Greetings all,

We wanted to share with you the wonderful and generous contributions from clever people who kindly donated prizes for the raffle and auctions.

I am delighted to say that most of the prizes were created or donated by volutneers, recipients or family and friends of Aussie Hero Quilts!

First prize was this stunning Whig Rose design quilt donated by Nowra Quilters via Ellen N. Sadly no one knows the provenance of the handmade quilt top but I can tell you it went to very happy new owners.

The Walkabout quilt donated by Rachael B was a stand out with the purple which caught your eye. Rachael is one of our recipients and she was very happy to be able to contribute.

Project Bag created by Deb K

A multi purpose bag to store lots of sewing items, so useful and so much work to create. So many hours of careful sewing went into creating this lovely project bag.

Quilt batting donated by Baby Lock Australia.

Our own Quilting Queen Philomena H won this.

Louise Saxton Book donated by Louise S

A beautiful coffee table book full of wonderful images showing Louise’s two decade journey of working with discarded and disinherited needlework. She painstakingly cuts lace and special items and creates a new textile image from discarded needlework.

Crochet Blanket made and donated by Kate L

Kate is one of our Navy Chaplains and this is her second year of making a generous donation.

Crochet scarf donated by Michelle S

Michelle is a wonderful supporter of AHQ. She creates amazing embroideried, crocheted and stitched pieces. Michelle responded to Jan-Maree’s call for crafted items to be donated as prizes.

Nutrimetics Pot donated by Janet LOne of our volunteers donated this useful skin care range of hand cream, body lotion, body scrub and after sun skin care. Somone will be smelling very nice.

Japanese Plate donated by Anne C

The generosity of Anne who also donated two handbags as lucky door prize and another handbag for the silent auction.

Multan Pottery plate from Afghanistan donated by Anne C

Blessington Watch donated by Audie V (he donated a watch for both the silent auction and raffle)

From a very grateful AHQ recipient himself, both his son and daughter in law are also recipients. Audie babysits his grandaughter each year so his son and daughter-in-law can attend the dinner.

What we do has flow on effects of paying kindness forward.

Kimono Quilt/Wall Hanging 21×20 donated by Jeanette G

How gorgeous is this piece.

Fish Quilt/Wall Hanging 31×24 donated by Jeanette G

This bright colurful eye catching quilt is sure to be a conversation piece.

Book written and donated by Rod H

Rod was surprised at the Friday night gathering with his own very special quilt made by the amazing Ann S. He had dropped lots of hints last year as a guest speaker at the Friday night gathering where he showed the quilt his wife recevied and relayed the story of the importance of it to her on her deployment.

And the Booby Prize with our wonderful MC Pello’s image. What a mistake she made using Jan-Maree’s phone last year to take a selfie.

Showing front and back view

And then we have the wonderful items donated as Silent Auction Items.

Zoo Baby Quilt, Ellen N

Circus Baby Quilt, Ellen N

Japanese Quilt, Pauline S

Straight Circles Quilt, made by Sandy Cory donated by Jo H

Made and donated by Inge C

Made and donated by Inge C

Made and donated by Inge C

Front – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Back – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Front – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Back – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Front – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Back – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Front – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Back – made and donated by Bobbie S, Jacqui D

Made and donated by Jan-Maree, fearless leader

Made and donated by Janis K

A beautiful cross stitch made and donated by Joy H

Bears in Transit at airport carousel. Made and donated by Raelene W

Bears waiting in terminal. Note the embroidery on the bears feet.

Prestige Medals Gift Voucher

Donated by Jan-Maree

Rasp knife with River Red Gum handle created by Robin M

Poppies Textile art by Carloine S

Star Talk Textile art by Carloine S

Sunset Textile art by Carloine S

Myrtle & Walnut side table donated by recipient Pete S

Newcastle Distillery Four Seasons donated by recipient Josh F

Barrenjoey LIghthouse made and donated by recipient Kerrin L

Star side table made and donated by recipient Kerrin L

Bravo Zule Distillery is a Veteran owned business, owned by one of our recipients.

Joint Force Aged Gin donated by Bravo Zulu Distillery

Captains Pick Gin donated by Bravo Zulu Distillery

Holdfast Distillery is another proud veteran owned distillery,

also owned by one of our recipients, Gavin G.

Holdfast Distillery Gin donated by Gavin G

Hold fast distillery, Sea Breeze Maritime Gin donated by Gavin G

Hold fast distillery, Man O War Navy Gin donated by Gavin G

London Dry Gin donated by Gavin G

The above was a limited run of gin labelled especially for our Thank You Dinner.

Challenge Coin Stadiums made and donated by “Jock” J, another recipient.

Poppy wallhanging by Philomena

Hand turned mottled bowl by Andrew R

Hand turned reddish bowl by Andrew R

Cam Baird Statue, donated by Audie V

Lark whisky & two glasses donated by recipient Moses R

Handmade doll with clothes, Michele S

Lama Christmas Stocking made and donated by Hilary P

Aussie Animal Christmas Stocking made and donated by Hilary P

Aussie Animal Christmas Stocking made and donated by Hilary P

Harry Potter Christmas Stocking made and donated by Hilary P

Transform Your Career Coaching Sessions donated by Jo A

a recipient’s wife.

Poppy Pack donated by Hilary P

Indigenous Handbag donated by Anna C

Range of Ran Ban sunglasses donated by recipient’s wife, Melissa P

Gift baskets donated by Navy’s Anchorage

And finally, the Live Auction Items….

The gorgeous quilt made by Cath Hpr, “A Road Less Travelled”

This creative appliqued and hand painted quilt was made by Lesley B “Under the Austrlalian Skies”

One of our most hotly contested prizes each year is the Right to commission a quilt… the only time you can actually pay to get on our request list.

Bev L created this gorgeous Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville quilt, “Indigo Way”.

The above two paintings were donated by our regular supporter, Len Smith, artist extraordinaire and veteran!

And finally, an authentic rear bar from Chaz Mostert’s 2025 Ford Mustang Supercar, as raced during the 2025 Supercars Championship season.

What an amazing array of prizes we received this year – and again, mostly donated or created by volunteers, recipients or their friends and family.

Till next time…. keep spreading the word and don’t forget, next year’s dinner will be on 17 Oct 2026. Be there or be square.

Cheers, Jan-Maree xx

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