Happy Tuesday Friends!

 Hope you week is going well. 

I am scrambling to get a quilt done before someone deploys so I am sewing before and after work.  Silly me for picking a fiddly pattern but is looking pretty good so far! 

We have another lot of beautiful messages from far and wide and some awesome images, so grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while you soak up some well deserved gratitude. 

Only 94 sleeps away until the Thank You dinner.

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Dear Gayle W, 

I had the pleasure this week of taking stewardship of the phenomenal quilt you have made. Upon opening the package, I was immediately impressed with the craftwork, skill and attention to detail you have put into making my quilt. I adore the use of colour, patterns and animals you’ve been able to include. I also enjoyed reading your letter and getting to know the kind soul that has volunteered their time and resources to create this artwork for an unknown member of the Australian Defence Force

I hope your trip to PNG was excellent, I’ve not been there. It is an excellent endeavour to retrace the military steps people within our family have taken to appreciate their service. I have completed a similar pilgrimage to northern Finland (Lapland) to retrace my Grandfather’s service during WWII. My grandfather never spoke about his service to anyone in the family, so we only have his service records and unit history books to refer to gain any insights into where he went and the devastation they experienced.

I work in an Aviation Safety role here in South Sudan as part of Operation Aslan, which is a challenging yet rewarding deployment. South Sudan is the world’s youngest country, only splitting from Sudan in 2011.  There is a severe lack of infrastructure from many previous decades in South Sudan, and in the rainy season (now) all the dirt roads turn to mud, and transporting food or any other aid around the country relies upon aircraft. So I am here to ensure those aviation operations are conducted as safely as possible.

Again, I thank you for the kindest gift of my very own Aussie Hero Quilt, and if you don’t mind it is still too new to see service on my bed, and will be proudly displayed on the bleak metal wall next to my bed. It will remain as a cherished item throughout my career.

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Good Morning Aussie Hero Quilts,

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Hi Ruth S,

 

My laundry bag just arrived and it’s excellent!

 

Thank you very much for your hard work on it. Great work capturing all the elements of Solomon Islands and the deployment.

 

Here’s a pic of me, my wife and our dog Enzo with the laundry bag.

 

We used to live in Adelaide so it was nice to see the bag coming all the way from SA.

 

It was also nice to get your letter and hear about your background and what led you to making laundry bags. The Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags team does brilliant work.

 

I look forward to taking the laundry bag with me on future deployments.

 

Kind regards,

Hi Kirsten (Bindy) O,

Just writing to thank you so very much for the lovely quilt you made for me. It arrived yesterday, and I slept under it last night!! Such a good night’s sleep being able to leave the aircon on!!

The colours indeed do add some much needed brightness to my otherwise drab shipping container of a house!! I particularly love the little touches of select African animals. I recently went on safari in Kenya and Zambia for my first leave break, and I never tire of seeing animals in the wild. And Africa is fantastic for such experiences. The quilt is a perfect reminder of these memories.

Thank you also for your service. 27 years is a fantastic achievement. Hopefully you can look back on the challenges and opportunities that Army provided and the immense sense of pride in what you achieved, as well as some great stories and friends that you will have for life.

The team we have here in South Sudan is one of the best I have worked with over my time in Defence. There are only 14 of us, but everyone is motivated and very much looks out for each other, whilst also being able to crack a joke at all of our expense. Makes my job very easy in reality. Not sure if you have had the opportunity to work with the UN, but this is a different culture that does take some getting used to. My first UN deployment was in 1999, and it is amazing what has changed…and what has not in 24 years!!

Thank you again for the lovely quilt, and for the incredible work you and the rest of Aussie Heros Quilts does to support those of us away from family and friends. It is certainly very much appreciated by all of the Australian contingent here in South Sudan.

Take care, and I hope the Canberra winter eases up a little soon.

Kind regards

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Dear Emma G,

Thank you for the beautiful laundry bag you made for our son.  I know he deeply appreciates it.  As a family it is so touching to know that members of the community value ADF service.  My son is 3rd generation ADF.  Thank you for all you do.

Kind Regards,

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Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.