Grati-Wednesday 3rd December 2025

Written by AHQ

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3 December 2025

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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,

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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,

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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.

Bobbie S and the Mystery BOMers. Emb Joan Quilted by Philomena and added to by Bridget
LB Ruth S

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Good afternoon Hilary P,

I am writing to say thank you so much for the lovely quilt, laundry bag and letter!

I am amazed at the detail and thought you have put into the quilt for me and I can not thank you enough!It is something I will treasure for a long time and I will definitely be using the laundry bag on my next deployed or trip!

I really appreciate the time you took to write the letter noting how busy you and all the other volunteers are at AHQ. I hope the annual dinner in Canberra goes well. You all deserve to be celebrated for the work you do.

Even though I am back from my deployment now, I am honoured to know there are people like you out there, looking out for those of us away from family, friends and loved ones.

Thank you again!

Kindest regards,

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Dear Sue-Ellen S,

I’m in the Royal Australian Navy posted to HMAS Stuart and currently on deployment in Asia. I am 25 years old and I grew up in Melbourne and joined the RAN when I was 19 and I now live in WA. The other week I received the laundry bag you made along with your letter. Thank you so much for the laundry bag as its well made and the perfect size. I greatly appreciate the work you do with AHQ and at your local RSL (pulling beers is essential work ) and all others who volunteer. As a sailor a sturdy Dhobey bag (laundry bag) is very nice to have and makes life onboard just that bit much easier as the standard issue bags tend to rip and tear. I enjoyed reading your letter and hearing about your family military history. I hope your retirement is going well and I wish your sons the best.

Kindest regards,

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Hi Ruth S,

I just received my laundry bag that you compiled. It is fantastic, so thank you for your time and effort to make us veterans feel people care.

Again, thank you and take care

regards

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Good evening Sue-Ellen S,

I'm an electronics technician in the Royal Australian Navy, proud father to a rabbit named Pickles, and as of the other day, the even prouder owner of a majestic blue laundry bag covered in platypuses (or platypies... whatever the plural may be).

I must admit, I wasn't originally looking for a new laundry bag we get issued a fresh one with every new posting, after all. But the moment I saw that vibrant blue pattern and the platypuses (which happen to be my mother’s absolute Favorite animal and that felt a little bit like the universe was trying to tell me something), I knew I had to grab it right away.

Fun fact about the humble platypus: because they lay eggs and produce milk. So, if you're ever stuck in the bush craving an omelette a platypus is your one-stop shop!

On a more personal note, I hope your sons are doing well. Reading your letter, your pride in them and the work they do shines through so clearly. They are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive mother in their corner.

I personally have not attended one of the charity dinners for the Doby bag cause, however a ex of mine has in 2024, and apparently it was quite the shindig.

Thank you so much for everything you do with your local RSL. The support you provide isn't just vital to active service members, it's a massive morale booster for the entire veteran community.

Please make sure to enjoy a well-deserved pint (or several) after reading this. You’ve more than earned it.

Warm regards,

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Dear Hilary T,

I would like to express my gratitude to you for the beautiful laundry bag that you so skilfully created. I was gifted it after completing a deployment. The design and craftsmanship is impressive.

I am a member of the Australian Army Reserves and work as a signaller. I too originate from overseas- I am Scottish, and like you moved to Australia for better weather and more of an outdoor lifestyle for our children to grow up in. It has been such a beautiful country to live in and we appreciate all of the opportunities that we have been given. I joined the Reserves as a way of serving and giving something back. (I am a Sonographer in my full time job. )

I will be proud to use the laundry bag whenever I am away with Army and once again, thank you so much.

Kindest regards,

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Good Afternoon Clarissa L,

I'm a Soldier at the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and was very fortunate to receive a laundry bag sewn by yourself from Aussie Hero Quilts. I know I and everyone who received one was very grateful for your token of appreciation and to know that we're being thought of. It will be very handy as I'm about to step off on a six week task within Australia. Again thank you very much for giving up your valuable time to help ADF Personnel across the globe, it's greatly appreciated!

Kind regards,

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Dear Janice L,

Thank you so very much for my new laundry bag (its going to get a good work out) it is very hot on our current deployment.

I just wanted to tell you a little about myself. I’ve been serving in the Royal Australian Navy for 15 years now. During that time I have had the opportunity to work across Submarines, Supply ships and ANZAC Class frigates. (currently on HMAS Stuart) It’s been a challenging career, but one that I am proud of and enjoy. I have also been lucky to have some incredible experiences.

