Grati-Tuesday – 13th Feb 2024

Written by AHQ

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13 February 2024

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Happy Tuesday Friends!

Although not as many letters this week, the ones we have received are so very special and we are grateful to have received them....

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some well deserved gratitude!

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Dear Heather B,

Thank you for your beautiful letter, and your even more beautiful bespoke Family Laundry Bag.

When I opened the parcel and saw the bag for the first time...well I’ll be honest, it reduced me to tears. You had put so much thought into it, and managed to totally capture us as a family, I was quite overwhelmed.

Unfortunately I am the only one living at the family home in Canberra at the moment as my husband is posted to HMAS Creswell at Jervis Bay, some of the children are living together in Sydney for work, and another child, while still in Canberra, lives out of home and closer to her work which helps her to manage her shiftwork. So it has taken me a while to be able to show them your beautiful creation and get their feedback, which I was keen to do so you knew how truly touched and honoured we are to be the recipients of your thoughtful efforts. So in summary, the following are some direct quotes from the family as they saw it for the first time.

Husband

Oh wow! That is pretty special!

Child 1

Oh my God!! That is so awesome.....I love that!

Child 2

Oh my God!! How beautiful......it’s our whole story!

Child 3

Oh my God!! This makes me so happy, my teeth are hurting from smiling!

The kids particularly liked that you covered off on all the postings, and the heart buttons you used to represent where they were born. Personally, I really liked the crossword you did on the back...and the quality of your work – your quilts must be amazing!

As a family we love to travel, and as the kids are getting older they are travelling more independently. So we have agreed we will all share the bag (the kids are calling it the Family Heirloom), taking turns depending on who is travelling at any one time.

Thanks for sharing your personal story and connection to military service. Your Uncles’ story is incredible....and I of course have a soft spot for sailors. My husband is a bit of an enigma in his family in that he did not come from a service family. Although his father (and mine) did National Service, neither of them considered that to be the ADF type service that my husband undertook. So it was a bit of a surprise to his parents when he announced at the ripe old age of about 10 that he was going to join the Navy. I guess his 42 plus (and counting) years of service means he has done the heavy lifting for our families by way of patriotic representation. That said...

...while incredibly supportive of their father’s service and accommodating of the challenges that meant for them growing up, none of our kids aspired to military service. That is until our daughter spent a few days visiting her Dad at Creswell where she got to observe up close his work in teaching leadership to new entry officers. She promptly came home and registered her interest in joining the Navy Reserves. Ironically, if she is accepted her father will be her leadership instructor, and when she graduates, he will have to salute her as she will be an officer (he is a Warrant Officer)....that causes some amusement in the family!

My husband and I will visit Vietnam and Cambodia in April of this year with our best friends. They are very keen to visit the tunnels and explore the history of the Vietnam War while we are there. And of course, we will have with us, our very special, bespoke Family Laundry Bag (a.k.a. the Family Heirloom)

Thank you again so very much Heather. All five of us feel very blessed and humbled by your efforts to recognise us as a dedicated and committed military family.

Thank you also for everything you do for Aussie Heroes.....it is an incredible initiative that really makes a difference to how current and ex serving personnel feel about the community gratitude that exists. When I retire, I will try to learn how to quilt and join you all. Mind you....given my relative lack of creative talent, its probably best that I just volunteer in an administrative role!

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Good Morning Sir and Ma’am,

I received my amazing bag from Shirley D and I’m writing to you saying a big thank you and you have an amazing story. I’d like to thank you so much for taking the time and effort in creating this bag and it put a great smile on my face and has made my day. I’d like to also thank your father for his service. Men like him gave me the inspiration and courage to serve our beautiful country so I thank you for that and I hope they are never forgotten and their stories stay strong and shared throughout our country .

I’d like to also share a bit of my story. I grew up In small fishing town on the far south coast of NSW and then moved to Vic in 2014. I moved to pursue my golf. I recently got back into golf last year I started off 7 and got it down to 0 as of the weekend.

My father is a fisherman and my mother a bartender. I wanted to become a professional golfer however I heard my call back to serve my country so I had to put my hopes and dreams aside. My very first trip on a boat was the boat my dad worked on the Mark M. I was the age of three and he strapped a line around me as well as a lifejacket and off we went. I grew up on the water but I have a strong passion for sport especially golf. I also support the Sydney roosters in the NRL and will watch any sport.

I have a beautiful partner, and I try my very best to be the best man I can be. We hope to purchase a house in the upcoming years however its hard with the cost of living but we will try.

She has been the best thing has come into my life, she is an amazing and beautiful person and she makes me a better person each and every day.

May you all have a safe, healthy and happy year.

Thankyou again Shirley I really appreciate the bag it’s amazing.

Kind Regards,

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Good Morning Bridget R,

I am writing to you as a way of thanks for the beautiful quilt and laundry bag you spent your time making for me.

I appreciate the time and work you did for me in the making of each item and love the design and every aspect of each detail you placed within it.

