Grati-Tuesday 25th February 2025

Written by AHQ

25 February 2025

Grati

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Happy Tuesday Friends!

Welcome to the last blog of February.

We have a few messages from the recently returned Invictus Games competitors who smashed it for Australia!
Grab a cuppa or cool drink, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude!

***

Good evening Jan-Maree,
We have returned from Canada yesterday, and I just wanted to say thanks again for the beautiful laundry bags. They were seen all over Vancouver laundromats and the hotel  throughout our time. I have added some photos, and have also sent through to Jenny.
 
I hope you have a wonderful week. 
 
Kind regards
 

***

Hi Clarissa and Derek L,
 
I am writing to thank you for my amazing laundry bag. I was the envy of the entire team for the amazing Indigenous artwork incorporated into my bag. 
 
My bag took on a second life when it kept my medals safe on the way home. Now that I am home my Maltese pup, named Wolfie, has taken a great interest in my bag so I will have to ensure I keep it out of reach and safe. 
 
My family and I hold so much gratitude for all the doctors and nurses that have helped me throughout my treatment and the medical profession as a whole. I wish your daughters and son all the best in their respective careers.
 
I went into these games extremely nervous about competing while still recovering from treatment so to come away with a full set of medals has been the shock of a lifetime.
 
Thank you for playing such a special part in my Invictus journey. 
 
Kind regards,
 
***
Good Evening Jan-Maree and Ruth S,
 
Firstly, Jan-Maree, I must extend the absolute warmest thank you to yourself and the amazing team at Aussie Hero quilts for the amazing effort you all put in, I spent my entire Navy career beyond envious when I came across other sailors who had one of your famous laundry bags and to receive one prior to us heading over for the games was honestly incredible and I was so chuffed! 
 
Ruth, thank you so much for my personalised laundry bag it is an absolute work of art! To not only receive a bag, but to instead receive one personalised to myself with such time and effort having gone into it was something I was not only overjoyed to receive but something I simply couldn’t wait to show my wife. I truly appreciate the time you spent creating it and I promise to cherish it forever. 
 
I had a tremendous time at the games, my wife and two young sons travelled with me. Having them to not only cheer me on but support me through the entire experience meant the world to me and as a father of two young men I just wanted to show them anything really is possible even with injury and I can’t wait to discuss the experience with them as they grow older. 
 
Team Australia absolutely crushed it, we had such a wonderful staff group and wild and whacky group of competitors who truly went hard at every sport. I was lucky enough to be a part of both the wheelchair rugby team and to captain the sitting volleyball team, both sports we excelled in and truly put up a great fight. I gave Nordic biathlon a go, having never seen snow and only learning To ski the day prior to competition sure made it eventful but it was a lot of fun! And lastly, I managed to do quite well in the pool, swimming was how I spent a lot of my childhood but was something as an adult I drifted away from. We had some tough competition but having my family and Team Australia behind me certainly helped and I managed to come away with two individual golds and one silver as well as being part of our relay team which took away Silver also. For me, the best part of the pool was that I swam personal bests in every stroke, making me oh so proud of all the hours I put in training for the games. 
 
To be able to prove to myself I am still capable and can still push my own adjusted limits post injury was truly special, I’m so blessed to have been able to do it in front of my wife, kids and family back home. 
 
From the bottom of my heart thankyou so much again for the laundry bag, the work you amazing humans do is honestly appreciated more than you can imagine and I will be forever grateful. I hope you enjoy my brief story and a few photos of my family and I over at the games. 
 
Thankyou again,
 
***
 
Hello Angie T,
 
I had the pleasure of receiving one of your beautiful crafted laundry bags prior to our departure to the Invictus Games in Vancouver. I would like to say  thank you and wish I could give you a big hug not only for the laundry bag but also for the work you do for Aussie Hero Quilts and the support you provide to our Service men and women.
 
I have recently retired from Defence after 27 yrs service mainly with SASR in Perth. I’m sure I have met your son at the Q store at Campbell Barracks the many times I have been up there needing some kit. Send him my regards.
 
