Grati-Tuesday 31 July 18

Written by AHQ

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31 July 2018

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A busy day was had today at HQ AHQ. Lots of parcels have arrived containing lots of Invictus Quilts and bags and lots of random laundry bags for later in the year. Getting them all sorted is certainly keeping us busy.

Sit back and relax for a bit and enjoy these messages.

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Dear Ruth,

It is with much kindness and appreciation I am writing to you. I have just received my own Carlton Laundry bag. Even though it was made by a Power supporter, words cannot truly express my gratitude and appreciation. The bag whilst it might seem like a small item, represents a long rich history of support that the Australian community has shown to Defence members on operations. I am currently deployed with the United Nations Mission In South Sudan, UNMISS. I have been here for close to 90 days and am approximately half way through my deployment. Our role here is about making the world safer and helping the South Sudanese people in finding peace and growth. The environment here is harsh, lots of diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever. Not to mention the flies and other insects or the hot humid conditions. But if it was easy everyone would do it. It is incredibly humbling being here where the people have virtually nothing but a sense of pride that makes me hopeful for their future. It makes me appreciate the little things we take for granted at home, like the best drinking water in the world right from our own taps, the education we have received and our way of life.

Your family should be most proud of your efforts, not only because the quality of the bag is amazing, but because you have dedicated your time and passion in making this. It has brightened my day, week and month. I will be proudly parading it around as I am fairly confident that I am the only Carlton Supporter in Juba, this bag take pride in place amongst the Aussie contingent here.

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Hi Jean!

I’m writing to thank you very much for the AMAZING laundry bag I received along with a letter from you. Firstly – I LOVE IT! It was such a lovely surprise to receive in the mail and the I appreciate the kindness from you considering you don’t even know me – thank you.

I’m quite familiar withXXXX, my husband grew up in XXXX and we often spend holidays there. It’s such a beautiful part of Australia.

Thank you again for the laundry bag and for the fantastic work Aussie Hero Quilts (and laundry bags) do – it has made my day!

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A happy snap of a quilt and laundry bag made by Sue N…

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Good Morning Jenny,
I have served in the ADF for nearly 29 Years, I have previously deployed to Rwanda, East Timor twice and Afghanistan, I am currently serving in the Middle Easter Region as part of the Australian Defence Force, the reason for my email is to thank you for your Laundry Bag that I have just received. It makes me extremely proud to serve as an Australian Defence Force Member, but it also makes me very proud knowing that we have so many supporters taking the time to prepare these Laundry Bags for us all whilst we are overseas, and away from loved ones and the luxuries of Australia The Laundry Bag that you and your fellow sewing partners (after hours I might add) have put together is excellent and you can tell that you ladies have put a lot of love, positive thoughts and effort into the Laundry Bag, and for this I am extremely grateful.

I would like to make l mention to Jenny and the other ladies for the outstanding attention to detail, and this amazing item. I will truly cherish this item for the remainder of my career, I extremely thankful, and grateful for the effort and love that you have put together in making this Laundry Bag. I know that all the serving members that receive these items are extremely grateful for the hard work that all the ladies do at Aussie Quilts, it is amazing as part of my weekly routine to walk into the laundry facility here and see all the different types of designs on Laundry bags, there is a sense of pride, commitment and thanks to all of you, I hope that all of you continue to spread the message as it is an important to all of us serving.

So in closing I would like to finish with the greatest appreciation from me, I have attached a photo of the Laundry Bag being used in my room.

Please pass this email over to the other ladies that helped you.

Once again thankyou

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Good morning,

I received the beautiful quilt you made through the Aussie Heros Quilt submission. I was over the moon when the quilt you made me arrived, you did an exceptional job of putting my random thoughts into an exceptional quilt! I use the quilt every day as my bed cover and it gives me great joy every time I go to bed. I have sent you a letter but wanted to follow up a photo of myself with the quilt.

Thank you very much again!

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This gorgeous quilt was collected from me last week and the recipient’s super cute twins appreciated it too.

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I’m writing to thank you for the wonderful quilt that I received from you.

