Hi all

Apologies, I don’ think I have updated you all with changes we have had on our Board. The last change was just this week and I think it is pretty safe to say that there should not be any more changes for a while. It is definitely time to introduce our two newest members.

Rob Lording CSC CSM

Rob served in the Australian Army Reserve for 32 years and is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College (Rserve). He has concurrently worked in senior roles in law enforcement and corporate security and is currently the Senior Director for Global Corporate Security Operations – Asia Pacific with Verizon Communications.

Rob has been actively involved in a number of Ex-Services Organisations over the last decade and is committed to advocating for current and former ADF members. He is also a founding Trustee in the Colonel John Haynes Trust which provides financial grants for education, development and welfare for members who served in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps and their families.

He first encountered Aussie Hero Quilts during his deployment to NATO Resolute Headquarters in Kabul during 2016 and subsequently had the opportunity to present quilts to several veterans in recognition of their service. Rob is extremely grateful for the laundry bags provided to members of the Joint Task Group that responded to Operation Flood Assist in NSW in 2022 and joined the Board in 2025 to support the work being done to support ADF members and veterans.

and our newest Board Member.

Grant Pinder GAICD

Grant enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1984 and went on to serve across 11 rank levels for over 41 years before transitioning to the Reserves in July 2025. He has since turned his focus to the not-for-profit sector and is also on the Board of the Cancer Council ACT, while continuing to serve as a Trustee on the RAAF Welfare Trust Fund and as President of the Australian Defence Force Cricket Association. A pragmatic, values-based leader, Grant’s senior management experience is primarily in logistics, governance and human resource management. He is the proud recipient of an Aussie Hero Quilt, which was presented on the on the occasion of his retirement from full-time service, and looks forward to serving the veteran community as a member of this Board.

………………

New members have joined because some have stepped aside.

Pello stepped down from the Board just before the dinner but she promises that she will continue to be our one and only Master (Mistress? Ma’am?) of Ceremonies. Those of you who attended our Annual Thank You Weekend know that we surprised Pello with a special quilt featuring the Pello head selfie that she was kind enough (some might say “brave enough”) to leave on my phone.

Just this week Guy Blackburn stepped aside and we need to say thank you for his massive contribution to Aussie Hero Quilts. Guy was the last of the founding members of the Board. He was there to help us establish the constitution and to help get the Board up and running. It was only right that we gave Guy a quilt and even better, we were able to make it a complete surprise.

All of our Board meetings are held by ZOOM so imagine Guy’s confusion when, during the Board meeting Craig told Guy he had to go and answer the door ….. to say Guy was confused is an understatement. After being told about three times Guy acquiessed and after answering the door, he came back with Rear Admiral Rick Boulton who have been co-conspirator on the design of the quilt as well as agreeing to present the quilt.

i keep saying I do love a good surprise and it is safe to say that we achieved “Surprise Status” again with this presentation.

Thanks to Guy and Pello for all your contributions to the Aussie Hero Quilts Board and thanks Rob and Grant in advance for the contributions I know you will make in the future.Till next time…. keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx

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