Grati-Tuesday 21April

Written by AHQ



21 April 2015



1 Comments

Post Views: 597

G’day all. By the time you read this I will be in Canberra and getting ready to go to the Australian War Memorial to see the Centenary Quilt be presented.

I am still trying to catch up from being at AQC. Please bear with me if I have not put the request list out yet. It is coming….. I promise….. and if you have emailed me and I have not replied…. I am working on that as well….

I can manage some show and tell though. Here is a very happy Chaplain with his quilt courtesy of Lynn who made the top and Robin who quilted it.

Hello Deb,

Thankyou for all your hard work making the quilt and sending it over with the lollies as well, it was a great morale booster. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate at home running a farm and keeping up with the grandchildren so I just wanted to say thankyou for the time and effort you put into making and sending my quilt, people like yourself are the reason we are happy to come here and do what we do and it’s nice to know there’s some support coming from home. Anyways I have to run, sorry the reply is quite short but I have attached a picture of the quilt on my bunk for you to see.

All the best in the future Deb, and thankyou once again!

Kind Regards,

……

Hi Joan & Robin,

Received the laundry bag, I can’t thank you enough, very Australian and very fitting.
Myself, and the rest of my Platoon here are very grateful for the time and effort that you put in, it certainly doesn’t go unappreciated, and the craftsmanship is quite amazing.
I am the Platoon Commander (Lieutenant) here with about 70 people under my command, I can tell you that all the guys and girls eagerly await the arrival of their Laundry Bags or Quilts, and no one is disappointed.

Thank you again,
…..

Ruth S,

Today I received the care package that you sent to me and I would like to thank you very much for such a kind gesture. I am currently in Kabul on my seventh deployment; however, this is my first deployment to Afghanistan. I will be home in early August from what will probably be my last deployment.

Once again Ruth, thank you beautiful quilt and other goodies (snakes are a favourite of mine).

Best wishes to you and your family.

…..

Hi Jan-Maree,

I relieved my RAEME themed quilt to Kabul yesterday and would just like to thank you and your team so much! It surpassed my expectations and it will definitely go straight to the pool room!

Unfortunately I have been away from the Platoon for a little while and have not been able to see how the guys are going with receiving their quilts, however if they are anywhere near as happy as I am then you have nothing to worry about!

Thanks so much again.

All the best,

…..

Jan-Maree,
I just received my awesome new Seattle Seahawks Quilt.
Thank you very much, I couldn’t have asked for a better quilt – It will be with me on all my future deployments.
Could you please pass on my many thanks to Gale C and Jenny D for a fabulous job!
Also thank you for the Tim Tams, the boys and I finished them in one sitting!
Once again thank you for your support to myself and to all those that serve.
Have a great day.

……

Dear Pauline and Elaine,

I hope this email finds you in good health.

Firstly, thank you so much for the laundry bag. A very thoughtful and useful gift. It’s not something I thought to bring with me but has been invaluable. Unique is one way to describe it but I prefer to describe it as a masterpiece! It certainly stands out.

The picture of the Kangaroos on the beach and your kind Aussie spirit, sure reminds me that Australia is the best place to call home. You can’t find better.

Again, thank you so much for your contribution and your support.

Cheers 🙂

…..

Dear Stephanie and Lyn

Thank you very much for brightening my tour of Afghanistan and my bed through the

generous gift of a wonderful quilt. I am not convinced you have so much fabric hiding

in the cupboard that it needs an overseas holiday, but I am certainly appreciative of

the fact that you took the time to make a quilt and send it to me.

The fact that you are taking the time out of your life to do such a wonderfully selfless

and patriotic act is humbling to us all over here in Afghanistan and in other areas of

operations. Your act of kindness goes a long way towards reminding us all that we are

not forgotten by distance and time and we feel very much appreciated for what we are

doing over here. I hope we are justifying such kindness through our performance and

that you receive the thanks you truly deserve.

The quilt you have sent me is currently resting on my bed and is providing great

service through the very cold nights we are experiencing at the moment. We have

recently had the largest snow fall so far since commencing my tour in Sep last year.

We are due for some more cold nights to come, however, when the weather starts to

warm up I think the quilt will change duty to wall hanging or potentially become my

primary means of cover during sleep.

Thank you once again for your generous gift I think this will now become something

that I will become a family heirloom and be handed down to my grandkids in the not

too distant future. .

….

Dear Irene

I would like to thankyou so very much for your beautiful laundry bag. It is absolutely

gorgeous. Your design and colours are absolutely stunning: and the Australian floral design is just amazing. Thank you. I can’t imagine how much time and effort has gone into this amazing art work; and I am so very honoured to have received it.

After 26 years in the ADF, both ARA and RAAF, this is my very first deployment to the MER. As such, l was not fully aware of the Aussie Hero Laundry Bags. I’m not sure who requested it on my behalf, but it was one of the best surprises that I received during this deployment. Thank you again for providing me with such a beautiful opportunity to smile.

It is just amazing when beautiful caring people like yourself donate so much of your time and money to making us feel so very much appreciated. Thankyou,

I’m not fully aware of what’s been presented in the Media, as we don ‘t have much access to it over here. However, in case you’re interested, we are positioned in the United Arab Emirates(UAE) as a part of the Australian Defence Force contribution to the international coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It is a contribution that I feel is extremely important; and it feels great to be a part of it. After all, it’s extremely important in order to help ensure the safety of our current and future world population not only overseas but within Australia.