I still remember my time in Afghanistan when laundry bags were sent to us and it was a huge morale booster for our time over there and once again receiving your quilt and bag today.

I will definitely recommend my colleagues to send their requests in future as I think they are a fabulous for service people to receive and acknowledge the community does appreciate our service.

Once again thankyou very much and I will be taking these with me on OP RESOLUTE in the very near future.

Regards,

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Hello Heather B,

Thank you so much for the quilt and the lovely letter. I am a mad horse racing fan and Makybe Diva was one of my favourites.

All of the volunteers do a wonderful job for Aussie Heroes and very appreciated by myself and all defence members.

I have been in the RAAF for 30 years now and still enjoying what I do, however I am also planning my retirement.

We have just brought our first caravan and just returned from a month away in Victoria. We now have the bug so a lot more travelling is on the horizon.

Once again thanks so much and please see the attached photo with me holding the quilt.

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

Tuesday's would be so totally boring without them!

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Bobbie S and the Mystery BOMers. Emb Joan Quilted by Philomena and added to by Bridget
LB Ruth S

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Good afternoon Hilary P,

I am writing to say thank you so much for the lovely quilt, laundry bag and letter!

I am amazed at the detail and thought you have put into the quilt for me and I can not thank you enough!It is something I will treasure for a long time and I will definitely be using the laundry bag on my next deployed or trip!

I really appreciate the time you took to write the letter noting how busy you and all the other volunteers are at AHQ. I hope the annual dinner in Canberra goes well. You all deserve to be celebrated for the work you do.

Even though I am back from my deployment now, I am honoured to know there are people like you out there, looking out for those of us away from family, friends and loved ones.

Thank you again!

Kindest regards,

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Dear Sue-Ellen S,

I’m in the Royal Australian Navy posted to HMAS Stuart and currently on deployment in Asia. I am 25 years old and I grew up in Melbourne and joined the RAN when I was 19 and I now live in WA. The other week I received the laundry bag you made along with your letter. Thank you so much for the laundry bag as its well made and the perfect size. I greatly appreciate the work you do with AHQ and at your local RSL (pulling beers is essential work ) and all others who volunteer. As a sailor a sturdy Dhobey bag (laundry bag) is very nice to have and makes life onboard just that bit much easier as the standard issue bags tend to rip and tear. I enjoyed reading your letter and hearing about your family military history. I hope your retirement is going well and I wish your sons the best.

Kindest regards,

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Hi Ruth S,

I just received my laundry bag that you compiled. It is fantastic, so thank you for your time and effort to make us veterans feel people care.

Again, thank you and take care

regards

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Good evening Sue-Ellen S,

I'm an electronics technician in the Royal Australian Navy, proud father to a rabbit named Pickles, and as of the other day, the even prouder owner of a majestic blue laundry bag covered in platypuses (or platypies... whatever the plural may be).

I must admit, I wasn't originally looking for a new laundry bag we get issued a fresh one with every new posting, after all. But the moment I saw that vibrant blue pattern and the platypuses (which happen to be my mother’s absolute Favorite animal and that felt a little bit like the universe was trying to tell me something), I knew I had to grab it right away.

Fun fact about the humble platypus: because they lay eggs and produce milk. So, if you're ever stuck in the bush craving an omelette a platypus is your one-stop shop!

On a more personal note, I hope your sons are doing well. Reading your letter, your pride in them and the work they do shines through so clearly. They are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive mother in their corner.

I personally have not attended one of the charity dinners for the Doby bag cause, however a ex of mine has in 2024, and apparently it was quite the shindig.

Thank you so much for everything you do with your local RSL. The support you provide isn't just vital to active service members, it's a massive morale booster for the entire veteran community.

Please make sure to enjoy a well-deserved pint (or several) after reading this. You’ve more than earned it.

Warm regards,

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Dear Hilary T,

I would like to express my gratitude to you for the beautiful laundry bag that you so skilfully created. I was gifted it after completing a deployment. The design and craftsmanship is impressive.

I am a member of the Australian Army Reserves and work as a signaller. I too originate from overseas- I am Scottish, and like you moved to Australia for better weather and more of an outdoor lifestyle for our children to grow up in. It has been such a beautiful country to live in and we appreciate all of the opportunities that we have been given. I joined the Reserves as a way of serving and giving something back. (I am a Sonographer in my full time job. )

I will be proud to use the laundry bag whenever I am away with Army and once again, thank you so much.

Kindest regards,

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Good Afternoon Clarissa L,

I'm a Soldier at the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and was very fortunate to receive a laundry bag sewn by yourself from Aussie Hero Quilts. I know I and everyone who received one was very grateful for your token of appreciation and to know that we're being thought of. It will be very handy as I'm about to step off on a six week task within Australia. Again thank you very much for giving up your valuable time to help ADF Personnel across the globe, it's greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,

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Dear Janice L,

Thank you so very much for my new laundry bag (its going to get a good work out) it is very hot on our current deployment.