I was born in Ballarat Victoria and been in the Royal Australian Air Force for sixteen years as a Communications Technician. I am currently posted to RAAF Townsville. I am very proud to be in the military and follow in the footsteps of my Grandfather who was in the 39th Battalion and fought in Papua New Guinea on the Kokoda trail during World War Two. I have four children and eleven grandchildren my eldest son is also in the RAAF and my youngest son is currently applying to join the RAAF as well.

This is my first Deployment to the Middle East and the longest I have been away from my family (six and a half months).

Thanks again for your thoughts and generosity of spirit.

Warmest Regards,

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Dear Bridget,

Thank you so much for the brilliant quilt and laundry bag you crafted especially for me. I think the Aussie Hero Quilt initiative is absolutely fantastic and applaud you for your dedication to this cause, as well as finding this purpose in your hobby. I’ve served for 19 years now and deployed multiple times to East Timor and Afghanistan, and this is the first time I’ve been lucky enough to receive one of these wonderful quilts. I’m currently serving here in Iraq, helping senior Iraqi counter-terrorism staff develop long term plans to hopefully help stabilise their country in the years to come, and it’s a real morale boost to receive a token from home like this.

I’m 37 years old and married with a little girl back home. My wife is an Army Nursing Officer who is doing an incredible job looking after our one year old daughter and balancing it all with her job (including periods out field as well). We’re looking forward to spending a couple weeks together again as a family in Italy and the Greek Islands, when I take my allocated mid-tour leave. It’s good to hear your daughter and son are starting to spread their wings and find their way in the world. Everyone tells me they grow up far too quickly, and I believe it’s absolutely true.

You’ve done a fantastic job with the quilt in capturing my love of brewing beer and rugby – I especially love the ‘Drunkards Path’ pattern, but will have to wait another month or so before a quiet beer! I was lucky enough to win the Champion Brewer prize at last year’s Queensland Amateur Brewing Competition, so I’m looking forward to picking up the hobby again once I finish here (although I don’t think my wife is!). I also loved the Wallabies/All Blacks fabric you managed to find for the laundry bag, I’m sure it wasn’t an easy feat but looks great.

Thanks once again for your support to our deployed military members. You’ve certainly brought a smile to this soldier’s face.

Kindest regards,

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Good Morning Bridget,

I have served in the ADF for nearly 29 Years, I have previously deployed to Rwanda, East Timor twice and Afghanistan, I am currently serving in the Middle Easter Region as part of the Australian Defence Force, the reason for my email is to thank you for your Awesome Quilt / Laundry Bag that I have just received. It makes me extremely proud to serve as an Australian Defence Force Member, but it also makes me very proud knowing that we have so many supporters taking the time to prepare these Quilts / Laundry Bags for us all whilst we are overseas, and away from loved ones and the luxuries of Australia The Quilts that you have put together are excellent and you can tell that you ladies have put alot of love, positive thoughts and effort into these Items, and for this I am extremely grateful.

I would like to make a special mention to the naughty black poodle and specially Kerri B for the outstanding attention to detail, and the amazing items. I will truly cherish these items for the remainder of my career, I extremely thankful and grateful for the effort and love that you have put together in making these quilts/ Laundry Bags. I know that all the serving members that receive these items are extremely grateful for the hard work that all the ladies do at Aussie Quilts, it is amazing as part of my weekly routine to walk into the laundry and see all the different types of designs on Laundry bags, there is a sense of pride, commitment and thanks to all of you, I hope that all of you continue to spread the message as it is an important to all of us serving.
So in closing I would like to finish with the greatest appreciation from me, I have attached photos of theQuilt and Laundry Bag being used in my room, so once again thankyou. Please pass this email on to whoever assisted in the making of these items.
Once again Thankyou

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Dear Dianne, Heather and Dot,

Many thanks for your wonderful Australian Indigenous art-inspired laundry bag. I was very taken by the colour and animal images of the material – it is a reminder of home whenever I see it in my room. The greens are especially significant as there is not much greenery here!

I am the senior medical officer for the Middle East, and at home I am an Army Reserve GP in Port Macquarie NSW. This is my third deployment to the Middle East, but the first time I have been fortunate enough to be given a laundry bag, so your beautiful gift is very gratefully received.

I know that all of the ADF members who receive laundry bags or quilts from people back home in Australia are very happy to know that the public supports the work we do in service of our nation, and appreciates the sacrifice of our families who carry on with life at home while we are away. It is hard being away from my wife, daughter and son, but I know that they are proud of us all.

