Grati-Tuesday 3 Nov

Written by AHQ

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3 November 2015

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Well I hope everyone had a wonderful time with the Cup today, whether you were there and very well dressed like two of our recipients that I know of or you watched the race elsewhere. I just hope you won more than you lost.

We are all winners tonight anyway with lots of lovely thank you messages to enjoy.

Here goes…..

Hi Lisa

I just wanted to thank you for the quilt you made for me. It’s amazing and I think it’s great. It’s better than what I imagined so for a first for you, you have done great work.

Opening your package brought so much morale! So for that I am grateful.

I remember seeing service personnel coming to my primary school a couple of times and it was great and I hope to do the same! It sounds like a great program you’re running with your students which will benefit so many! It’s great to hear about things like that.

Keep up the great quilting and the great work you’re doing with the students.

All the best. And thank you again for the great quilt.

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Dear Debbie,

Just letting you know, that I have received my laundry bag and I just wanted to let you know, that I absolutely love it. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to contribute to the Aussie Hero Quilt scheme. It is something that is quite valued over here, in being sent something that is so practical, but still has that personal touch by the lovely people who take the time to make the items. I have shown a few of my friends my laundry bag and they all believe that you must have known me to get the colours and theme so right.

After seeing my laundry bag, I am really looking forward to seeing what great ideas you come up with for my quilt. I am so lucky that you’re making both. The minions theme comes from my children. I have three boys back home, who are currently being taken care of by my awesome husband.

Thank you so much for sending it. Take your time with the quilt. There is no rush. By the time, I get it. the weather will be cooling down to warrant it. Although the air-con can get real cool at times. Thanks for all your efforts.

Kind Regards

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Dear Ruth,

Firstly let me thank you for your beautiful quilt that arrived today. Mail call at the best of times is always a great morale boost for the troops but to know that someone took the time to put together something as beautiful and amazing is truly wonderful. I’m sat on my bed with the quilt already on it.

As we are the first rotation from Australia into our location we have very little in the way of luxuries e.g. when we turned up we were given a pillow, two sheets and a dodgy blanket that had seen better days.

It’s also hard to picture something that is so simplistic in nature but vibrant in colour as daffodils when my scenery is dust, sand and 50 degrees temps. It leaves a very vivid picture in my memory, so thank you.

Once again Ruth, I can’t thank you enough for all you and the team at Aussie Quilts do for us. Know that it is a significant memory that will be remembered.

Kind regards,

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Good Morning Jan-Maree and Natalie,

Thank you very much for the beautiful quilt and laundry bag that I received yesterday. Thank you also for the bags of lollies too!

I will always treasure my quilt and laundry bag.

Thanks and regards,

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Dear Kate,

Thank you so much for the absolutely beautiful quilt you made me! When I put in a request for a quilt with an Australian outback theme I never imagined it could ever look that good. I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into making it. Personally I am not much of a sewer, so to look at the intricate detail just blew my mind! I definitely think your experiments worked. This quilt is something I will keep forever and show off to people when I get home.

I am quite enjoying myself here. I have learned many new things and met so many fun people. However, I am definitely looking forward to coming home!

Again, thank you very much for the quilt.

A big thanks to Aussie Hero Quilts for all the work they do.

All the best,

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Hi Carol

Just a quick email to let you know my quilt arrived safely and to thank you so very much for the work you have put into it. It is exactly what I pictured and will sit pride and place with all my other sporting paraphernalia. In the not to distant future I will get a photo to you to show my appreciation of your fantastic work.

You and all the ladies do an amazing job, the gifts we receive with the notes accompanying these works of art really make us feel very special and appreciated.

Thank you once again Carol and I look forward to further correspondence. Take care

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Dear Rita M,

I have just received your gracious Gift of the Broncos Quilt. Thank you so much for it. It looks supurb and the quality and detail is amazing. From just giving you the words “Broncos NRL”, you were able to turn that into something quiet amazing.

I have been serving in the army since I was 18 years old and this is my first deployment overseas. I am employed as a Fitter Armament. I am a Fitter and Turner by trade but in the Army our main job is the service, maintenance and modification of the weapon systems that are in service over here.

Thank you again for this wonderful gift. It does really mean a lot to know that there are Australians out there that do support what we are doing and receiving Quilts, gifts and letter like this really does mean a lot to every serving member over here. I know this quilt will be cherished for a life time.