We have just finished our incredible experience of the Invictus Games and WOW what an experience it was. My family absolutely loved it. My wife, my kids had a blast with the other families of all nations. A experience we will never forget.
 
Thanks again for everything you have done and continue to do for the Veteran community and next time we are over your way we’ll pop into Twin Towns Service Club for a yarn.
 
Love

***

 

Good afternoon Colleen S,

 

Apologies for taking so long to respond, but I have received my laundry bag recently and it looks amazing. I am a child of the 90s and have fond memories of watching too much Nickelodeon growing up, and it has that real Nickelodeon vibe to it. And the turtle looks amazing, as well.

 

I have four children of my own (all boys, all trouble) who absolutely adore their grandmother. It makes me happy to hear you have your own grandchildren to chase around after. Two is a nice round number. Four gets a little rough, but it is manageable with breaks.

 

We had some of the Aussie Hero Quilt volunteers come onboard Sydney last week for a jolly, they called themselves the garage girls. I hope I didn’t miss you, but it sounded like they were all locals.

 

You sound like you have spent your whole life helping others, I’m not surprised you have kept your fingers busy making these laundry bags and quilts. Thank you so much for spending some time making mine as well. It will get a mighty work out this year; we are deploying for 5 months.

 

Thank you again

***

 Hi Gayle W,  

 

Thank you so much for the quilt. I really love it and how it is laid out. Even better my 21 month old Son also loves it lots and lots. 
 
It will be an amazing piece to look back on and reflect for myself but also bring up stories of my time in the navy when my son and I cuddle underneath it. 
 
Thank you once again, I will send a return letter just an email is quicker to let you all know that I have received it. 
 
Kind regards,
 

 

***
Hi Ruth S,
 
I’ve just received a laundry bag and quilt which you have very kindly sewn for Aussie Hero quilts. Thank you very much. It’s absolutely perfect and I can’t wait to use it for years to come. 
 
I know me and my team are all very appreciative of the efforts that you and your team do to support us while over here.
 
Thank you again
 
(Editor Note – the quilt was made by Bev F)

***

 

Dear Margaret B, 

 

Thank you so much for sewing the laundry bag I received today from Aussie Hero Quilts. It is beautiful! I am sure its no coincisence but your material choice was perfect. My wife teases me relentlessly for being a coffee snob, but in my defence I find a hot coffee to be one of the best pastoral tools I’ve ever known.  So to material patch committed to coffee is excellent. 

 

My wife and our children live in Tasmania where alongside my Navy Chaplaincy, I pastor LifeWay Baptist Church. My Father in-law (also a Navy Chaplain) has just moved onto a small property in Penguin where he begining to raise come cows and chickens. We are not quite self suffucient yet but there is nothing better than a meal that comes entirly from your own property. 

 

Once again thankyou for the work you do with Aussie Heros. As a Chaplain but also as member I know service in the ADF can be difficult. Organistaion like Aussie Heros that express gratitiue both encoure our members and also remind them who they serve for. 

 

If you are ever down in Tassie make sure you drop into LifeWay and say hi.    

     

Peace

 

 

 ***

 

Good afternoon Ruth S (or morning for you),

 

I hope you are doing well.

I am emailing you as I would just like to express my gratitude for the Laundry Bag that you made for me, it is beautiful and better than anything I could imagine receiving. It is an item that I will cherish forever.

I hope that you’re able to continue giving the same joy to other deployed members that me and my team felt when we received your work.

Your hard work and appreciation for us does not go unnoticed.

 

Thank you so much,

 

***

Good afternoon Bobbie M (and Mystery BOMers),

 

I would just like to thank you and the team at the Mystery BOMers for the beautiful quilt that you’ve made for me.

You do amazing work, and I know that every member that receives your quilts appreciates it.

Thank you for creating some joy for those of us away from home.

 

Thank you so much,

***

 

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.  Tuesday’s would be so totally boring without them!
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

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