Thanks again for all the effort you all put in to making the wonderful laundry bags and quilts.

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G’day Noelene,

I’ve recently received a care package and a wonderful laundry bag from yourself.

I thank you very much. I’ve put the bag to good use already and your packet of minties went down a treat as I shared them with my colleagues.

I work in the deployed Army hospital as a scientist and I myself live in Brisbane. I’m missing the mild weather of the coast as you put it in your letter. It’s exceptionally hot here in the desert. (Who would’ve guessed)

Again, I think you for you care package and sincerely appreciate your letter

Regards,

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Hello Maxxi,

I would like to thank you for my fantastic laundry bag you made for me it’s perfect.

The quilts and laundry bags are bringing so much joy to all deployed members here and the efforts being made to create them is amazing.

I showed my daughter on Skype and she loved the Jets and Australian Flag.

Again I thank you as it’s the little things that really make our day over here.

Regards
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Good Morning Anne,

I am the lucky nursing officer to have recently received a lovely laundry bag from you.

Thank you very much for your time and effort, it is a great bag. The Australian Wild Flowers are beautiful and it’s the perfect size for my laundry hook.

It sounds like you have also brightened many of our soldiers days! (Mine included). 86 other laundry bags is impressive!!

Thank you for sharing your story. I really enjoy hearing peoples connection to the military and other Australians in general, we all have a lot in common and a lot to offer each other. It seems sometimes we are all a bit too busy to make those connections. I got to sit down and read your letter with a lovely cup of tea, so thank you for that experience too.

To hopefully give back a bit of my story here it goes.

My time here in Taji has been spent at the hospital working in the sick parade and being part of the resus team, thankfully we have not been too busy, but there is enough primary healthcare to keep us chugging along. I am now a month in and still enjoying all of the activities and work that is keeping us here. It is my first deployment so I expect my enthusiasm will be pretty high for it all. We have a great team and everyone is making sure we are all keeping safe.

Thank you once again for your effort and for thinking of us.

Have a wonderful day.

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Hi Kaye,

Thankyou so much for the parcel it means alot to receive a gift and positive message over here. A little about me I grew up all over our beautiful country spending half my life in qld. When I was 25 I decided, I wanted to really challenge myself by joining the RAAF I have now been in 6yrs.

The first months in basic where difficult and unearthed so many strengths in my personality, I never knew I had and have till this day I’m still uncovering more. I then spent 7 months in employment training before posting to amberley in qld. Since then I have completed numerous exercises and I nearing the end of my 2nd overseas deployment.

Since beginning my career I had never stepped foot off Australian soil, I have now worked in 3 different countrys and vacationed in 6. The world is a beautiful place and I know have the travel bug.

Back home my hobbies are really just doing and achieving new experiences, as to open my eyes to the unseen world that we live in. I try something new every week, sometimes good, sometimes not so much haha. I have skydived, bungie jumped, climbed mountains, snowboarded down others, taken helicopters rides through the grand canyon and sailed yachts in the seas off greece and croatia.

I will finish by saying even though we keep our country safe, kind hearts like yours, is what makes our country feel like home.

I cannot commend you enough for the selfless effort and time you took with every stitch.

Regards

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XXXXX sent me this photo today, she loves her quilt and laundry bag!

Thank you Jan-Maree, Margaret W and Aussie Heroes Quilts, you are Aussie heroes too!

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Hi (rally)Ally,

I think this was meant to be. I work in the operations room here in Malaysia where I got my new laundry bag. I’ll admit I acted slightly selfishly since I was tasked with handing the big pile of bags out to the company. Naturally this meant I had first dibs! I was immediately drawn to the WW2 planes bag as I’ve always had a keen interest in aircraft and engines, it lead me to my profession of becoming a Vehicle Mechanic in Army.

To my surprise a fellow car enthusiast is the creator of the bag! I’ll tell you a little more about myself.

