Grati-Tuesday 28th January 2025

Written by AHQ

28 January 2025

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

I hope you all had a great long weekend and Australia Day.

Grab a cuppa or cool drink, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude from our messages.

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Good Afternoon Ruth S

 

Apologies it took me so long to send a thank you email, I’ve been super busy over the Christmas period as I’m sure you can understand.

 

Words can’t describe how much of an impact your volunteer work has on us. Receiving these gifts such as a laundry bag may seem like such a minor thing to the outside world, but to us, that personal touch, the genuine care, love and affection that goes into your work means everything. It brings us back home, makes us feel appreciated and it reminds me of why I choose to serve.

 

A bit about myself,

I’m 26 years old (soon to be 27) and originally from the Mornington-Peninsula in Victoria. I grew up in a very service driven family, both my parents are high ranking members of Victoria Police with uncles, Grandfathers, Great Uncles and Great Grandfathers all serving in the Army or Navy in some capacity at one point of their lives, I also have a younger sister who is a teacher- I think she has a much harder job than I do. My fiancé is a nurse and we will be getting married this time next year!  Obviously you already know that I’ve been a lifelong Bombers supporter so I do appreciate that as a Power supporter you can put aside differences to do this for me. My nanny is also a Power supporter, both her and my mum originally lived in Port Adelaide before they moved to Vic. I love to stay active at the gym or indoor rock climbing, or you could find me at home cooking up a storm or watching  some new art house movie.

 

Again thank you for your efforts, I love it and will treasure it as long as I can.

 

Kindest Regards

Quilt made by Melissa L & Laundry Bag by Ruth S

 

Good Afternoon Melissa L

 

Words can’t describe how much of an impact your volunteer work has on us. Receiving these gifts such as your quilt may seem like such a minor thing to the outside world, but to us, that personal touch, the genuine care, love and affection that goes into your work means everything. It brings us back home, makes us feel appreciated and it reminds me of why I choose to serve.

 

A bit about myself,

I’m 26 years old (soon to be 27) and originally from the Mornington-Peninsula in Victoria. I grew up in a very service driven family, both my parents are high ranking members of Victoria Police with uncles, Grandfathers, Great Uncles and Great Grandfathers all serving in the Army or Navy in some capacity at one point of their lives, I also have a younger sister who is a teacher- I think she has a much harder job than I do. My fiancé is a nurse and we will be getting married this time next year!

From the choice of my quilt design, you would be correct to assume I have many tattoos and I have a deep appreciation for the history and culture that surrounds them. I love to stay active at the gym or indoor rock climbing, or you could find me at home cooking up a storm or watching  some new art house movie.

 I think it is extraordinary with what you do for the community with your foster care- giving these kids a chance to feel cared for and safe, to have someone in their corner, not many people could do that I think. I hope your son, one day does make the decision to join our organisation- if he is anything like yourself, Defence will be the better for it.

 

Again thank you for your efforts, I love it and will treasure it as long as I can.

 

***

 

Dear Robyn P,

I apologise for my delay in replying to you. 
 
Thank you so very much for my quilt (it arrived Christmas Eve which was such a lovely surprise), as well as your kind letter, card and care package. I cannot put into words how much I appreciate your time, dedication and effort. I hope you might pass my thanks onto Geoff C and your brother also. It is just so wonderful and beautifully made! It is winter here, and quite cold at night so it is getting use!
 
I’m glad my quilt request was stimulating! I think they say that different parts of nature speak to different people’s souls, for me it’s the ocean, particularly during golden hour when an orange hue coats the sky. I grew up near the water in Perth and miss it terribly. Hence your quilt is a wonderful comfort. 
 
I visited Cambodia myself around ten years ago. I found Siem Riep to be a beautiful place, and the people of Cambodia to be very kind. I hope you had a similar experience. My recollection of sunsets in Cambodia definitely matches your design, you have captured it so beautifully.
 
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your husband and family, particularly with your daughter and E being able to travel so far to be with you at this time of year. My Grandmother always said it was so special when her children and grandchildren filled her home at Christmas, they are beautiful memories I know we all have with her too.
 
Warm regards,

 

***

 

Good morning Hilary P,

 

I just received your lovely quilt and letter.  It’s fantastic and my daughter will love it to bits.

 

That’s nice to hear you got to go to Japan on a patch work tour.  I’m sure you enjoyed it, I did the couple times I have been.  I was lucky enough to climb Mt Fuji 16 years ago when I was there after riding the bullet train to its nearest stop.  Loved Japan and will hopefully get the chance to go back again.