Your sincerely

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Kay C,

Where do I start, thank you is not enough for excitement your quilt has brought me.

It is perfect and as you say a one-off which makes it even more special.

I was going to send you a letter, but decided that would take too long to get to you. I want you to know how grateful I am straight away, so I hope you don’t mind the email.

Unfortunately only one of my three boys goes for the Kangaroos, the two younger ones got brainwashed while we lived in Geelong for 1 year and are now Cats fans.

I have decided to hang the quilt up in my room, as it is too special to be on my bed, however I have attached a photo of the quilt hanging and placed on my bed. It has brightened my room up, which is a plain box shape with cream walls and white roof.

Again thank you so very much, it is appreciated beyond words can describe.

Bring on AFL 2016

Kindest Regards

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Hi Sue,

Firstly let me say thank-you very much for the quilt you’ve made for me. It was quite a nice surprise to receive your package and it is very humbling that there are people at home in Australia who care about what we do.

Small packages from friends, family and people in the community really do mean a lot to us and it provides us with a great deal of pride and the motivation to continue.

The quality of your quilt is extremely professional and I appreciate the amount of time and effort that you have gone to make it- so thanks very much. It will be put to good use when I am at home next year in the cold weather. I don’t really need it at the moment as its currently very hot here, however it is starting to cool down slightly now that we are coming into the winter months.

So once again thanks very much.

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Dear Cheri and Graeme,

It is with sincere appreciation that I say a massive thank you for the time and effort you put in to making the quilt for my daughter. It looks absolutely amazing and I have no doubt she will adore it like I adore her.

The deployment has been very eventful so far as you just have to google the name of our ship to know. This is my forth deployment to the Middle East in five years and it get’s harder as my children get older. I have missed out on so many milestones and am looking forward to getting home next year.

Your family must be proud of your husbands service and I pass on my thanks to him. My godfather deployed to Vietnam with the Navy in 1968 and 1971. I have always had an interest in modern warfare specially the Vietnam War. I have visited the place which I have found amazing as a tourist and appreciate and respect both sides who fought in the war.

Thank you once again and god bless.

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Leah,

Just a quick thank you for the quilt and laundry bag you made for me, I appreciate the time and effort that yourself (and your son Flynn) put into both items, they look great!

Yes it’s very hard to be away from family. I am not fortunate enough to have any children just yet but my partner and I look forward to the day it happens!!!

I’ve just returned from ROCL to your parcel. Was a great welcome back gift.

Thanks again for your efforts, you have gone above and beyond with all our quilts, perfect timing coming into winter here.

Kindest regards

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Hi Jean,

My Laundry Bag arrived today – I’m absolutely delighted. There were a few of my work mates around when I opened the parcel and they thought it was excellent too. Aussie flags, Aircraft and Bega (I especially like the Bega part). My wife is

Thanks again for the Bag and the best wishes

Regards

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G’day Judy!

First of all I would like to thank you for taking the time to make and send me an awesome laundry bag! It’s great and you did a fantastic job creating it.

It’s lovely to have some friendly Aussie contact when we are all deployed away for months at a time, away from families and Australia. It is always nice to feel appreciated for the work we do and it is definitely felt across the ADF when people like you go out of your way to send some love our way.

Thank you for sending me some awesome stuff!

All the best from the middle east.

…..

This thank you is for one of our BOM quilts that Sue M and I put together out of half square triangle BOM blocks!

Hi Jan-Maree,

The quilt you sent arrived yesterday it was great, It makes my little room here more colourful and warm once again. Thank you and all the others for your support time and thought that goes into making all your quilts. I will have this for years to come. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas break.

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Hello Joan and Robin

I just received my Laundry bag and had a massive smile on my face,

It is great to have got this and in such short time

Thank you very much for this it means a lot

Will take a photo and send shortly

once again thank you and best wishes

…..

Donna,

Today I received an ABSOLUTELY beautiful quilt that you made for me (with the dragon picture on it). I absolutely loved the design & colours used, everyone here was jealous but envious of it.

The moment I opened the box and unfolded the quilt I had a big smile from ear to ear for the rest of the day 🙂

I also enjoyed reading your letter, I come from XXXXX too.

I would also like to thank your son for helping with the design. I love it.

…..

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,