Friends!

Last Grati post before Christmas. I hope you are all ready!!

Take some time out to enjoy this week’s notes, I know I did! Alex

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Greetings,

I received a quilt a few years ago at the Australian Embassy. I just wanted to let you know I am still using the quilt and thank you so much for the kind gift.

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G’day Lyn,

I hope you are well, I wanted to thank you for designing and making the owl themed quilt and laundry bag. The quilt has so much detail and it would have taken you ages to make, I just wanted to thank you for your effort.

You also put a kookaburra on the quilt which is really sentimental to my fiancé as they remind her of her late grandfather.

I hope you get to see your family this Christmas.

Thank you for your kind gifts and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Kind Regards.

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Good Morning Ellen,

I apologise for not writing a more traditional letter – we’ve had some significant delays with mail and outbound international mail from Asia has all but dried up, but did want to personally let you know that the laundry bags you sent arrived yesterday, and will be distributed to the new rotation of Army personnel arriving early next year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Blessing on your Christmas and New Years celebrations – may 2022 be for you everything that 2021 may not have been.

Thank you

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Good Morning Bev from the Middle East!

I am writing to thank you for my totally awesome laundry bag with motorcycles. I absolutely love it.

I appreciate you and your efforts to send me and others these gifts from home.

Thank you again.

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Hi Lisa,

Thank you.

I received my quilt today and am amazed at the effort that has gone into it’s design and craftsmanship. It is very beautiful and absolutely perfect.

Lyn and Wendy are both amazing quilters. Their efforts will not be forgotten and will remain with me forever.

Please thank them for me.

I look forward to receiving the laundry bag knowing it will also be a tremendous token of my service.

Kindest Regards.

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Good Morning Janet,

Thank you very much for the quilt that you were so kind to make. I greatly appreciate the time and effort that you have clearly put into the quilt because it looks awesome.

I’ll make sure that I look after it and take it with me wherever I go.

Again, thank you very much

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Good Morning Marilyn,

Thank you so much for the laundry bag. It looks fantastic and sticks out like a sore thumb, letting me find it easily against everyone else’s.

I’ve been in the Navy for 7 years now and I’m enjoying it for the most part (no one likes being away from home). I guess home for me is Western Australia, because that is where my partner is and where I have lived for about four years now. I grew up in South Australia though, and my family lives there too. It’s always tricky when someone asks where home is, because I’m not sure if it is where I am now, or where I grew up and where my family is.

Again, thank you very much for the time and effort you put in and I wish you a very happy Christmas.

Kind Regards.

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Hello Sue,

I have just received the beautiful quilt that you have made for me.

I just wanted to say a big thank you. It’s very special and I will treasure it forever (and beyond).

I am the Officer-In-Charge of Health Centre. Over the past two years we have been heavily involved in COVID-19 Operations amongst many other clinical support activities. Your quilt will certainly help me to remember all of the good work we have achieved over this hectic past few years.

Merry Christmas and a million thanks.

Regards

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Hello Cath,

You made a hero quilt and laundry bag for me!

I just wanted to say thank you so much, I love them both dearly and really appreciate all the time and effort you went to designing and then creating them for me! They really are beautiful.

You made my week when I received them, and your letter was lovely.

Thank you for all your hard work and effort.

Have a lovely night.

Thank you

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Hello Clarissa,

I received it tonight, as the ship is currently docked and I drove ashore for two days, picked up the mail this afternoon and then drove back and have just finished unpacking the bags.

Lots of parcels have now arrived for the crew – thank you so much – I love mine and will write to the quilter personally as well. I’m sure many members will write and thank everyone individually as well.

Thanks for all your follow up – appreciate it.

Take care

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Good Afternoon Ellen,

I am delighted to be a recipient of one of your laundry bags. It has indeed made a safe journey to Joint Task Group 629 during the mounting of Operation COVID-19 Assist. I love dogs and your design reminds me of my pup waiting for me at home.

I take it with me on every OP!

I’m an infantry reservist from the 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment. In my short time I have served on a number of domestic response operations for both fires and floods, travelled to Asia on Rifle Company and now work as a military contractor.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

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Philomena,

I am glad to say that I have received my lovely quilt and laundry bag. I absolutely love it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, with everything going on, it has been a very stressful time.

