THANK YOU THURSDAY 28th March

Written by AHQ

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28 March 2019

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Do you love to get a letter? I do. The thank you letters like these ones really warm my heart!

I love that the Recipients sometimes tell us a little about themselves or what they do, or something about their family…it just brings a special happy feeling and is a little glimpse into the person they are.

Let’s start with some messages from HMAS Melville:

Thanks so much for my laundry bag I received today!

I just wanted to say thanks to the person who hand made the laundry bag I received. it is very unique and I like it very much.

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G’day Su

It is with great pleasure that I write this email. Thank you so much for the hard work, the many countless hours you have put into sewing not just for me but the countless others. I absolutely love my bag. The design is very creative, very Australian and I love it. The ship was buzzing yesterday when people got to choose their bags.

This laundry bag will not only provide me with a slice of home but also a sense of pride.

Thank you so much for this wonderful gesture.

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Good morning

I have recently received one of your amazing laundry bags and wanted to thank you. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in to create amazing laundry bags, as I will certainly get lots of use out of it.

Thank you again,

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Good morning Jan-Maree,

I have been in the Navy for 18 years and this is one of many deployments for me but I just wanted to say thank you very much for looking after our crew with the gifting of laundry bags. Our newer/junior members of Ship’s Company that haven’t heard of AHQ were really touched by the thought and effort that goes into making the laundry bags for deployed members.

The laundry bags make our sleeping spaces a little more homely and we certainly appreciate it.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, again thank you for what you do.

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Thank you so much for the laundry bag, you’re putting smiles on dials on HMAS MELVILLE.

Kind Regards,

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Dear Robyn,

I’m writing to you because I have just received the most beautiful laundry bag! (My Mum would always read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to me when I was little, so it put a big smile on my face!). I have to say a massive thank you, this is such a kind gesture and all our new laundry bags have really brought some fun colours to our cabins! It was so kind of you to go out of your way and make this, it was a lovely surprise!

Penrith sounds like a lovely place, white water rafting, paddle boats and music definitely sounds exciting, and like there is something for everyone to do! Your church sounds lovely too, 180 years old is pretty impressive, old buildings are so gorgeous!

Thanks again,

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Good morning, Gail,

The purpose of my email is to thank you for the time and effort you’ve put into making the Laundry Bag that I received prior to sailing, I’m sure I’ll make good use of it as its predecessor was a blue one which I commandeered years ago when I was posted to an Armidale Class Patrol Boat, it has provided me good service over the last thirteen years, however is long overdue for retirement.

I’m extremely appreciative of the efforts yourself and the other volunteers in the Aussie Hero Quilts association have done to support us. We as Defence members are fortunate to have people like yourself supporting us from home and am grateful for the time you’ve put aside to make us these items.

Thanks again for the wonderful Laundry Bag.

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And here is the rest of the mail:

Good evening Jan-Maree,

I’ve just been lucky enough to receive a laundry bag made by Chris D today. I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to you and Chris for getting this gift to me. It’s a such a nice feeling to know that someone who doesn’t know me cares enough about our work to make me a laundry bag. I feel very fortunate to have received it.

I’m so grateful to have received this gift. It’s a bit cheesy but knowing that there are people out there thinking about us is a really nice feeling.

Can you pass on my thanks to Chris for me please?

Thanks again.

Kind regards,

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Good evening Jan-Maree

My wife, already a recipient, ensured I did not miss out on a laundry bag from your organisation. I received my laundry bag and am very grateful for the effort Luisa has gone to creating this for me. It is a very unique gift, and a wonderful initiative you have established and for that I thank you and your team of hard-working dedicated people who support us. It is very reassuring that people such as you, Luisa and the rest of your team are thinking of us defence members and you appreciate our service.

Once again, thank you.

‘You are gold baby… Solid gold’

Regards

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JM!!!! I received my quilt today and it is awesome!!!!! Thank you for leading this great group of volunteers who have brought so much joy to so many! A big thanks to Wendy, Lynn and Arthur for this brilliant design and amazing handiwork! Stunning. With huge thanks.

