Grati -Tuesday 24th August 2021

Written by AHQ



24 August 2021



What’s happening in your world? Mine is much the same as the last 50 odd days under stay at home orders, work from home, and online shopping! LOL.. Although, this week, I started seeing an osteo and having remedial massage for my rheumatoid arthritis that had flared as a result of a short stay in hospital and poor habits while working from home. Can I just say, AMAZING! I am sleeping better, moving better and pain has significantly decreased! I’m only sorry I didn’t start this sooner! How good is it, when you are finally heard, and understood!

Enough from me, hope you enjoy the read!

….

Hello Clarissa,

I am writing to say a huge thank you for the amazing laundry bag you made for me!

You managed to design something I didn’t actually know I wanted and I absolutely love it. It will definitely be used for many years to come. I was super excited when I opened the parcel, I instantly sent photos to my family, including my grandmother, who also enjoys sewing. She is very talented, like yourself and colleagues. She used to make costumes for the School Spectacular! She too, was very impressed with your work.

This is my first deployment so I wasn’t very familiar with your work until I found your Facebook page. You all do a great job and myself along with all the other deployed members enjoy and appreciate your work so much. Definitely brightens our days receiving the sewn goods from you guys.

Thank you for sharing a part of your story.

I thought I’d tell you a bit about me, and the reasoning behind the request of the laundry bag design. Red and blue are my favourite colours, as a kid I loved Spider-Man, and they are the predominant colours of his outfit. As I grew up, I got into motorbikes and cars. I currently have 2 blue Yamahas, dirt bikes and a red Holden ute, so the love of red and blue continued. The number 487, was my racing number when I raced dirt bikes. I raced all over NSW for about 5 years from ages 13-17 and gave it up just before I enlisted, I still enjoy a social ride every now then though. As you might be able to tell I’m a little bit of a tomboy, haha!

Anyway, it was lovely to receive a letter from yourself. That was very kind of you. I grew up in NSW.

Hope you and your family are staying safe in these uncertain times. One again, thank you for the laundry bag.

Take care

….

Good Afternoon Marilyn,

I received your beautiful bag today, with your letter inside.

We are currently preparing to deploy on Operation COVID-19 Assist to work with the State Police to contain the COVID outbreak in NSW.

Your laundry bags are really important to us – not only are they cool designs, but they help us distinguish our laundry when we have to wash our clothes. Due to the nature of our work and the virus, we have to get our washing professionally cleaned and separated from the laundry of these on base.

You beauty! It’s not everyday that someone does your washing for you.

I particularly, love the design of my bag – I grew up in the country so have become very affectionate of my farm animal – themed laundry bag. I love it.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and considerate gift. It makes us feel loved and appreciated and that means a lot.

With sincere thanks.

….

Dear Lynn and Arthur,

Thank you for your wonderful quilt, I received in the mail a few days ago. I very much appreciate it. I apologise for the email, mail is sporadic at the moment with the draw down in the Middle East, but I would rather not wait for the C-130 to arrive to send my thanks.

I handed out several of the Aussie Hero Quilts to Wounded, Injured and Ill members at the School of Infantry before my deployment, and it was very satisfying to see people receive something they could treasure for a very long time.

In turn, I highly appreciate to receive the quilt you made whilst I am on deployment, and can see the care and effort you have put into it.

The mission over here in Middle East is a very good one, and I am enjoying working in such a diverse environment within the Multinational Force and Observers. Whilst I miss my family, there is a tight knit group of Aussies to get around.

Again, thank you for your efforts in helping our deployed personnel feel appreciated and giving them a quality gift from home.

Stay well.

Duty First.

….

Hi Marilyn,

Today I received a laundry bag that you made. I just wanted to say a massive thank you for making these, I truly appreciate it a lot. I hope you and your family are doing well and keeping safe during these times.

I have been in the service for just under 4 years now, I grew up and spent most of my childhood in NSW, the not long before I joined the Army and moved to QLD. I have 3 siblings in total, 2 brothers and 1 sister. My brothers are also in the Army, 1 in Northern Territory and the other in NSW. I am also an Uncle to a beautiful niece aged 1 and nephew aged 4 months.

Once again, I would like to say thank you for this gift and I hope you are doing well and keeping safe.

P.S. I was lucky enough to get a Captain Marvel one which was perfect for me as I am a huge fan of Marvel!

Kind Regards

….

Good Evening,

Ladies, thank you for taking the time to design and create a personalised quilt, just for me. I am honoured and grateful for all you have done and continue to do for serving members. I love my quilt, it is better than I imagined, thank you!

It was also very nice of you to share some personal details.

Wendy, It’s great to hear you have your family living back in the same state and that everyone is healthy and well. Enjoy the time and joy they bring you. I hope you remain safe with the latest COVID-19 outbreaks I hear being reported throughout Australia. Please give my thanks to anyone else who may have assisted, including your family for allowing them to share the time I took you away, to assemble my wonderful quilt.

Lynn, I am glad to hear your family is progressing well too. The ANZAC theme is my favourite too. I will never forget my first Dawn Service, at the Shrine of Remembrance in Victoria and how truly patriotic I felt from that day onwards and for the ultimate sacrifice for all those before me have made.

A little about myself; I am originally from Victoria, and now living in South Australia. I live near the beach which keeps me happy and healthy. My family only extends to mum and a younger sister (oh and cute little niece), so I imagine our family gatherings are a lot more timid than yours. I am an Office in the RAAF (which you are probably already aware of) and I have recently completed 15 years of service. This is my fourth overseas deployment, totalling almost two years. You might find it delighting to know that today marks the first time ever I have received a package from anyone. Two in fact, one from you and one from mum, which makes today so much more special.

They don’t call it Christmas in July for nothing.

Thanks again and all the best.

P.S. I am excited to see what laundry bag design your team is assembling.

….

Good Afternoon,

I am writing in response to the quilt that was made for me whilst I was off work for 7 months due to a medical condition.

This quilt is something I am going to cherish forever. It was made for me during a time of struggle. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Denise and Alison for putting together such a wonderful piece of Art. It represents something I cherish dearly and hold close to my heart being the Australian followed by the Skippy badge.

With that said, I thank everyone over at Aussie Hero Quilts.

Kind Regards

….

Hi Ellen,

I have received the laundry bag, you made and absolutely love it, so thank you!

I am 21 years old, and am an LT in the Royal Australian Engineers and have been in the Army for 4 years. I have a long family history in the ADF, which is something that made me want to join.

I grew up by the beach, and love all things to do with the water (swimming and surfing etc).

Thank you again.

….

Thank you from CHAP who phone to say THANKS!!

For the 70 bags of laundry bags posted to him, arriving this morning and already distributed to the new recruits straight out of training and tasked today for their ADF role.

Cheers.

….

Hi Lisa,

I have been away, but when I got home it was there waiting for me, and I was truly in awe at how well designed it was…

I am so happy and grateful to you all and the two sisters who put my special quilt together.

You all do such an amazing job and all of my team and I can’t stop talking about our quilts, so thank you all.

Kind Regards

….

How wonderful were they!?! I always have such a good time reading through, and being able to share with all of you.

Enough from me, hope you have a safe and happy week, and don’t forget to like, comment or share the post so we can keep spreading the word.

Thanks!

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. 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,

❤❤❤

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,