It honestly was the best pick me up, especially on the same day my best mate is heading home. I am forever grateful, it makes such a difference.

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Hello Cath,

I just received my quilt today and I absolutely love it, it’s perfect, I had to respond right away! I firstly just want to say thank you so much for the time, effort and love you put into these quilts. I cannot begin to explain how much they mean to us and the excitement we feel when we receive them.

So a bit about me. You guessed correctly, I am a mum to two beautiful golden retrievers. A handsome young man (3 years old) and a sweet girl (2 years old).

My favourite thing about coming home from deployments is the first time seeing my fur babies after months away. This year alone I’ve spent nearly 8 months away whilst they’ve stayed with my brother, they never forget who their Mumma is.

My girl is actually a dwarf golden, she just stopped growing at 6 months. Everyone thinks she’s a puppy still and we always get asked how old she is. I think it’s amazing how big and individual a golden’s personality is. My two are complete polar opposites. He is so friendly and loving, but can also happily just chill on the couch by himself. He has the cutest little prance and taps his feet when he’s excited. She, on the other hand, is very anxious when she doesn’t know people, she’s very protective but very timid. But once she knows you she is the most affectionate and loving baby girl you’ve ever met. She’s very jealous, shoves your hand off her brother if he’s getting pats. They’re my babies.

For me, I joined the military at 17. I’ve been serving just short of 4 years and have served on both HMAS Warramunga and HMAS ANZAC. I’m a triplet! The middle baby with two brothers. One has a carpentry business and the other finishing his uni degree in counter terrorism and security. I grew up in a small country town in Western Australia. We had a little farm house with pet cows, chickens, dogs, cats, goats you name it.

I’m a Combat Systems Operator specialising in underwater warfare. I work long hours at sea but also get to do things, see things and interact with other countries in warfare exercises, it’s extremely rewarding and equally tiring. I study a degree in criminology majoring in criminal behaviour as well as work full time. I am planning on leaving the military at my 6/7 year mark and pursuing a career as a criminologist or criminal psychologist.

I am writing to you right now on my empty bedroom floor as all my furniture got picked up today because I am moving at the end of the week. My next posting is doing acoustic analysis. My partner and I are driving across, the two golden babies tagging along. My boy dog and I did the drive together in 2019 from NSW to WA for my ANZAC posting. I’m not looking forward to the long drive again.

I hope this email finds you well. I want to say thank you again, the golden retriever fabric is beautiful and the small paws sewn into the back is the first thing I noticed. The details are much appreciated and again so beautiful. I’ll be taking it with me on my next deployment and cuddle it thinking of my two goldens at home, perfect to add to my crazy dog rack at sea.

We appreciate you and everything that Aussie Hero Quilts do for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Kind Regards and well wishes.

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Anne,

I am absolutely obsessed with my quilt. I cannot thank you enough. It was the best surprise to be waiting for me when I returned to Australia just last month. It has already been on a camping trip with my partner and I and we fight over it all the time.

I do love to see the occasional train although am not an avid spotter, more an appreciator when I come across one of the magnificent beauties; they are something that have always made me smile and that feeling while at sea is so important. Thank you so much for dedicating a tea towel from York to my quilt. It gives it so much personality and knowing this makes me love it all the more.

I am a helicopter pilot onboard HMAS ANZAC and have just finished an 18 months sea posting where we pulled into many ports although we were unable to step ashore in any due to COVID. An interesting experience and having this quilt on the next trip will bring me that bit more happiness.

Thank you so much.

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Dear Ruth,

Firstly, can I just thank you for your time and effort in creating such an immaculate laundry bag. This came to me at a crucial time. I had been on deployment for quite a while and was at a point where I began to feel quite tired and found myself thinking of Australia often.

When I received your letter, it truly made my week and gave me the boost of energy I needed. It is humbling to know Australians like yourself are conducting such a service and makes me proud to serve.

As you can probably tell, I do enjoy Australian nature and wildlife. To be honest, I haven’t yet used it as a laundry bag. I love the design and quality so much, I have hung it up on my wall to give my plain room overseas some life. I very much enjoy having it up.

Your family sounds lovely.

I am looking forward to some time off when I return to see my family of four sisters and one brother in Western Australia.

Thanks again for your service and kindness.

Best of luck to you and your family.

Warmest Regards.

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Till next week, Alex