Lots of great messages tonight.
HMAS Darwin’s captain handed out the rest of the special commemorative laundry bags today and lots of happy pictures where posted on Facebook. I will gather them into a post next week for those that cannot see Facebook.
For now you can enjoy these messages….
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Dear Jenny R
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Dear Anne
Hi Ruth,
I recently received a laundry bag you made for me whilst on deployment on HMAS Newcastle in the Middle East Region.
I’d just like to say a huge thank you for taking the time to whip together such a great bag for me. It looks incredible, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It’s almost a shame to use it!
Just checking out the sites in Dubai for a few days before we head back out to sea.
Hope you are well, and again, thank you very much.
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Hello Helen,
I was lucky enough to receive your laundry bag recently. I’m not sure if you knew where they were being sent to, but your’s made out to Malaysia on RCB (rifle company Butterworth) 118. RCB is a three month long trip to South East Asia based in Butterworth Malaysia. RCB’s run back to back all year round and can be comprised of any unit or combination of units. My unit being 8/12th medium artillery regiment based in Darwin.
All units that are sent over here become an infantry company regardless of their normal job role. The aim is to train the Australian army in infantry minor tactics. My rotation focused on jungle and urban warfare.
I enjoyed reading your letter, I am also going on my first cruise this summer to celebrate my grandmothers 80th.
Thanks to you and all other Aussie hero volunteers. We really appreciate your work, it does a lot for morale.
Kind regards
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Hello Shirley, I just wanted to take the time to send you an email to show my appreciation for the care package you have sent me, it was an extremely nice surprise to receive. I will have to admit that I’m not the greatest golfer going around, in fact I’m better at the slice than landing the ball on the fairway. There was another guy who I work with who is a handy golfer and he wanted me to pass on his thanks for the golf magazine. I’m normally posted to the main aviation base located in Nowra NSW but I’m currently deployed as part of the Aviation element. I have left my wife and two boys down in Nowra while I’m away. My boys are three and a half and one and a half so I have been missing out on some precious milestones while I’m away but that is the nature of the job. My wife is in her last year of her Masters in Education to be a high school teacher which has been challenging while I’m away, some days I think she has the more difficult job of maintaining a normal household while I’m away. My Grandpa was also in WWII and was part of the Soldier Settlement Scheme on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. He completed tours of Africa and New Guinea as well. Could you also pass on my thanks to Ron for the kind donation of the Carlton Memorabilia and who knows perhaps one day I may even sit near him at a game. Hopefully we’ll watch Carlton have a little more successful season than this year. Thank you again for such a kind gift and it will be something that will follow me from ship to ship. Cheers,
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Warmest regards
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Dear MR and MRS M,
I have just received your quilt and washing bag in the mail and I was truly blown away by the amount of detail and work you have put into making it for me. The deign is perfect and it reminds me of my son every time I look at it.
When I left my son was barely a month old and being away from him while he is growing up is extremely hard at times for both myself and my wife as it is our first child. The amazing work done by yourself and the other members of Aussie Hero Quilts has definitely brought smiles to the faces of many of our ships company and I am extremely humbled to be one of them.
I believe I may have served with your son a few years ago on HMAS Ballarat as the name definitely rings a bell.
I will be sure to cherish your quilt and washing bag for many years to come and hopefully pass it down to my son.
You have definitely brought a smile to my face and I am sure to the face of my Wife and Son when they see your amazing work.
A very big thank you to you and your family wishing you all the best.
Kind Regards,
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Thank you so much for the quilt and laundry bag. They are fantastic; I love the
colours and the pattern. I have started putting them to good use already and
will be something I will take back home to remember my first deployment for
many years to come.
I am an environmental health officer with the Air Force and work as part of the
medical team over here. My job entails doing inspections of facilities and
testing things like the water and air quality. The aim of the work I do is to
prevent our members from getting sick or injured so they can continue to
conduct their work.
Once again thank you so much for the time and effort you put in.
Kind Regards,
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Hi Jo
I gladly wish to inform you that I did infact receive my parcel and boy was I stoked with how it turned out.
I did realise in the letter that I didn’t give much to go off but it turned out great and I couldn’t have asked for a better result. I’ll do my best to get a photo in an email soon but know that you’ve made one happy sailor
Again thank you very much
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I hope this finds you well.
