First up tonight a few responses from HMAS Darwin regarding their new laundry bags….

Dear Carol,

I just wanted to thank you for the lovely laundry bag I received yesterday as a member of HMAS Darwin’s decommissioning crew, on her final operational deployment into South-East Asia.

This is an exciting trip for me as it is my first time overseas with the Navy, after joining in the beginning of 2016 as a Marine Engineer Officer after graduating from the University of Queensland in 2015 with a Bachelor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
Once again, thanks for the Laundry Bag, I will definitely be taking it with me to my next ship or future posting as a reminder of this trip.

Yours Aye,
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Hello Jan-Maree,

I just wanted to write you an email to thank you for my HMAS Darwin laundry bag. This will be something that I will treasure for a lifetime, it will remind me of my time on board, almost 3 years, and of all the adventures and experiences I have had in the Navy as a whole. I am discharging from the military at the end of this year to spend more time at home with my family. I have a wife and 4 children, all boys ranging from 10 to almost 2.
The time and effort you all put into the quilts and laundry bags is greatly appreciated, and adds a touch of home to our sometimes distant and lengthy deployments. I can’t thank you enough.

 Yours Sincerely,
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Maree,

Recently the entire ships company of HMAS Darwin were presented with our laundry bags.  I was privileged to receive the one made by yourself

Thankyou

I was lucky enough to receive a quilt and laundry bag during the ship’s last deployment to the Persian Gulf 

Again, the work that went into making my laundry bag is very much appreciated

I had not heard of AHQ until Chaplain Quadrio asked if anyone would like to receive a themed quilt.  I asked for and received a Doctor Who quilt and bag

It is exceptionally thoughtful of you to make these for total strangers.  Your contribution to the community is appreciated, and my laundry bag is amazing.  

It was great to read your small note about what yourself and children are doing
I wish them, and yourself, all the best that the world has to offer

Again, thankyou for the laundry bag
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Hi Joan,

You made a Laundry bag for me on 12 July 17 and I received it on Tuesday at sea in HMAS DARWIN. I have been in the New Zealand Navy for 12 years and have been on exchange in Australia since May 2016. I came over here to complete the Australian Principal Warfare Officer course which is a 12 month course run in Sydney at HMAS WATSON where I specialised as a Torpedo and Anti Submarine Warfare Officer (TASO). I posted to Darwin in June this year and will serve in her until she decommissions at the end of the year. I live in Auckland New Zealand with my wife of 1 month Rachel. Unfortunately Rachel had to stay in New Zealand for work so I have been living in Sydney without her these past 15 months which has been really hard, but we are nearly at the end and I’m looking forward to heading home in December.

Darwin certainly isn’t a luxury cruise ship, but we find ways to make it feel like home. I’ve bought a cheerfully coloured Duvet cover and put up a bunch of photos around my cabin to remind me of home, so that makes the place a bit more homely.

I really appreciate the effort you went into to make a Laundry bag for me. I think it’s great that you have taken the time to support those of us who serve in the defence force, and it means a lot to us to know that people like you are thinking of us and believe in what we are doing on your behalf. Unfortunately we don’t have an organisation like Aussie Hero Quilts in New Zealand, but I think it’s a great idea.

Thank you again for your support and a lovely Laundry bag. My one actually has a map on it which includes New Zealand and a sheep, so that’s nice.

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Dear Jean,

Firstly I would like take the time to tell you a little bit about myself. I come from a small country town in Central West NSW .  I have spent most of my life in the region, including time in Bathurst, NSW completing a double Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Policing before joining the Navy two years ago. HMAS Darwin is my second ship, I spent a few months on board HMAS Newcastle before she deployed to the Middle East, and now have the pleasure of being on board HMAS Darwin for her decommisioning deployment to South East Asia.