I’m a 33 year old Sergeant and I live and work in Townsville, I’m married to my wife who works at the local shopping centre and we have 3 kids, 12, 10 and 6. I joined the Army when I was 19, learned my trade and was qualified by 22. I posted to a Brisbane unit and was in Iraq by the end of that year, I had my 23 birthday there. I stayed in Brisbane for another 5 or so years before posting to Melbourne on promotion and deployed again but to the Solomon Islands this time on peacekeeping, from there I ended up in Townsville where I’ve remained for the past 4 years. I received a call in late May from my boss told me about a position in Malaysia that he felt would ‘improve my career profile’ .. what do you say to that?. I talked it over with my wife and here I am. It was a larger commitment by her than me, she’s a superstar. She and I decided to knuckle down in 2018 and get ahead so here we are. I’ll be home in 6 weeks and I’ll do my best to take the pressure off.

Thank you for the bag Ally. This is my fourth international engagement with Army and receiving something like this certainly has been a first. It’s a great morale booster to receive such a thing and read about the good people who create them. I hope you continue to do so into the future.

Thanks again and drive safe!

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Attached is a photo of my quilt taken in front of the Boxing Kangaroo on FOB Oqab. Thank you to Raeleen and Pennie for the amazing quilt and laundry bag that have made so many of our coalition colleagues jealous of what you do for us. Also thanks to XXXX the USAF Public Affairs reporter for the amazing photo

RAELEEN Photo

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Hello Fran,

You made me a wonderful laundry bag whilst I was deployed to Afghanistan last year. I am sorry it has taken me this long to email you it’s just that I thought that I lost your letter but going through my belongings just now I found it!!

I cannot thank you enough for the support you have shown me, it means a lot to receive something hand made by an Australian while so far from home.

Since returning home to Australia I was posted from Darwin to Adelaide and have since discharged and planning to buy a house and settle in Adelaide. Originally I am from NSW but there is something about Adelaide that I just feel so comfortable and at home here.

Once again thank you for what you do and please keep up the good work it means a lot to the men and women receiving your hand made goods.

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Anne,

Thank you so much for the lovely quilt, it has really brightened my room and makes me feel so very much more at home.

I plan on building my own home when I return and very much look forward to having a few of my personal items around. While living here may be without some of the creature comforts of home, it’s the little things that put a smile on your face and make a huge difference. I have met some fantastic people and hope they will be in my life well beyond my time here. They too have been lucky enough to receive hand made items, care packages and letters from people like yourself who take the time to brighten someone else’s day.

We are ever so grateful for the love and support we receive from home.

Good luck with your next project. I’m sure it will be fantastic and treasured by the lucky recipient, as I will always treasure mine.

Thank-you again.

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Hi Ruth,

Thank you so much for lovely Laundry Bag you made for me, you did a fantastic job on it.

The deer look great on it and it is in full use now, full of clothes that need washing.

I appreciate it and it is nice to have colour in my room instead on the military version of a laundry bag.

This is my second deployment in 2 years and hard been away from the family for 6 1/2 months per deployment. I think I will have a rest from this after I get back.

I’m married and have 2 older boys in college in the Army in Canberra, they are enjoying the training and study so far.

My third son is 13 years old, I miss him very much along with my best mate my wife of 23 years.

Once again, thank you, the bag will be used every day while away and many years to come.

Kind regards,
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Hello Shirley,

I hope this email finds you well 🙂

Brighten my day you did indeed with your beautifully made quilt and laundry bag! They are absolutely wonderful and I can’t believe they’re mine! Thank you so much for incorporating my ideas into them both, especially the quilt, I was a little teary thinking about the thought and workmanship that went into creating it. Not to mention I am the envy of many of my work colleagues!

I have done 11yrs in the Army now. Much of this time was on deployments overseas and I would occasionally see quilts made by Aussie Hero’s but was never told how I could get one of my own. It has taken many deployments but I now have my very own 🙂

I will be returning to Australia soon and I am very much looking forward to this. I will take a few weeks off to see my sisters and my mum and then will be back at work again, saving my leave for Christmas time.

Best be getting back to it. Please know that I am very thankful that you choose my quilt and laundry bag to design and make. They will always be treasured by me and will certainly be one of the first things packed on my next deployment.

Thank you for donating your time and effort to Aussie Hero’s.

Best wishes from afar,
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What a lovely bunch of messages.

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

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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,

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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,

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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

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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,

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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,

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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,

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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,

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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,

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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

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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,

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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,