Happy Wednesday Friends!

A wonderful collection of gratitude letters. I am always amazed when there are connections, (known or unknown at the time) from the volunteer and the recipient!!!

So, grab a nice warm cuppa or cold drink (depending on where you live!), sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude!

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The current Rifle Company under training in Malaysia were very grateful to receive their new laundry bags from the Chaplain.

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Good Afternoon Clarissa L,

I’m just reaching out to thank you for my lovely laundry bag I received the other day. It is beautiful and I really appreciate the time and effort you’ve noticeably put into it.

Keep up the amazing work!

Thanks again 🙂

Kind regards,

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Hello Shirley D,

Thank you so much for the handmade laundry bag, it is beautiful and will serve me well when I am deployed.

It is lovely to hear about your hobbies, past and family. I have a wife and a three year old daughter, My wife loves to garden and her favourite thing to grow are veggies, our daughter enjoys helping mum in the garden too. I enjoy a hit of golf as well, but my handicap is nowhere near your sons or grandsons!

It was fascinating reading about your father and his injuries in the war, I know many people who have had knee repairs or other leg injuries and I can’t fathom how hard it would be to get shot in the leg once, let alone twice!

I grew up in Victoria as well, on the Gippsland Lakes. I now live in Nowra, NSW and work on the Seahawk helicopters the Navy own. My most recent deployment was on HMAS Warramunga where we conducted a Regional Presence Deployment and visited places like India and Singapore.

What I find very interesting in your letter is your husband worked at the Ford Motor Company in Geelong. My wife’sgrandparents both worked there as well after they immigrated from Austria after WWII.

Thank you,

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Good Evening Beverley F,

Thank you very much for the quilt that you sent me whilst I am deployed on Operation.

Amazing to hear that your family has a long history in the Australian Defence Force with long successful careers.

As for myself I joined the RAR in early 2021 and look to serve for a few more years to come. I have deployed to variouscountries such as Timor Leste, Indonesia, WA Kimberley and now currently the UK. I am an Infantry Section Commander andit is the most rewarding job to date and I couldn’t think of anything else better to be doing with my career. It has itchallenges and bad days but the good always out ways the bad and it gives me a sense of purpose and pride knowing that Iam a part of an organisation that takes pride in serving and protecting our beautiful country. It takes a lot ofsacrifice of personal life and does take a toll on family but my amazing partner who I have been with for 9 years is themost supportive person. I could not do what I do without her.

I am posted In Darwin and the NT has so much to offer, if it’s fishing, camping or four wheel driving it does notcompare to other states. The national parks that are only a short drive away with waterfalls, swimming holes it’sparadise.

Once again thank you very much for your time and supporting us service men and women. I have the quilt on my bed andhave slept with it for weeks. I will cherish this and have it forever.

Kind Regards,

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Hi

Recently, after finally aligning calendars, I had the privilege of travelling to the Sunshine Coast to present a very special quilt to a dear friend and aviator, WGCDR B.

I’ve known him and his wonderful wife for around 40 years! We first met when he had just completed flight training and was posted to Amberley as a young officer. I was serving in the RAAF at the time, working as a Corporal, and had the pleasure of helping them settle into Brisbane and navigate their first posting. Since then, we’ve stayed connected through weddings, postings, and the many twists of Defence life. Thanks to social media, we’ve also been able to share so many milestones in our families’ lives. Both of us now have children serving in the ADF — proof that somewhere along the way, we must have done something right.

When AHQ announced the 15‑year quilts, I quietly reached out to his wife and encouraged her to nominate him. Once he was accepted, I begged the lovely Jan-Maree to let me make his quilt. I knew their story, their journey, and their hearts — and it would mean the world to create something just for him. She graciously agreed.

So yesterday, when he thought my husband and I were simply dropping by for lunch, I had the joy of surprising him with
the quilt.

The request was for a camping theme, as the quilt will now live on the bed of their much‑loved Bushtracker caravan as they travel this great country. Knowing that they had also been posted to the USA and Canada, I wove those chapters of their life into the design as well.

To have known them since the very beginning of his career, and now to share time with them around ADF Reserve duties
and camping trips, feels like life coming full circle.

Sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts is such a meaningful way to acknowledge service and the extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to keeping Australia safe. But it’s also something more personal — a way of stitching a little love, comfort and connection into every quilt and laundry bag, so that our recipients always know they are seen, valued and never alone.

How lucky am I!

Toni D

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Hi Ellen N!

Thank you very much for the laundry bag you made for me, I absolutely love it. My ship mates were having a good laugh at me as I ran around HMAS Toowoomba showing everyone; we were all comparing what we got and I absolutely liked mine the most. The cows and chickens will remind me of the animals back on the farm whilst I am away. I will absolutely send you a photo when I can.