Secondly, I wish to sincerely thank you for the time and effort you placed into making the laundry bag which I recieved. I never would have thought something so small would bring so much joy and happiness to many people. I hope you and your colleagues at Aussie Hero Quilts realise just how much these gestures of kindness and goodwill mean to all of us on board (218 crew all recieved a bag). Additionally, I will keep this bag close to me for as long as possible, as it means quite a lot to me being part of the crew on a decommissioning ship.
Again, thankyou sincerly for your efforts and kindness.

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Ally,

Many thanks for the laundry bag. I really appreciate the effort you have put into this bag, nice touch with the gum nuts.

I see we have a couple of things also in common, I have a 1951 customised Ford Ute, have a few grand kids, one on the way next year, and a lovely border collie, Lollie.

Everyone on HMAS Darwin really appreciates the gifts and work you all do, keep it up.

Kind Regards,
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Ma’am,

Good Evening, I am writing to thank you very much for the laundry bag I received today, the Darwin crest and years of service will be a good memento of my time in this fine ship for years to come.

I am the Operations Officer (known as OPSO) in HMAS Darwin and have been posted here for 18 months. As the OPSO I am responsible to the Commanding Officer to maintain the combat readiness of the Operations Room, which is where all our Radar/ Sonar feeds are displayed, and manage the Combat Systems Operator department who are the Sailor who man the consoles. To reach the position of OPSO I have had to achieve my specialisation of becoming a Principal Warfare Officer – Surface Warfare (PWO-SW). A very general job description of a PWO-SW is we are in charge of the Surface and Sub Surface warfare battle of the ship or as is the case now on our deployment the whole task group Surface and Sub Surface battle.

I apologise if none of that makes any sense, we spend so much time around other navy people we forget how to explain stuff like this in a way that makes sense.

Thanks again for the laundry bag, or as we say in the Navy VMT, (very many thanks)

Regards,

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Good Morning Jo,

I am writing this email to thank you for the wonderful laundry bag that i received from you. These laundry bags are not only very practical but a great boost to morale when we receive them. It is nice to know that someone is thinking about us while we are away from home. I will get plenty of use out of it and it will also be treasured memento of my time onboard HMAS Darwin in her final year. Again thankyou, what you have done for me and my fellow sailors is greatly appreciated and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Regards,
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And from other happy recipients….
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For a quilt made by Donna J

I’m ecstatic with how brilliant the quilt is. My Fiance and I love it and we are planning on having it on display at our wedding with all the Australian and Canadian guests. We will be sure to thank Donna Jay for her wonderful efforts as well. Thank you so much.  we will definitely try to get a pic on on the big day with it

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Jean,

Thank you for the laundry bag it is great. It has and will see allot of use and I can tell that the previous number you have created has made you an exceptional crafts lady at her trade.

Receiving the laundry bag was a nice surprise. As are most care packages that we receive while we are away.

I actually come from Newcastle so I have been to Coffs Harbour once or twice and agree that it is a lovely place.

Once again thank you for the laundry bag.


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Dear Lydia,
Thank you so very very much for my quilt it is absolutely perfect.  I felt a bit embarrassed to ask for a gift from you lovely ladies but I sure am glad I did.  It is something I will keep forever!

I am glad that you got me to make a quilt for being a medical family.  I am a FLTLT Nursing Officer for the RAAF. But to add to that I am as reservist from Melbourne and have worked in Emergency/critical care for 12 years.   

I am so honoured that I get to use my skills to serve my country.   It is so humbling that people at home think about us and are able to contribute by making us individual gifts, I am truly grateful. 


Thanks again and we will be home soon.

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Dear Rita C

AFTER

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Yours truly,
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Sue F,
         Thank you so much for your quilt and laundry bag, they are both beautiful and I have them displayed proudly on my bunk in the mess for all to see.  I will not lie, your son will be doing things a lot tougher if he is deployed, than I am just don’t tell him that I said that.  I appreciate the effort it would have taken to complete both quilt and laundry bag again thank you so much.

Yours Aye,
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