 

Yes, we arrived back in Sydney just before Xmas and I got to spend some enjoyable quiet and family time with my family in WA and with my daughter.  Now it’s back into the grind getting ready to conduct some more operations later this year.

 

Thanks again, take care and your work is much appreciated.

 

Regards,

 

***

To AHQ The Garage Girls and the Mystery BOMers

With much appreciation to you and your colleagues through my brother and his wife of the Probus Club of Cherrybrook. 
I received during a visit to Sydney this week the very special quilt you have made.

Your leadership and dedication to recognise Service to our country is a model to which our elected officials would do well to emulate.

Whilst I am far from being an Aussie hero I would like you to pass on my thanks to all of your team for their generosity in making this unique memento of my Service in the RAAF.

Thank you again.

Yours faithfully

 

***

Good evening Shirley D,
 I was given the laundry bag you made this morning and I would like to thank you for your hard work.
 The bag is beautiful and a credit to your craft, the embroidery looks amazing, funny how we share initials.
A little bit about me, I emigrated to Australia in 2006 with my mother, father and sister from Scotland. Starting an apprentice with a company called precision parts based in Wagga Wagga.  
I joined the Navy in 2011 as a Marine Technician and have severed across five platforms in my career of far: HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Stuart, HMAS Anzac, HMAS Hobart and now HMAS Sydney.  
 Currently I’m living in Sydney with my partner (soon to be wife in April this year) with a beautiful daughter who just turned one this Christmas.   
I wish you and your family all the best.
 Kind regards,
***
Dear Bridget R,
 
I’m sending you this email to say thank you dearly for the beautiful quilt you made for me. I was so shocked at opening the package. I’m touched to think you spent so much time making me such a beautiful gift. I’m really touched by this gift and it was such a wonderful surprise after a tough few months after breaking my shoulder and needing surgery.
 
You are such a talented quilter. My kids, wife and I, were ecstatic to open the quilt and snuggle under it on the couch. We know we will get so much use out of it here in Canberra where it gets bitterly cold every year.
 
Congratulations to you and your husband on retiring after such long careers – time to focus on yourselves and enjoying all of your time without work. 40 years of nursing, you must’ve seen so much and helped so many people. Thank you for all the work that you would’ve done.
 
Your family sounds very similar to mine. I’m married and my wife works in the public service in Canberra. We have two kids, a daughter who is almost 4 and our son who is eight months old. We also have a rascal of a dog who is a 6 year old king Charles Cavalier.
I’m currently working an office job for the Army in Canberra. My job is to buy the weapons and explosive ordnance for the Apache helicopters. It’s a little bit less exciting than flying helicopters but very rewarding work that provides good stability to be a Dad.
 
From the bottom of my heart, I just want to say a massive thank you for the generous gift for me, and also a massive thank you for all the work you do quilting for everybody in the Australian Defence force. It is really touching to think someone would spend so much time making beautiful gifts for us. Thank you for all your service in helping people through charity and nursing.
 
Once again, thank you so much.

***

Hi Jan-Maree and Beverley F,
I hope you are both well and having a good week.
I wanted to share with you how incredibly humbled and moved I was when my Dad and friend presented me with the Hero Quilt over the weekend. Your beautiful work and the recognition you bring to veterans are truly appreciated.

I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude for your kindness and generosity. Thank you both for your service to the veteran community.

 

In 2014, I was deployed to Iraq on very short notice. At the time, my wife, who is a midwife, was seven months pregnant. Thanks to my CO’s exceptional leadership and compassion, I was able to return to Australia for a two-week period to be with my wife during the birth of our daughter. I then re-deployed for the remaining four months of my tour and returned home in 2015. This quilt brought back many memories, especially that one, and I will forever cherish the moment my CO made possible for our family.
My last posting finished in December 2018, and I was discharged in December 2019, which feels like a lifetime ago now. In 2020, along with two others I co-founded a technology company. While we may no longer wear uniforms, we continue contributing to the broader Defence organisation through our professional service offerings. We pride ourselves on being an Australian and veteran-owned business, with over 90% of our 38 employees being former or current (part-time) serving members. We strive to incorporate the best parts of military culture into our company, such as mateship, camaraderie, loyalty, trust, and teamwork, with a sprinkle of the humour and larrikinism Australians are known for.
Beverley, thank you for your letter and for sharing insights into your life. I extend my gratitude for your husband’s service and the sacrifices you and your family have made to support his three decades of service. I, too, hope to be as well-travelled as you in the years ahead.
Thank you both again for everything.
What you both do is incredibly special and deeply appreciated.
Thanks,

 

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

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