Happy Tuesday Friends!

Welcome to the first post for December and Summer!

Another great bunch of messages and photos from near and far,  so grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude.

Only 22 sleeps until Christmas Day. 

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Good Morning Ann S,

 

I just wanted to send you a big thank you for my quilt that arrived safe and sound. I received it last week after we returned from our most recent deployment in support of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.

 

I really appreciate the amount of effort and time you have put into making this quilt and it will be a treasured item of mine for many years to come. I want to assure you that I love it will remain with me throughout the rest of my time in the RAN and I will take it to sea. Lots of my colleagues and subordinates have commented extremely favourably on the quality and detail that you have achieved, I suspect some are envious!!!! I have currently placed it on my bed, however noting the pouch that you have sewn on the back I might actually hang it up in my cabin.

 

Thankyou also for your letter to me you and I found it quite interesting in hearing about your family, especially your fathers service in WWII. My Great Grandfather served on the Western Front in WWI and then served in the Army during WWII, which included six months in Borneo. Unfortunately I never got to meet him as he passed away a couple of years before I was born.

 

Thank you again for not only making my quilt, but also being a part of an amazing group of people that make up Aussie Hero Quilts. I know my fellow servicemen and woman who receive laundry bags and quilts over the years really appreciate the generosity of people like yourself in giving us something unique that will remain part of our careers as we move from posting to posting, often in new locations.

 

Many thanks again, Ann.

 

Kind Regards,

 

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Hi Bridget R,

I would like to thank you so much for my beautiful quilt. I absolutely love it and when I am away I can look at the poodles and think I my fur babies at home. I have one toy poodle who is 6 years old called Viktor (ginger colour) and I just got a new puppy toy poodle called Charlie (chocolate colour). Charlie is currently with me in Sydney and Viktor is in Melbourne with my husband. I will be taking Charlie home to Melbourne just before Christmas to meet his new family.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas with family and friends

 

Regards, 

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Dear Ruth S,

Please forgive my tardiness in replying – I’m not quite sure where the years have gone!

I was a lucky recipient of a quilt and laundry bag that you made whilst I was deployed to the Middle East in 2017.  It was a busy 8 months as I had to travel all over the region. I dont think I had more than 2 weeks in the one location. So it was extremely special to come “home” (to Dubai) and have my cosy room looking very welcoming thanks to your quilt.

I have since left the full-time Army and very happily working for the Veterans Counselling service. Life feels settled. I met a kind and adorable man in 2018 and in December we will celebrate 2 years of marriage.  I found your note when we were moving into our newly purchased “forever” home.

Thanks again for the beautiful quilt you made.  I adore it so much and know it will be a treasured heirloom. 

Best Wishes.  

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Hi Sonia J,

Thank you very much for your efforts in creating laundry bags for our crew on HMAS Adelaide.

I write from Jakarta, was lucky enough to choose one of your colourful designs and I thank you for taking the time to make it for me and for the other crew.

It makes a huge practical difference in identifying our washing whilst also bringing a little colour and joy to our lives in our otherwise beige living spaces.

All the best for the rest of the year and the festive season. 

Regards,

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Marilyn S & Clare D

Thank you very much for my laundry bag and quilt, could not have thought of anything better.

 Regards

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Hello Ruth S,

My husband was ‘blown away’ when he opened the parcel from 85 Transport Platoon Reunion committee containing your wonderful laundry bag. Thank you Ruth for taking the time to make his beautifully made bag.

My husband was a ‘conscript’. He was working in the Northern Territory when he received his ‘call up’.  His family lived in Queensland.  He did his two years, one in Vietnam with 85 Transport Platoon.  He made some great friends who still keep in touch.

After Vietnam he didnt go back to the NT but worked around Rockhampton where we met, married and had two children and now have six grandsons (nearly a cricket team). We live on a small place running cattle.  My husband keeps well but is slowing down.

Thank you so much for his bag.

All the best for you and your family.

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Good afternoon Robyn P,

 

Thank you so much for this amazing laundry bag and all the lollies and sweet treats. Please don’t underestimate how much it means to me that there are people like you back home ensuring that service men and women are being thought about back home. I did shared all my lollies with all my mates. It was such a nice moment to forget where we were, and enjoy some good Australian lollies. 

 

Please continue what you are doing.

Many thanks. 

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Good evening Sonia J,

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G’Day Anne Hnr,

Thanks for the quilts and the laundry bags. They’ve come in very handy down here (Antartica – Southern Discovery).

 

Yours,

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Hi Pennie T,

Thank you so very much for the time taken to make this wonderful quilt and laundry bag. I had hoped that my request wasn’t too difficult to translate and the results speak for themselves.

Both are even better than I could have possibly imagined, from the choice of fabrics to the patterns, the whole design is right on point.

The quilt, in particular, will be a treasured item in my family for many years to come. The red for the laundry bag is the right colour and the bag has already been put to good use. 

You are correct with my PMKeys number I have been in the Army for a while, 30 years to be precise,  and yes I will admit it is a bit of a lifetime choice. It has been such a privilege to lead, teach and mentor in the ADF team throughout my career. As the RSM on operations it has been fantastic experience working with highly dedicated and passionate members  in an international environment.

For the contingent we have been able to travel over to the Gallipoli Peninsula and trace the steps of our forebears, another first for many.

The experience was something that we all will never forget. This time away gave all a different perspective on service life and a deeper appreciation for those that came before.

Again I cannot thank you enough for making these wonderful quilts and laundry bags.

It is a privilege to serve the nation and certainly makes service easier with dedicated people like yourself working in the background.

Kind Regards,

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Ruth S

 

Thank you so much for the laundry bag, I really appreciate your time and effort in making the the quilts and laundry bags.

My daughter’s going to love seeing them when I get home.

 

Regards  

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Hi Anne Hnr,

 

Thankyou so much for my animal themed laundry bag, it definitely hit the spot and brightened up my living space. I love the warning signs too as it draws in the Army colours with the ocean theme for this deployment. 

 

How interesting you wrote about Borneo, I was there in 2022. Beautiful place! I hiked Mt Kinabalu whilst there also. I like to do a fair bit of travel, I went to Tasmania in 2021 for the first time and loved it down there, such a beautiful part of the country. I am also a swimmer and swim the Manly to Shelly beach swim every Sunday (when I’m in town). I even do the swim in winter which is quite refreshing and the ocean is so much clearer which is great for animal spotting. I’m hoping to get scuba dive qualled this year to see more marine life up close.

 

I hope you enjoyed your Canberra weekend with the AHQ crew and are looking forward to the Christmas break spent with the family. 

 

Thankyou again,

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Penny T had the honour and privilege to present a quilt at RAAF Edinburgh to a recipient on the occasion of her retirement. She was surrounded by a beautiful group of her Military friends and family, and is quite patently well thought of!! Hope she enjoys the next phase of life!!

Heritage Centre at Garden Island in Sydney, 11 WRANS members were presented Aussie Hero Quilts made by various member. I am told that they loved them and felt very spoilt.

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Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.