Happy Wednesday Friends!

A wonderful collection of gratitude letters.

We are constantly reminded that the gift of receiving something made by a stranger is so powerful!!

The following letters do that…..

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 following 2 letters are from the same recipients regarding both the quilt and laundry bag. The photos prove how happy he is!!

G’day Abbi W,

Thank you so much for this amazing quilt. I especially love the map in the middle. I grew up just two streets off the Eagle farm racecourse, so seeing it on the quilt brings back a lot of fond memories.

Growing up in Brisbane, I wasn’t as fortunate as you to see all those beautiful trees and animals around my house, but that didn’t stop the birds waking my mum up in the morning, sitting on the powerlines outside her window. I also didn’t know that pineapples were easy to grow… now I know!

My partner worked at Ipswich hospital while I was posted to Amberley, so I have dropped her out there many many times.

It makes sense that your daughter is very busy in the Navy. Being at sea is especially hard.

My apologies if this has taken a while to get to you. I am in the Middle East, and our mail had to stop for a bit. We are all in high spirits despite the current situation. I only just got the quilt today so I am sending a response ASAP!

Luckily the air conditioning gets cold here because it’s 50 degrees outside, so the quilt can see some use. It will definitely get a lot of use when I return to Newcastle after deployment. A QLD boy like myself struggles in winters anywhere south of Tweed.

Thank you so much again for the quilt I’ve sent a photo of me with it below.

Kind regards,

G’day Toni D,

Thank you so much for the laundry bag. Absolutely killed it! Now I’m thirsty for a XXXX.

So sorry this has taken a while to get back to you, due to our mail got held up. I only just got it today.

I really appreciate the work, having something to remind me of home over here, especially during conflict helps a lot.

Thank you again,

Toni D

Gayle W

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Hello Ruth S,

I hope you are well, I am currently deployed and have received your laundry bag and note. It certainly has brightened my day. Thankyou for your efforts it is appreciated.

Warm Regards,

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Evening Clarissa L,

Just wanted to thank you very much for my laundry bag! Love it.

Best regards

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The following thank you’s are from recipients of random laundry bags sent to 2SQN.

G’day Jacqui D,

I have just received one of your hand made Laundry Bags.

I am currently on an Operation deployed to the Middle East with 2 SQN. I have been here for 1 month and 3 weeks with the intention to stay for 3-4 months.

I was very happy to read your letter. Thank you for your kind words.

I hope you are still enjoying your retirement to the mid-north coast with your husband and that you are visited regularly by your family.

I myself am from Newcastle and regularly holidayed at South West Rocks. I am 23 and finished school in 2020. I then attended the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra completing a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. I am very fortunate to have posted to 2 SQN which is based out of RAAF Williamtown so see my family often.

Kind Regards,

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Good Morning Hilary T,I hope this finds you well.

I just wanted to extend a thank you for making my one of a kind laundry bag. I have recently returned from an overseas
deployment and your very patriotic, Australian flag laundry bag was a lifesaver.

It sounds like both you and your husband have lived a very interesting life and military service all throughout your family.

I have only worked in Williamtown for a year-or-so now and, like yourself, currently call “The Bay” home.

Thank you again for your donation, I might bump into you one day in the area.

Warm regards,

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Dear Beverly U,

Firstly, I would like to say a very sincere thank you for the laundry bag. I absolutely love the design which has incorporated a number of different elements, including the Australian Flag, RAAF Roundel, GPU material and a silhouette of the E-7A Wedgetail that I am currently supporting on deployment.

It means a great deal to myself and many other personnel that I am currently deployed with to receive these laundry bags. I was quite uplifting to see everyone trying to get the bag they loved the most (I believe I got the best one). Everyone I have spoken to here is very happy with what they received and I have had many comments about how jealous people are of the bag I received.

Your personal background about your family, including that of your fathers and brothers military service is quite remarkable. My family has also had a number of personnel serve in the military in times of conflict and peace from my great grandfather who was a POW in Changi, to my grandfather and his brother who served in the RAAF.

I also have a beautiful family at home with my wife of 18 years and our three children who are still in various stages of school. As you would understand it is often harder on the families of Defence personnel then it is on us, so I am very grateful for their strength and understanding throughout my career of 20+ years in the RAAF.

Again, thank you very much for this kind gift. When writing this letter I was discussing with a collegue how much of a boost we got in receiving our bags.

Kindest Regards

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Hi Clarissa L,

I would just like to take this opportunity to send you a letter thanking you personally for the gift of a handmade laundry bag, this will be utilised daily to ensure my laundry is kept nice and clean.

Thank you again for your support. It means a lot to sailors to know that the public support us in our mission.

Kind Regards

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Dear Jenny N,

I am glad to say that I have received one of your laundry bags, alongside a letter from you. As we speak, I am currently on my first deployment (which happens to be my first time overseas), so to receive a gift like this truly warms my heart.

I have enjoyed reading your letter and learning about you and your awesome family. It has helped me feel just a little bit closer to home. Similar to your family, my great grandfather on my mother’s side served during WW2 as a mechanic and as a part-time magician. My great grandfather on my father’s side served in the Kokoda campaign, in which my Nan had followed in his footsteps and served in the navy for few years.

I appreciate the effort and time that you and Howard invest into Aussie Hero Quilts; your work does not go unnoticed. I plan to take my new laundry bag on every work trip I attend, big or small!

Cheers,

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Dear AHQ team,

I would just like to say thank you for thinking of us currently deployed overseas and putting the time, effort and care into making us laundry bags!

The gesture is greatly appreciated and was least expected. I know I will be putting mine to good use!

Kind Regards,

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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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