I just wanted to tell you a little about myself. I’ve been serving in the Royal Australian Navy for 15 years now. During that time I have had the opportunity to work across Submarines, Supply ships and ANZAC Class frigates. (currently on HMAS Stuart) It’s been a challenging career, but one that I am proud of and enjoy. I have also been lucky to have some incredible experiences.

I have a wife and Family of 4 children (not including our dog JJ) back home in Rockingham, WA. We come from Brisbane but I had to move to WA when I started working on Submarines. One of the hardest parts of the job is spending time away from them.

The Navy is a big part of my life but my family keeps me grounded.

I hope this gives you a little insight into who I am. Thank you to Aussie Hero quilts and your self for the quilt.

Kind regards,

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Hello Hilary T,

I'm the recipient of the Bag you made and had sent to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. I'm writing to thankyou for the lovely bag / letter and to express my gratitude for your support through Aussie Hero Quilts.

To let you know abit about the recipient of your bag, I was born and raised in Newcastle so I'm well aware of the beautiful country that is the Nelson bay area and try to take the opportunity to show it to my Cairns born partner whenever I get the chance, it just goes to show how close we probably were at one point even though we know live on the other side of the country.

I joined the Army in 2020 and commissioned through the Royal Military College - Duntroon in Canberra and was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps as a Cavalry Officer. Since then I have been posted to the School of Armour in Puckapunyal as an instructor then to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville.

I thankyou again for your work and hopefully you know how much these bags were appreciated by everyone at the Regiment.

Kind regards,

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Hi Janice B,

I just wanted to email you and let you know I received my quilt and laundry bag.

I love them. I have read the Eragon series and recognised the Dragon right away. Not gonna lie, I squealed a little.
Also I did test the laundry bag and kept laughing.

My uncle was a submariner as well so we have a lot in common it seems! I loved reading your letter and about all your
adventures.

Thank you once again for my quilt and Laundry bad. I love them and appreciate all the effort you and your team put into
them.

Kind regards

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Hi Lois S,

Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt. I received it in perfect condition, and I wanted to let you know that it was exactly what I was after. The design, colours and space theme are fantastic, and I can see the incredible amount of work and care that went into creating it. The embroidered patches, ISS, Saturn V and Space Shuttle are particularly impressive, and knowing that they took around 250,000 stitches makes me appreciate it even more.

I also really enjoyed reading about your time in Florida and your visits to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Watching the launch of Discovery STS-120 must have been an amazing experience.

Like you, I have been to the Kennedy Space Center multiple times, and I honestly think it is one of the best places to visit in Florida. Every visit has been memorable, and as someone with an interest in space exploration, I never get tired of seeing the exhibits, launch facilities and history on display.

Thank you again for your generosity, time and effort in making the quilt. It will be something I treasure for many years to come. I truly appreciate the support you and the Aussie Hero Quilts community provide to veterans.

Kind regards,

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The following letter was published on the 26th August so it may be familiar. We have now received permission to publish the photo so I thought it was very tied in with the letter, it deserved a second publishing:

Dear Shirley D,

I hope this email finds you well.

I recently received the amazing laundry bag that you made for me through Aussie Hero Quilts while serving with the Australian Contingent in the Sinai as part of the Multinational Force and Observers. Thank you for the incredible time, care and generosity that went into making it. Receiving a parcel from home is always appreciated, but receiving something handmade by a complete stranger was something quite special and I couldn't be more grateful.

I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to write such a personal letter. I genuinely enjoyed reading about your family, your textile art, and the remarkable work you have done supporting Australian service personnel since 2015.

Of everything you wrote, it was the story of your father that resonated with me the most. During this deployment, I had the privilege of leading a battlefield study of Alexandria and El Alamein four our contingent, where we walked the ground, visited the Commonwealth War Cemetery and reflected on the actions fought there. Reading about your father's service with the 2/24th Battalion, and the sacrifices he made at both El Alamein and later in New Guinea, made me incredibly proud of his service and privileged to have stood on the same ground where he and so many other Australians fought. It also struck me that, more than eighty years later, an Australian soldier is serving in the same region while receiving a laundry bag made by the daughter of one of those veterans. That is a connection I will never forget.

I also wanted to say how much I appreciated the Egyptian theme of the laundry bag. It was clear how much thought went into making something that reflected where I was serving, and the pyramids, the colours of sand and the kangaroos could not have been more fitting for my deployment with the MFO. It has already become one of my favourite keepsakes from my time in the Sinai and will be coming home to Australia with me when I return.

I've attached a photo taken overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba at South Camp shortly after I received your parcel. I thought you might enjoy seeing where your laundry bag ended up.

There are many people who contribute quietly to Australia's military capability without ever wearing a uniform. Your generosity, talent and countless hours of volunteer work are part of that contribution. Although we have never met, your kindness reached me on the other side of the world and made a genuine difference.

Thank you again for everything you do for Australian service men and women. It is deeply appreciated.

Kind regards,