Just a brief note of thanks for all the work AHQ volunteers have done for Op ACCORDION, Rotation 2. Rotation 2 complete their six month deployment this week, with their reliefs already experiencing the heat of a UAE desert summer. Having been made aware of your team’s dedication, please don’t be surprised when more requests roll in.

Attached is a photo of some of your handiwork. I was too slow to get a photo of the team enjoying your ANZAC biscuits, though.

 They were very popular!

Thanks again for your support of our ADF and for your tireless efforts to make a difference to those far from home.

Dear Cathie J.

I was so thrilled to receive the quilt and laundry bag you made for me – thank you so much!  The way you made it and meticulously represented so many aspects around the partnership and friendship between the two countries, the traditional designs, and the photos. It really did surprise me.

A bit about me. I have mixed heritage. My father was from PNG and was one of the first dentists in the country before it gained independence in 1975. His two older brothers were fuzzy wuzzy  angels at a very young age. My mother was from a Polynesian island in Fiji called Rotuma. I was born in PNG and spent my early childhood there. I went to high school in Sydney but have spent most of my life in Brisbane where my family is based. My wife and I have 2 adult kids, one of whom along with his wife has blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren.

I am part of a contingent of 15 ADF personnel across the three services with a rank span ranging from Airforce Sergeant to an Army Colonel. Our roles are as uniformed staff officers working in the military force and in the civilian logistics and aviation space where the Australians are renowned for their professionalism and experience. A great opportunity to represent our country in this multinational setting. 

I have been in country since March 2025 and am learning a lot about the UN and this country. We’ve had the opportunity to do things with the community which has included visits to churches and orphanages. 

I head back to Australia this weekend for two weeks of leave catching up with family. Very excited about this.

Thanks again for the quilt and laundry bag. Much appreciated.  Hope you like the attached photos.

Kind regards

 

 

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Hello Joan H,

I am a Lieutenant in the Australian Army and I am writing to you after receiving your laundry bag and enclosed letter.

Thank you so very much for sewing it together, I loved it the second I saw it, nothing like Aussie animals on a lovely backdrop!

It will serve me well during my upcoming deployment with the Australian Army. I see you’re from Mudgeeraba, I love the Gold Coast as I spent a large part of my childhood around Kirra with my family and maternal grandparents!

I am looking forward to my trip and again I say thank you for what you do with AHQ, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. All the best to you, Alan and your family across Queensland.

Warm thanks and kind regards,

 

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Dear Bridget R and Jan-Maree B,

I wanted to let you know that I’ve received my quilt—and to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was absolutely blown away when it was presented to me. Made all the more special as they were two long-time friends and highly respected Navy men—who made the presentation.  And of course, my big brother!

The thought, craftsmanship, and attention to detail in the stitch work are truly impressive.

You should be incredibly proud of the work you do. You’ve brought a great deal of joy to this veteran, and the quilt has already become a treasured family heirloom.

Thank you again, and warmest wishes,

Recipient looking at his quilt made by Bridget R with embroidery by Joan & Alan B.

 

L-R Recipients brother, Presenters & Recipient at end right

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Good Morning Heather B,

 

I received the laundry bag you created for me yesterday and can I firstly say it absolutely made my day! You could not have done a better job matching it to my request, I am not a creative person so I could not have even envisioned what you came up with. In my unit me and all mates like to think of ourselves as cowboys so I know they will all be jealous of my laundry bag every time we travel. 

 

It was so nice to read your letter and hear about your family history in the ADF, I am the first person in my family to join so I always get a little jealous of people like yourself with a rich lineage in the ADF. I also do a bit of swimming through the Scarboro surf life saving club and I agree a highlight of my weekends is a post ocean swim coffee. I am missing Australian coffee very much over here, looking forward to returning home to Perth soon. 

 

Thank you also for the tim tams, we are currently eating them in the office whilst I write this email. 

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Good evening Joy H,

 

I just wanted to reach out and let you know that I received the amazing quilt you crafted. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into the artistic designs for the food and cocktails, as well as all the dog designs you managed to weave into it.

 

Thanks for all that you do to support the Defence community. It means a lot!

 

Kind Regards,

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Good Afternoon Beverley F and hello from the Middle East,

 

I am so sorry for taking so long to get back to you, it has been quite the adventure here so far!

 

Thank you so much for my beautiful quilt and laundry bag. It’s a bit warm for the quilt at the moment so I have it sitting on the end of my bed, but the laundry bag has had a lot of use so far. I love them both and it was so incredibly generous of you to donate your time to make them, particularly given the short turn around.

 

I also loved reading your story and about your family and life. You sound like you have such a strong family and I’m sure you must be bursting with pride with all of their achievements. And proud of yourself too no doubt, it couldn’t be easy working with children with learning difficulties, but I can only imagine how rewarding it must have been. What an honorable experience!

 

To share a little bit about my life, I grew up in Western Sydney and wanted to join the military from a young age. I ended up joining the Army in 2017 and have loved every second of it. I’m in the Artillery by corps, but my stream is Surveillance and Target Acquisition, so I work with the drones in Brisbane primarily. Although, I have been fortunate enough to be able to experience postings throughout the eastern parts of Australia – Canberra, Brisbane, Wagga Wagga, Puckapunyal (regional Victoria) and now Townsville. I was also fortunate enough to have met my husband in Wagga Wagga who is also in the Army, and we’ve been able to post around together for the past few years. We are hoping to try to start our own family when I return from deployment in June of next year, so fingers crossed!

 

Thank you again for making the quilt and the laundry bag, I will definitely cherish them. 

And thank you for all that you do for my fellow servicemen and women. 

Warmest Regards,

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Hello Melissa G,

Thank you very much for the GC Suns/John Deere Quilt. It is awesome!! I like the star and football patterns as well, I think you have done a great job and hope you enjoy your time off from work and suitably recharge.

A little bit about me, I joined from QLD in 2003 from a farming community 70km west of Toowoomba, I conducted my basic training in HMAS Cerberus in Victoria and then posted over to Fleet Base West in Rockingham. I have served on HMAS Westralia, HMAS Sirius (11yrs) which are both 40,000 ton fuel Tankers, and also on HMAS Albany which is a Armidale Class Patrol Boat out of Darwin. I have also had numerous shore postings based at HMAS Stirling. I currently live in Perth, with my Wife and 2 Children (13 & 11) and seem to spend all my spare time ferrying them to Football, Netball and AFL Umpire training……. Wouldn’t have it any other way though!

The Aussie Hero Quilts are a great Idea, I have been in the Navy now for 22 years and have seen a fair few people with the laundry bags and Quilts, however have never been lucky enough to receive one.

Hope this email finds you well, and again, Thank you very much for the quilt, it will definitely be used!

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