I am actually a bit different to you in that I am the first person in my family to serve in the Australian military; I believe my Nonna’s father got conscripted into the Italian military but I do not know anything more than that, and my Mum’s Dad (like all young men back in the day) got trained to be in the infantry but his number never got called to go to Vietnam. Despite all this, my family have been very supportive; being the first doctor AND military member in the family took some getting used to. We are from a town in South East Queensland. My parents are still there on the farm taking care of my English Staffy, and all of my civilian friends are in the general SEQ area as well but I am currently living in Rockingham south of Perth because that’s where I have been posted.

I joined the Navy in 2018 in my third of six years of medical school. HMAS Toowoomba this year was my first deployment. I have only posted off last Friday and am redeploying again on Monday on HMAS Supply for just over three months.

The laundry bag you have made for me will be coming on another adventure with me! It may seem like a little thing but having something hand made from someone, even a stranger, who cares really does make a difference. It will also put a smile on my face when I have to do my laundry, my least favourite of my chores!

Thank you again for you volunteer work and your letter. I wish you and your family safe travels in the future.

Kind regards,

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G’Day Clarissa L,

I just received my laundry bag and wanted to quickly introduce myself and say thank you.

I read the letter you left inside and I thought it was a lovely touch.

I’m an Army Officer of 10 years and have served both as a Soldier and Officer in various roles and corps all the way up and down the east coast of Australia. Originally from Western Sydney, I’ve made my way a little closer to home (and family) and am currently posted to HMAS Canberra, which berths alongside at HMAS Kuttabul in Potts Point. Throughout my career I’ve done a million and one courses and funnily enough, I’ve never brought a laundry bag with me, I wouldn’t even know where to buy one to be honest with you hahaha. I’ve always gotten by using a woollies plastic bag or whatever I can manage to find, which almost always gets mixed up with everyone’s else laundry because they had the same bright idea. But thanks to you, I’ll now stand out with my brand new, colourful, purpose built laundry bag. I’ll be sure to make good use of it! I am ever so grateful for the work you do for us serving members, it can very often be a thankless job so its very rewarding to receive your laundry bag and kind words.

Thank you kindly,

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Hi Philomena

I am the lucky recipient of one of your Aussie Hero Laundry Bags!

Thank you so much for your time and sewing skills to put it together.

I picked the one with the superheros on it, I really like the fabric!

I enjoyed reading your letter that came with the bag, and thought it is such a small world that a fellow nurse made the bag for me!

You have certainly had some incredible experiences in your life.

Thank you again!

Yours Aye

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Good afternoon Beverley F,

I am writing to you in response to a very lovely quilt that I have received from you. Thank you for both the quilt and the story you shared about yourself and your family.

I also have a lot of family history with the military. I have my grandfather who was an Army veteran and my uncle who was in the RAAF.

I have been in the Army for 7 years now, I have been in Malaysia, Singapore, Tonga, Fiji and now the UK. It has been a long time over here and I am excited to go home. Your quilt will definitely be kept out at home for sure.

Thank you very much for your hard work. It gives soldiers a little sense of home whilst we are away.

Kind regards,

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Hi Jan-Maree & Bobbie,

I am sending this email to say thank you for making the Aussie Hero quilt for my recent stay in hospital. Please also convey my appreciation to Joan and Alan for making the embroideries and to other members of the Mystery BOMers who had a hand in making the quilt.

I was in hospital for just over a month from 30 April until 2 June recovering from brain surgery. During most of this time, I had trouble sleeping – there were many long sleepless nights. This changed on 20 May, when I was presented with a Aussie Hero quilt by LTCOL F (along-time friend of mine).

Given the quilt has warm colours and is just the right size for a hospital bed it helped me to fall asleep at night. It also made feel that Army was supporting me during this difficult time as LTCOL L and LTCOL F played a part in organising the quilt and getting it to me whilst I was still in hospital.

It was also a conversation starter as many of the medical staff commented on how good it looked. One Nurse, who was once in the Airforce Cadets, gave me a few career pathway ideas for my son who is currently in the Army Cadets but wants to join the Airforce Cadets. This conversation would never have happened without the quilt.

Please note, after discharging from hospital on 2 June, my recovery is continuing whilst being enrolled in an outpatient rehab program.

Again, thank you for making the quilt – it is very much appreciated as it made my last 12 days in hospital so much better than it would have been without the quilt.

Yours sincerely

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Cheers Catherine D

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in. Wednesdays would be so totally boring without them!

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