The area where we are positioned is a safe haven. It’s a very busy base with a lot of personnel from many different walks of life, which can be entertaining in the very least. We are living in large green tents although, that is not as bad as it sounds. They are segregated with curtains to give you a bit of privacy and are air-conditioned so let’s call it “glamping” (like camping but with a bit more glamour and comfort if you haven’t heard the term before). We also have several facilities available to us during our downtime which include some common areas to relax and catch up with some mates. The meals that are provided are also certainly nothing to complain about; in fact I think it would be easy for me to put on several kilos if I wasn’t careful. All in all, the only thing we really have to worry about is the separation from family and loved ones back at home. The weather over here can be very hot and humid at times.

Thankfully I’ll be leaving before the extreme heat arrives. Unfortunately though, the cooler months here don’t give you relief for very long. There’s nothing like a 40 degree day and 100% humidity to zap your energy.

Personally. I am in a position within a supporting element that sustains the base that we operate from. It is a very rewarding, though at times can be difficult with long and stressful working hours. We do try to get some down time whenever we can though to give our body and minds a rest. Most of my contingent has been here for six months and we’re now about to return home. Overall, the days have gone by slowly but the weeks seem to fly by and months are over before you know it. You could also say that every morning is like a Monday and every afternoon like a Friday.

I’d like to thankyou again for your beautiful gift and your kind words; and I hope that this letter finds you and your family safe and well.

Thank you.

…..

Ladies, Irene, Joy Robyn

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the lovely Laundry Bag you have made for me. I will treasure this gift for years to come. You are an inspiration to me and a true reflection of the Aussie spirit we all love.

I was lucky enough to be given the one with the Aussie flags along the top of the Outback themed bag.

Our lot is from the 3rd Combat Signals Regiment (3 CSR) in Townsville. I am heading home on my mid tour leave in a few weeks and look forward to seeing my Wife and three children. This is my third deployment now, so I think my family are well versed in the hardships of separation. It never gets any easier though!

Thanks again, I wish you all the best.

……

Hi Marie,

I am writing to say thank you very much for all your hard work and effort in sending me a Hero Quilt.

This is my fourth tour of Afghanistan and to receive such a personal gift that had so much thought and hard work put into it was very humbling and myself and some of the other boys who have received a Hero Quilt are very appreciative.

Thanks very much for the magazine and the Easter treats too. You are correct the weather is very extreme, in January it was heavy snow everyday and now it is getting into the mid twenties.

Thankyou once again

…..

Noeleen,

Thank heaps for the quilt and the ‘goodies’. I have just finished leave and was expecting the weather to have warmed up here in Afghanistan but there is still snow on the mountains so I slept under it last night and was warm as toast. This morning when my American roommate awoke he was more than impressed not just with the effort to send the gift but also the detail of the stitching.

Again thanks for the gift I will treasure it for years to come.

……

Jan-Maree, Lynn and Robin (the talented makers of (XXXXX’s helicopter quilt!)

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you wonderful ladies. You created the most amazing quilt for XXXX and I wanted to personally thank you for such an incredible gesture.

XXXXX said to me that he absolutely loves the quilt.

So thank you again. Not only you are giving to our service men and women a moral boost with such a thoughtful gift; but for us you have created a keepsake for our future family.

Thank you again!

…..

Hi Jan-Maree,

I just wanted to let you know that I received my Quilt (made by Lynn and quilted by Belinda) and Laundry Bag today.

I love it, and truthfully, I feel like I don’t deserve it……. I actually saw the laundry bag on your recent blog post, and did wonder if that was mine, haha.

I will send Margaret a personal email, but I just wanted to express my deepest gratitude for the work that your organistation does. I feel rather emotional as I write this.

I will take a picture of the quilt and post it to Facebook.

Again, thank you for the work Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags does. Receiving this package has truly made my day.

Cheers,

…..

Greetings Stephanie,

I am the lucky recipient and new owner of your amazing monkey and chicken themed quilt!

Firstly thank you very much for the time and effort you have clearly put into the quilt. It really is a work of art and something I will no doubt treasure for a long time.

Not sure whether you are aware but we are currently enroute to Greece to partake in the Centennary of Anzac commemorations and as you can imagine, are all quite excited. A once in a life time opportunity to pay our respects so close to where it all unfolded 100 years ago. From there we are essentially homeward bound after what will be a long, arduous yet very rewarding deployment.

Thanks again for the quilt Stephanie, I will endeavour to get a snap to you in due course.

Kind Regards,

…..

Dear Jan-Maree,

I needed to write to you for a plethora of reasons, first and foremost to tell you how humbled and proud I am to hear my colleagues and I are thought of at all let alone the esteem you and your amazing network at AHQ hold us in. I’m currently serving on my 7th deployment in the MEAO totaling around 26 months. Needless to say I’m very familiar with this part of the world now and in all my time over here nothing has touched me as much as the personal attention given to us by AHQ. I was first introduced to AHQ when I commented on the brilliant red and white Swannies quilt one of my staff had adorning his bed making it look homely and inviting rather than looking like a jail cell. When he explained where it had come from and the story behind it I was amazed.

I’ve obviously been in touch since and I now proudly show off an inviting room decked out with one of your quilts decorated with surfing scenes and a C130 silhouette. Absolutely fantastic as the photo attests! So, a huge thank you to Lynn and Robin for the quilting, and of course you for caring about us in the first place and certainly not least for the amazing personalized quilt.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to you, your amazing team at AHQ and to all those who spare a thought for us. We’ll be raising a toast to you on ANZAC day from afar.

King regards,

Till next time……………keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
Jan-Maree xx

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

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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. Durning 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,

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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

❤❤❤

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,

❤❤❤

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,