deserved pint (or several) after reading this. You’ve more than earned it.

Warm regards,

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Dear Hilary T,

I would like to express my gratitude to you for the beautiful laundry bag that you so skilfully created. I was gifted it after completing a deployment. The design and craftsmanship is impressive.

I am a member of the Australian Army Reserves and work as a signaller. I too originate from overseas- I am Scottish, and like you moved to Australia for better weather and more of an outdoor lifestyle for our children to grow up in. It has been such a beautiful country to live in and we appreciate all of the opportunities that we have been given. I joined the Reserves as a way of serving and giving something back. (I am a Sonographer in my full time job. )

I will be proud to use the laundry bag whenever I am away with Army and once again, thank you so much.

Kindest regards,

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Good Afternoon Clarissa L,

I'm a Soldier at the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and was very fortunate to receive a laundry bag sewn by yourself from Aussie Hero Quilts. I know I and everyone who received one was very grateful for your token of appreciation and to know that we're being thought of. It will be very handy as I'm about to step off on a six week task within Australia. Again thank you very much for giving up your valuable time to help ADF Personnel across the globe, it's greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,

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Dear Janice L,

Thank you so very much for my new laundry bag (its going to get a good work out) it is very hot on our current deployment.

I just wanted to tell you a little about myself. I’ve been serving in the Royal Australian Navy for 15 years now. During that time I have had the opportunity to work across Submarines, Supply ships and ANZAC Class frigates. (currently on HMAS Stuart) It’s been a challenging career, but one that I am proud of and enjoy. I have also been lucky to have some incredible experiences.

I have a wife and Family of 4 children (not including our dog JJ) back home in Rockingham, WA. We come from Brisbane but I had to move to WA when I started working on Submarines. One of the hardest parts of the job is spending time away from them.

The Navy is a big part of my life but my family keeps me grounded.

I hope this gives you a little insight into who I am. Thank you to Aussie Hero quilts and your self for the quilt.

Kind regards,

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Hello Hilary T,

I'm the recipient of the Bag you made and had sent to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. I'm writing to thankyou for the lovely bag / letter and to express my gratitude for your support through Aussie Hero Quilts.

To let you know abit about the recipient of your bag, I was born and raised in Newcastle so I'm well aware of the beautiful country that is the Nelson bay area and try to take the opportunity to show it to my Cairns born partner whenever I get the chance, it just goes to show how close we probably were at one point even though we know live on the other side of the country.

I joined the Army in 2020 and commissioned through the Royal Military College - Duntroon in Canberra and was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps as a Cavalry Officer. Since then I have been posted to the School of Armour in Puckapunyal as an instructor then to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville.

I thankyou again for your work and hopefully you know how much these bags were appreciated by everyone at the Regiment.

Kind regards,

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Hi Janice B,

I just wanted to email you and let you know I received my quilt and laundry bag.

I love them. I have read the Eragon series and recognised the Dragon right away. Not gonna lie, I squealed a little.
Also I did test the laundry bag and kept laughing.

My uncle was a submariner as well so we have a lot in common it seems! I loved reading your letter and about all your
adventures.

Thank you once again for my quilt and Laundry bad. I love them and appreciate all the effort you and your team put into
them.

Kind regards

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Hi Lois S,

Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt. I received it in perfect condition, and I wanted to let you know that it was exactly what I was after. The design, colours and space theme are fantastic, and I can see the incredible amount of work and care that went into creating it. The embroidered patches, ISS, Saturn V and Space Shuttle are particularly impressive, and knowing that they took around 250,000 stitches makes me appreciate it even more.

I also really enjoyed reading about your time in Florida and your visits to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Watching the launch of Discovery STS-120 must have been an amazing experience.

Like you, I have been to the Kennedy Space Center multiple times, and I honestly think it is one of the best places to visit in Florida. Every visit has been memorable, and as someone with an interest in space exploration, I never get tired of seeing the exhibits, launch facilities and history on display.

Thank you again for your generosity, time and effort in making the quilt. It will be something I treasure for many years to come. I truly appreciate the support you and the Aussie Hero Quilts community provide to veterans.

Kind regards,

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The following letter was published on the 26th August so it may be familiar. We have now received permission to publish the photo so I thought it was very tied in with the letter, it deserved a second publishing:

Dear Shirley D,

I hope this email finds you well.

I recently received the amazing laundry bag that you made for me through Aussie Hero Quilts while serving with the Australian Contingent in the Sinai as part of the Multinational Force and Observers. Thank you for the incredible time, care and generosity that went into making it. Receiving a parcel from home is always appreciated, but receiving something handmade by a complete stranger was something quite special and I couldn't be more grateful.

I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to write such a personal letter. I genuinely enjoyed reading about your family, your textile art, and the remarkable work you have done supporting Australian service personnel since 2015.

Of everything you wrote, it was the story of your father that resonated with me the most. During this deployment, I had the privilege of leading a battlefield study of Alexandria and El Alamein four our contingent, where we walked the ground, visited the Commonwealth War Cemetery and reflected on the actions fought there. Reading about your father's service with the 2/24th Battalion, and the sacrifices he made at both El Alamein and later in New Guinea, made me incredibly proud of his service and privileged to have stood on the same ground where he and so many other Australians fought. It also struck me that, more than eighty years later, an Australian soldier is serving in the same region while receiving a laundry bag made by the daughter of one of those veterans. That is a connection I will never forget.

I also wanted to say how much I appreciated the Egyptian theme of the laundry bag. It was clear how much thought went into making something that reflected where I was serving, and the pyramids, the colours of sand and the kangaroos could not have been more fitting for my deployment with the MFO. It has already become one of my favourite keepsakes from my time in the Sinai and will be coming home to Australia with me when I return.

I've attached a photo taken overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba at South Camp shortly after I received your parcel. I thought you might enjoy seeing where your laundry bag ended up.

There are many people who contribute quietly to Australia's military capability without ever wearing a uniform. Your generosity, talent and countless hours of volunteer work are part of that contribution. Although we have never met, your kindness reached me on the other side of the world and made a genuine difference.

Thank you again for everything you do for Australian service men and women. It is deeply appreciated.

Kind regards,