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Dear Lynn, Wendy and Arthur,

Firstly, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW WOW. There aren’t words to describe or express my joy and gratitude for the absolutely beautiful gift I received from you all today. The design, colours and handiwork are perfect! I had no idea how you would complete my very simple brief but you have far exceeded my wishes and this will be a family heirloom for years to come. Thank you so very much for my quilt, but also for all the many more you have done over the years.

We are coming out of a reasonably pleasant winter. The temperatures are definitely on the rise. We’ll be hitting 40s in a few weeks. When I arrived, it was consistently in the low 50s for about 2 months. The dry heat is fine – it’s the humidity that makes it unbearable. We suffered for about a month before winter.

So, I wanted to write to thank you very much for the quilt (and of course the other goodies as well!). I’m humbled and thrilled to have received such a lovely gift. Thank you for volunteering and please keep bringing joy to our service men and women!

My warmest regards

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Dear Lyn,

Thank you so much for my beautifully designed Australian animals quilt! You did such a great job. It is exactly what I was after! Thank you also for the other treats and postcards!

It was lovely to hear all about your lovely town, your family and the travels you have been doing and will be doing! My best wishes for you and your family.

This is my first deployment overseas; I’m excited to return to Australia, it is such a wonderful country. We are all so lucky.

Thank you once again for my quilt! It will be cherished.

Kindest Regards,

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Dear Ruth

I received a message and photos from my son this morning (albeit at 5 a.m.) showing me a beautiful Laundry Bag & Quilt made by a lovely lady named Ruth. I cannot express my gratitude for your time and effort in making this especially for him, it certainly bought a tear to my eye that his efforts in the Defence Force are appreciated.

He was truly thrilled with his gifts and rest assured Ruth, you will never be forgotten by either of us. I love the kangaroo with the bar bells and cannot imagine the hours, cost and deliberation it took to do this. Your work has certainly been admired by all our family.

Once again, heartfelt thanks.

Kindest Regards

…..

Dear Melissa,

Thank you for your hard work in making such a cool laundry bag. It was nice reading about your family, and I actually had the laundry bag made with my daughter in mind.

All the best to you and your family.

Kind regards and many thanks,

…..

Dear Sandy, Mary and Violet,

I wish to thank you all for the wonderful Quilt which I received today. I am constantly in awe at the amazing designs that all your talented sewers keep creating. I truly love my new quilt, it will really brighten up my room for the rest of my time over here and will hold a special place at home on my return.

We have a fabulous team over here. We had a great Christmas together and, although we all miss our families, it was good that everyone could come together and make the most of the occasion. Most people were able to talk to their families in the morning before our festivities commenced about lunch time. We had all received care packages and got together to open them.

Being so far away from our loved ones for so long can be quite a challenge, and it is only because of the fabulous people we are deployed with, and the overwhelming support of wonderful Australians like yourselves, that our time here has been a positive and enjoyable experience.

Thank you all again for your support and the fabulous work you do in creating these wonderful gifts. Wishing you a safe and happy 2019.

Kind regards,

…..

Dear Ruth,

It was my intent to hand write a letter to you to thank you for the time, effort and money you have put towards my Laundry Bag but I just can’t seem to get around to it and want to let you know sooner rather than later that I have received it. It is so beautifully made and I will cherish it for a very long time.

Military life is tough on a family but it is people like you that make working through difficult times like this, easier for everyone. You have a beautiful heart and a wonderful talent – I really appreciate what you do.

Thank-you so very much for the laundry bag.

Sincerely,

…..

Hi Jenny,

I just wanted to right and say a huge thankyou for your present. I was having a bad day of missing Family and then your package arrived and lifted my spirits immensely. It is perfect for me, I love the bright colours that shake it up from the usual desert brown or army green. Everyone is already jealous.

Thanks for all you do in supporting us, know that it means a lot.

…..

These letter certainly made me feel happy.

Until next time,

Sandy

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,