I have a wife and Family of 4 children (not including our dog JJ) back home in Rockingham, WA. We come from Brisbane but I had to move to WA when I started working on Submarines. One of the hardest parts of the job is spending time away from them.

The Navy is a big part of my life but my family keeps me grounded.

I hope this gives you a little insight into who I am. Thank you to Aussie Hero quilts and your self for the quilt.

Kind regards,

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Hello Hilary T,

I'm the recipient of the Bag you made and had sent to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. I'm writing to thankyou for the lovely bag / letter and to express my gratitude for your support through Aussie Hero Quilts.

To let you know abit about the recipient of your bag, I was born and raised in Newcastle so I'm well aware of the beautiful country that is the Nelson bay area and try to take the opportunity to show it to my Cairns born partner whenever I get the chance, it just goes to show how close we probably were at one point even though we know live on the other side of the country.

I joined the Army in 2020 and commissioned through the Royal Military College - Duntroon in Canberra and was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps as a Cavalry Officer. Since then I have been posted to the School of Armour in Puckapunyal as an instructor then to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Townsville.

I thankyou again for your work and hopefully you know how much these bags were appreciated by everyone at the Regiment.

Kind regards,

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Hi Janice B,

I just wanted to email you and let you know I received my quilt and laundry bag.

I love them. I have read the Eragon series and recognised the Dragon right away. Not gonna lie, I squealed a little.
Also I did test the laundry bag and kept laughing.

My uncle was a submariner as well so we have a lot in common it seems! I loved reading your letter and about all your
adventures.

Thank you once again for my quilt and Laundry bad. I love them and appreciate all the effort you and your team put into
them.

Kind regards

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Hi Lois S,

Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt. I received it in perfect condition, and I wanted to let you know that it was exactly what I was after. The design, colours and space theme are fantastic, and I can see the incredible amount of work and care that went into creating it. The embroidered patches, ISS, Saturn V and Space Shuttle are particularly impressive, and knowing that they took around 250,000 stitches makes me appreciate it even more.

I also really enjoyed reading about your time in Florida and your visits to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. Watching the launch of Discovery STS-120 must have been an amazing experience.

Like you, I have been to the Kennedy Space Center multiple times, and I honestly think it is one of the best places to visit in Florida. Every visit has been memorable, and as someone with an interest in space exploration, I never get tired of seeing the exhibits, launch facilities and history on display.

Thank you again for your generosity, time and effort in making the quilt. It will be something I treasure for many years to come. I truly appreciate the support you and the Aussie Hero Quilts community provide to veterans.

Kind regards,

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The following letter was published on the 26th August so it may be familiar. We have now received permission to publish the photo so I thought it was very tied in with the letter, it deserved a second publishing:

Dear Shirley D,

I hope this email finds you well.

I recently received the amazing laundry bag that you made for me through Aussie Hero Quilts while serving with the Australian Contingent in the Sinai as part of the Multinational Force and Observers. Thank you for the incredible time, care and generosity that went into making it. Receiving a parcel from home is always appreciated, but receiving something handmade by a complete stranger was something quite special and I couldn't be more grateful.

I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to write such a personal letter. I genuinely enjoyed reading about your family, your textile art, and the remarkable work you have done supporting Australian service personnel since 2015.

Of everything you wrote, it was the story of your father that resonated with me the most. During this deployment, I had the privilege of leading a battlefield study of Alexandria and El Alamein four our contingent, where we walked the ground, visited the Commonwealth War Cemetery and reflected on the actions fought there. Reading about your father's service with the 2/24th Battalion, and the sacrifices he made at both El Alamein and later in New Guinea, made me incredibly proud of his service and privileged to have stood on the same ground where he and so many other Australians fought. It also struck me that, more than eighty years later, an Australian soldier is serving in the same region while receiving a laundry bag made by the daughter of one of those veterans. That is a connection I will never forget.

I also wanted to say how much I appreciated the Egyptian theme of the laundry bag. It was clear how much thought went into making something that reflected where I was serving, and the pyramids, the colours of sand and the kangaroos could not have been more fitting for my deployment with the MFO. It has already become one of my favourite keepsakes from my time in the Sinai and will be coming home to Australia with me when I return.

I've attached a photo taken overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba at South Camp shortly after I received your parcel. I thought you might enjoy seeing where your laundry bag ended up.

There are many people who contribute quietly to Australia's military capability without ever wearing a uniform. Your generosity, talent and countless hours of volunteer work are part of that contribution. Although we have never met, your kindness reached me on the other side of the world and made a genuine difference.

Thank you again for everything you do for Australian service men and women. It is deeply appreciated.

Kind regards,