Happy Wednesday Friends!

There are, as always, some beautiful sentiments in the following gratitude letters.

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

We still have a few AHQ 2026 calendars left. If you are interested in purchasing one please see ordering details at the end of the blog.

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Dear Hilary P,

I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your incredible support of Australian soldiers like myself during deployments. Being away from home and loved ones is never easy, but knowing that people like you are thinking of us and putting so much care into what you do truly makes a difference.

It was especially touching to receive the quilt and bowl cozy. My wife Sarah’s grandparents and my own parents often travel around Australia, and it’s such a beautiful country – one that you’ve captured so wonderfully in your creations. The bowl cozy has become my personal items bowl here at South Camp, and every time I use it, I’m reminded of home and the kindness of people like you.

Thank you again for taking the time to make such beautiful items. They will be cherished for years to come and will always remind me of my time here with the MFO in the Sinai.

Warm regards,

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Good Morning Janice L,

I hope this message finds you well.

I’ve been meaning to write to you while I was deployment, you sewed me the most beautiful blanket through Aussie Hero Quilts. I received it with your thoughtful letter about you and your family. Your words and your work meant more to me than I can express. In a place so far from home, it brought warmth, comfort, and a sense of being seen. It was truly a gift to the heart.

A lot has happened since my deployment. I am now living overseas, and next month I’ll be launching a luxury brand. Born from a dream that grew after my deployment journey led me there. We’re using high-end fabrics not commonly used, and starting locally in this country with plans to grow internationally. It’s exciting, challenging, and deeply meaningful, all in the best ways.

I just wanted you to know that your quilt has travelled with me, across countries and chapters, and remains a treasured piece of my story. It reminded me of kindness, craftsmanship, and the way a thoughtful gesture can touch someone far beyond its moment.

Thank you for your time, your skill, your heart, and the comfort you stitched into that blanket.

With warmth and gratitude,

***

Dear Ms Ball,

AUSSIE HERO QUILT SUPPORT TO OPERATION SOUTHERN DISCOVERY

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Aussie Hero Quilts for their outstanding support to Australian Defence Force personnel deployed under Operation SOUTHERN DISCOVERY during my tenure as Commander of the Australian Contingent.

A chance meeting with Ms Anne H aboard HMAS Hobart early last year laid the foundation for a terrific partnership that has provided soldiers, sailors, and aviators with quilts and laundry bags for their Antarctic missions.

Within this operation, our personnel deploy to one of the world’s harshest and most remote environments, where the wonderful reminder of ‘home’ through quilts and laundry bags has undoubtedly lifted spirits.

The tireless efforts of the volunteers is truly impressive, and I ask that you please pass on my heartfelt appreciation for their creativity, passion, and skill.

As I prepare to hand over my role, I trust that Aussie Hero Quilts will continue to take pride and feel valued for their support to our Defence personnel deployed under this and many other operations.

Yours sincerely,

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Hiya Aussie Hero team and especially Noelene W,

I just want to say a massive thank you for my laundry bag. It’s perfect and I truly love it. I’m super excited to use it on the ship.

It’s definitely a lot nicer than the white mesh bags we were issued with.

Thank you for all the hard work you do! It is truly appreciated by myself and my shipmates. It certainly brightens up our cabins.

Warmest Regards

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Good Evening Lisa N,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for the extraordinary quilt you made for me. The level of detail, craftsmanship, and care you put into it is truly remarkable.

The way you wove together the requested imagery and included the Australian flag speaks volumes, it’s not just a quilt, but a symbol of unity, resilience, and shared spirit. Having something so meaningful with me while I’m deployed brings both comfort and strength.

Knowing that you created this out of your own generosity and in support of deployed military personnel makes it even more special. Your thoughtfulness has touched me deeply, and I will carry this quilt with pride and gratitude throughout my deployment and for years to come.

Thank you again for your incredible gift. Please know that your effort and kindness make a real difference; it’s a gesture of solidarity and care that I will never forget.

With sincere appreciation,

***

Hey Anne H,

Your quilt you made me has arrived!!!!! Thankyou so much. It is everything I could have imagined and more. It is beautiful. Thankyou for putting in so much effort, it’s really appreciated.

The Tim tams were shared with my cell and were demolished in 0.2 seconds.

The forklift looks amazing and all the details you have managed to capture are incredible.

A bit about me:

I grew up in NSW, currently posted to Townsville. I’ve been serving for 5 1/2 years. Only have acouple more months here before I head home The quilt will come in very handy as it gets cooler. I love playing netball and anything outside. I have two siblings an older brother who’s a mechanic and a younger sister who’s still in high school.

I hope home is starting to warm up down there. I can imagine it gets pretty chilly.

Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.

All the best.

Kind regards,

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Good afternoon Jacqui D,

Firstly I wish to extend my sincerest thanks for the laundry bag you have put together for me. I was not expecting it to be so personalised with name and squadron.

You have absolutely outdone yourself and humbled me. This is very important to me as I am a Brisbane boy born and raised.

This year marks my 8th as a member.

I was posted here from training. Enjoyed 5 years as a troop and was posted as an instructor in 2020. I returned in 2023.

I was fortunate to have experienced a full deployment (a few days short of 7 months) in 2017-18. I was very lucky to have received a quilt from Aussie Hero Quilts and now have a laundry bag to match!

My background is Air Force as you know, but I also have a strong Defence lineage like your family. My Great Grandfather was 3/1 Light Horse in the first World War so I was very happy to read of your own family attachment. Who knows maybe they met each other in Egypt and enjoyed a beer together. Wouldn’t that be a story! My Grandfather was RAAF in the Pacific during the second world war and my uncle was Army during the peace time period after Vietnam until the mid 90’s. I was a little late to join but made it in the end.

Our time was a very different experience but all the more rewarding when we saw the effects of what we were doing. What I found most rewarding was knowing I was reuniting family, especially the children. It was a very different side to what we normally do.

Once again thank you so very much for taking the time to put together so much more than a laundry bag. I will treasure this gift and take it with me everywhere I go (which is a lot these days).

Thank you as well to you and your family for the continued support and sacrifice made to our country.

I hope this letter finds you well and wish you all the best and a merry xmas.

Warmest regards,

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Sending off random LBs to HMAS Adelaide, Canberra and Kittabul

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Cheers Catherine D

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

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

AHQ 2025 Calendars for Sale

For the very low cost of only $20 you can purchase a 2026 AHQ calendar.

If you would like to place an order, please email Bel Payne via AH**********@******************om.au with your mailing details. I will acknowledge the email and include the bank details for payment.

Orders will only be taken by email. Do not leave a message under this blog or on the FB post.