Happy Wednesday Friends!

Its nice to be back as your editor for this week. There are some awesome letters which definitely pull at the heart strings.

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

***

Sheena B,

I have received my quilt, thank you very much, I love it. Fits well on my bed, the weight of it is excellent as it fit in with our Queensland temperature.

Thank you for all your great work on my quilt. I will send an email to Jan-Maree to thank both her personally and her team, great effort by you all.

Thanks again it is very much appreciated.

***

Dear Bridget R,

I just wanted to let you know that the quilt arrived safely. It is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for the time, care, and heart you put into making it for me. It truly means a great deal.

I hope you don’t mind, but I gave it to my 5-year-old daughter. She absolutely loves it and has not stopped smiling since she saw it. I have attached a photo of us with it. It already has a very special place in her room.

My wife and I have been married for just under eight years. She is Japanese, and my daughter’s name comes from the kanji for Love (愛) and Ocean (海). Her middle name reflects my Peruvian heritage. I migrated to Australia from Perú in 1992 when I was 11 years old, and I have proudly called this country home ever since. I joined the Navy just before turning 21 and will reach 25 years of service this August.

Thank you also for sharing a little about your family and your life after 40 years of nursing. It is wonderful that you have found purpose through sewing and Aussie Hero Quilts. Your kindness reaches further than you probably realise.

Please pass on my warm regards to your husband and family, and to your beautiful mini poodle as well.

***

Dear Janice B,

I wanted to take the time to write and properly thank you for the incredible Aussie Hero Quilt you made for me. It felt important to do more than just say “thank you,” because what you have given is far more than a quilt.

When I first opened it and saw the thoughtful design, I was genuinely taken aback. Each ship represents a different chapter of my Navy career, all the years at sea, long watches, deployments, challenges, growth, and friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Like most people who serve, I do not often stop to look back at the whole journey, but seeing it laid out so carefully in fabric and thread was both humbling and deeply moving.

Knowing that you already understood much of my service history through the ships you included made it even more special. The care and attention you put into capturing that story is something I will never forget. This quilt is not just a reflection of where I have personally been through it is a recognition of the commitment, sacrifice, and pride that comes with a life of service.

I was also struck by how closely our own paths of service align. Learning that you have worked for 25 years, the same length of time I have served in the Navy, really resonated with me. While our roles maybe different, they share the same foundation: showing up for others, day after day, often without recognition, simply because it matters. The fact that you have been crafting for nearly fifty years speaks volumes about your dedication, skill, and love for what you do, so thank you.

The fact that you have made three quilts for the crew I service alongside with on HMAS 
Brisbane,
 personnel speaks volumes about your generosity. This generosity you have shown is truly remarkable and for that you should be proud. Each one represents countless hours of work, patience, and care, given freely to people you may never meet or fully know. That kind of kindness leaves a lasting impact, and it is felt far beyond the moment the quilt is received, I have not found the other two yet but getting home and going into a break over Christmas and getting back in the swing of the New Year is always I bit of a crazy time, but once we sail again I will endeavor to find them 

Like you write about your family, I think it is important to acknowledge that service is never carried by one person alone. Behind every uniform is a family who supports the time away, the missed milestones, and the unpredictable demands of the job. Your quilts do not just honour the individual who receives them, they quietly acknowledge the families and loved ones who stand behind us, and that means more than I can adequately express. I am a mum and being a sea away from my daughter is sometimes very hard to swallow. My husband is also a serving member so we juggle the demands of service daily.

So thank you again, Janice, for the time, care, and heart you put into your work. This quilt represents warmth, comfort, connection, and shared service in the truest sense. It is something I will treasure always, not just for what it is, but for what it represents and for the remarkable person who made it.

With my sincere and heartfelt thanks

Regards 

***

Hello Greg, Jan-Maree, and especially Bev F,

I was presented with the magnificent quilt (made by Bev F) this evening at my local RSL, and you all have my profound thanks for my gift and all the work you do for our service personnel, serving and past.

This is what I wrote on my Facebook page – “

During a tour of New Zealand late last year, I met 19 wonderful people, and amongst them was the widow of an Australian Military Veteran, named Bev F. When she learnt that I was a Vietnam Vet (1
^st
 Intake National Service, 1/7/65, and served as a medic with the 5
^th
 Battalion (5RAR) on its first tour in Vietnam, she asked me if I had an Aussie Hero Quilt, as she was a member of that entity and would like to make me a quilt. I advised her that I had not heard of that group but would love a quilt made by her. When I returned to Adelaide, I emailed Bev some personal details of my varying service, and tonight the President of my local RSL (The Royal Australian Regiment Association – South Australia Branch at Linden Park),  Michael v B, MC  OAM, who also served in 54RRFAR with me, presented this magnificent quilt to me. Thanks so much Bev, I love your gift, and I thank all members of Aussie Hero Quilts for their work in honouring past and serving members of the Australian Defence Force. Donations to that entity would be appreciated by their members and me”.

Regards to you all, and again – thanks

***

Hello Ruth S,
I wanted to thank for the laundry bag I received from you late last year. With the footy season approaching the Essendon Bombers beanies, scarfs and jerseys are being pulled out of storage and they have found themselves in the Essendon Bombers themed laundry bag you made. My 4yr old son who is a big Bombers fan has being using it as a make shift flag, hanging in his room.
As you are a Power supporter I’m sure you may have been a little conflicted in making the laundry bag. Rest assured that it was greatfully received and admittedly the Power still look to be the better team for 2026.
Thanks for this and all the other items your have made as part of AHQ. 
Up The Bombers
Thanks and best of luck for the season, 

***

Dear Heather B,

I am just dropping you a line to say ’Thank you’ for the beautiful quilt that you made for me in recognition of my service to the Air Force. I was fortunate to have Air Marshal Leo D present it to me and I can assure you that it came as a huge surprise, the occasion leaving me feeling more than a little tearful and very grateful to be recognised in this way.

As a public servant, we do not think that we will be acknowledged in such a way, and this will certainly be one of the nicest ways to remember my time working in the Air Force. As you would imagine, I work with many uniformed members, some of whom have received a quilt or laundry bag from their own time in service, particularly when they served overseas. I am so pleased to be now a member of this unique and special group who owns Aussie Hero Quilt. My partner is also in the Air Force and we have worked together on many of my projects so I am able to share this with him.

We recently caught up with my son and his wife who have bought the beautiful spaniel ‘Hugo’ into our lives. They were so touched to see him included and have already said when the time comes, they intend to take the quilt from me – so its history will continue.

The work that you and other quilters do is simply amazing and means so much to our serving members.

Thank you for your service to us and I wish you all the very best for a wonderful 2026.

In appreciation,

***

Good Evening Ruth S,

I just received my laundry bag and it has made my day. What you do is extremely special and I can’t thank you enough.

I love my laundry bag. It will travel with me wherever I go.

***

Cheers Bel P

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in. Wednesdays would be so totally boring without them!

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