Yesterday in the mail I received my fantastic laundry bag, which I think is wonderful. I was not sure what to expect; my preferences I sent off were broad and probably a bit vague, but your design is undeniably a reflection of me. I sent a picture of it to my family last night and my daughter (also a sewer) was very admiring of the design, and she is not easily impressed.
Thank you also for the lovely letter which came with it. Knowing a bit more about you makes your gift of the laundry bag even more special. My in-laws live in XXXXX and, although that’s a fair distance from you, I can only agree that all the northern coast of NSW is a beautiful part of the world. I always enjoy my visits there, if only to escape the Canberra climate.
I can’t thank you enough for your dedication to what you do. Rest assured that my new laundry bag will get good use and lots of admiration.
Yours Sincerely
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G’Day Cheryl,
I just wanted to write you a quick email and say you thank you so very much for making my quilt I LOVE it so my daughter is going to loose her mind when she receives it.
I have been in the Army for 16 years now and this is my 5th deployment and each time it gets harder and harder to leave my two kids behind, I do love my job and I love serving Australia overseas but it does get hard at times. So thank you very much for your support and your quilt really did make my day.
Well Cheryl I have about 7 weeks left of this deployment and then I will be home again. Thank you very much and take care.
Kind regards,
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Wishing you all …..
Hi Clarissa,
I just wanted to say a big thankyou for the laundry bag. I absolutely love it! 💕
Thank you for putting so much time, effort and love into it. I truly appreciate it! And having the Greek flag on there made me teary when I saw it, thinking of my grandparents, especially grandpa John.
I can’t thank you enough for your time and effort.
I have been in the Air Force approx. 23 years now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Whilst I have done many trips over this way, I had never actually deployed so this is my first time away for an extended period. I have some great people around, but it will nice to get home and see the family and off course my dogs!
Thankyou again, and I wish your son a safe deployment.
Kind regards,
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I just received the beautiful quilt you made along with all the other goodies. I’ve already shared all the sweets with the coalition partners I’m working with.
Thank you so much for my beautiful quilt, it is absolutely perfect and exactly what we had hoped for, it has brightened up my bedspace as you can see from the before and after photos. It will make a great heirloom and my daughter (5) will absolutely love it. She turns six soon and unfortunately I’ll still be deployed, which upset her a lot before I left. This is my sixth deployment, and 3rd time to the Middle East Region, so hopefully I won’t have to go away again soon after I get back.
Anyway, thank you so much for your package, I hope you and your family are well and are able to get this ok.
Regards,
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Hello Leanne
What a wonderful surprise and delight your gift is! Sorry I haven’t had the opportunity to write to you earlier.
I am so impressed with your quilt and so is everyone else. It is obvious your take pride in your work as demonstrated by the attention to detail and the originality of your patterns, design and colours. Everyone is very impressed with the Australiana theme – its prefect!
Despite temperatures over 45 C every day and in the mid 30’s at night,, your quilt is proudly sprawled across my bed. It is a wonderful thing you and your helpers do, and I can attest that your work and end product is very much appreciated by all. In fact, after I was showing your work off, a number of other Officers decided they also need one.
You girls do extraordinary work- its a great morale booster not to mention receiving a lifetime gift from countrymen who appreciate our efforts and care for us.
Thank you so much! …..
Hello Maree W
I’d just like to say thank you for taking to time to sew up the laundry bag which ended up being sent to me whilst I was in Malaysia. It was very thoughtful and myself and all the boys appreciated the work you and others have done for us. Wishing you all the best.
Kind Regards,
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Quilt by Anne Dy
Hello Ruth,
I have just received your laundry bag in the mail today. Thank you so much! It is really lovely and most certainly brightened my day. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in to making this product; you can tell it is really well made.
Thank you again!
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G’day Jean,
I would like to thank you for the laundry bag that you made and sent off to me. The design is great and size of the bag, makes laundry even easier now. Thank you for your time, materials, creativity and overall your support.
It is easy to stay here and keep doing our job with the support of everyday Australians like yourself at home. Support that we have received come in many forms, such as your group’s quilts and laundry bags, random soldier care packs, and messages of support. It all helps and reminds us of home and what awaits our return. Please pass on my thanks and wishes to all involved in the many projects you support. I think you are all doing a better job than us, as we are only doing what is expected of us but you are going above and beyond with your support. Thank you.
Anyway keep enjoying your travel, once again it was fantastic to receive your laundry bag and I am very appreciative of it, your time and effort.
Kind regards
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Makes me want to keep sewing!
Till next time… keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
Jan-Maree xxx
Lovely.