Thanks on Thursday 12 November 15

Written by AHQ

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12 November 2015

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Our Gratitude Messages are a little late this week as we have some special posts for Remembrance Day. If you have not read what our guest blogger, Bruce, wrote please go back to Tuesday night’s post and read it. Beautiful words and very appropriate.

A couple of things before the messages.

I am heading away this weekend. I leave for Canberra early Saturday morning. I have a couple of things on and then move to Wagga Sunday afternoon. I will be in Wagga til early Tuesday morning and then straight home to catch up on emails. It is always a challenge to keep AHQ going when I am on the road but there is noone else to do it so needs must. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining but you need to know that I might be a bit slow answering emails for a few days. I am just grateful that the lovely people I am staying with are recipients and will understand the need for me to keep checking and answering emails and Facebook questions.

I come back to Sydney Tuesday afternoon and will chain myself to the laptop for the rest of the day so that I can catch up on everything because Wednesday I am hoping to take a little time off and have a family dinner that night.

I will tell you all about everything I am getting up to in both places, no doubt with photos, at some point next week. I have not decided what I will do about the request list on Monday yet, it depends on what I am doing on the day. I may even put it out on the blog – so keep an eye out for it just in case.

I also have to say a big thanks to the Kraft Daze Sewing Ladies who signed a bunch of blocks which I filed very carefully so that I would have them together and promptly left them off last night’s post. I am so sorry ladies!

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I have edited the post and added them in but thought I would share them here as well so you can all see them…

And finally here are the thank you messages for this week

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Hey michele

I have recieved the wonderful package and I am so thankful for all the all the time and effort you have put in to send to a person you haven’t met before. Its fantastic. Thank you for the fantastic laundry bag it is great. I love the pineapple as well, i’m guessing you have done a fair few for guys over her and understand the pineapple saying haha .

This is more than I asked for and it is amazing.

I’d also like to thank you for all the goodies and the colouring book and pencils. To think people are looking out for our mental health overhear make us so thankful.

The team over hear enjoyed all the lollies, its hard keep hidden all the goodies over here of course. I’ve attached a photo of me with your package. I’m so thankful for everything

God Bless

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Hi Jill,

Thanks so much for the quilt and laundry bag.

I received them… And the lollies today.

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Hello Jan-Maree,

I have returned home from my deployment but it was a very nice surprise when the quilt found it’s way to me back here in Australia, safe and sound. It is amazing and is serving as a happy reminder of my time overseas and the reason’s why I went overseas whenever I see it. It has taken pride of place on my lounge where it has been put to great use keeping my wife and kids warm and feeling safe when a cuddle has been needed.

Thank you so much for my quilt and thankyou so much for making our time overseas that much more comfortable and meaningful to us.

Sincerely

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Hi Diann,

I am writing to you to let you know the quilt you made me has arrived safe and sound and it looks great. Thanks you so much for the effort you have put into this, it is muchly appreciated.

Also, thanks for the snacks…it’s always nice to receive some homely food items! Especially Tim Tams 😛

I am looking forward to coming home and seeing my partner and family, it seems like the time is taking forever but really 6 months is nothing in a lifetime!!

Thanks again for your hard work, it’s doesn’t go unnoticed.

Regards,

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Dear Rita aka Granny Smith,

Firstly I would like to start off by saying a very big ‘Thank-you’ and the quilt is amazing and everything I hoped for. It’s on my bed as we speak.

We have roughly 3 months left in our tour, upon our return we will be able to take a few weeks of R+R with our families before going back to work and begin training again for our next mission.

Thank you for everything you do for us that are deployed and I wish you and your family all the best.

Regards

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Hi Jean,

Thank you so much for my laundry bag it is awesome. I also look forward to taking it back home soon and using it when I am deployed on the Ships.

I was fortunate to go to Gallipoli this year, it was great to get that opportunity to go. Istanbul was amazing the food, the people, the buildings, were all terrific. I had a strange sense of home while I was there even though it is nothing like home. We felt safe, warm and so welcomed, they love Australians, we are a part of their modern history.

I have a great life and a great job and it is not often that we get the opportunity to deploy with the Army. I am in Sinai with the Multinational Forces and Observers. I go home in a few weeks so I am looking forward to a Christmas break.

Thankyou again for the gift and I hope your family and fur babies have a safe and happy Xmas.

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Hi Jan A,

I recently received one of your puppy laundry bags and thank you for taking the time to make these for us during our deployments. It is extremely humbling that you take the time to show your appreciation in this way. I am proud to serve my country and hopefully we are making a difference to the people affected by war in the Middle East.

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Good morning,

I am currently onboard HMAS Melbourne and deployed on operations to the Middle East. I grew up in Hobart Tasmania and joined the RAN at the age of 18. I am very grateful for all the effort that Hanah and her friends have put into making my laundry bag, we definitely use them and it is a highlight for all of us when we receive these gifts. I hope that Hanah enjoyed creating my laundry bag as much as I enjoyed receiving it.

Thanks you for your continued support and to Hanah and her friends for taking the time and effort to make our bags/quilts.

Kind regards,

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Hi Julie-ann,

Firstly I would like to thank you so much for making my laundry bag for me and the treats, i love it. It is so nice of you to go out of your way to make these laundry bags for us. Its amazing how much a package being sent to you can make you so happy and make such a big difference on a long trip. Everyone looks forward to receiving there laundry bag because the ones we get issued are not very good and the ones you make are amazing. I thank you so much for your generosity and your hard work that you have done.

Kind regards

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Hi Jane and Kate,

Thank you so much for my Aussie Hero quilt, I love it.

I really love the photos of Kokoda on the quilt. Kokoda is a passion that my wife and I have. We walked the Kokoda trail for our 10^thwedding anniversary in memory of her pop that was there in 1942 with the 3^rd Battalion. He passed away just after our wedding.

Since we first walked the trail we have started to lead treks with Adventure Kokoda over the Kokoda trail and tell the trekkers the war history of the trail. My wife is a high school teacher and takes kids over from her school on the June/July school holidays and you can really see the kids charge after walking the trail, it is a life changing experience.

All the Defence Force men and women love the quilts from Aussie Hero Quilts. Here in the Sinai when the mail comes in we all look to see who has a parcel from Aussie Hero Quilts. So we can all see how good the quilt looks. When I opened my parcel up everyone loved it. I have had it now for 5 days and the guys are still talking about it. I cannot wait to get it home to show my family.

Thank you so much.

Regards

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Dear Dianne, Heather & Dot,

I just wanted to write and thankyou personally for the laundry bag I received this week. I was truly touched that you took my simple request and made something very special and a gift that I will treasure for a very long time. This is my second tour in the Middle East, my first being in 2008 to Iraq. I have a very supportive and loving wife and together we have three young children.

This is the first time I have received something from Aussie Hero Quilts and couldn’t be more honoured to receive a gift like this. Thank you for all the quilts and laundry bags that you have made, and I hope you will continue to make as they really do make everyone who receives one, very happy!!

Again my sincerest and heartfelt thank you and please fell free to contact me if you wish.

Warm regards,

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Hi Janet,

Firstly I would like to thank you so much for making my quilt for me, i love it. It is so nice of you to go out of your way to make these quilts for us. Its amazing how much a package being sent to you can make you so happy and make such a big difference on a long trip. Everyone looks forward to receiving there quilts. I thank you so much for your generosity and your hard work that you have done.

Kind regards

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Hello Stephanie,

Thank you so very much for the Dhoby Bag you made for me! It is honestly amazing how you have put it together and how relevent it is to me. I appreciate the work you have put in for me to have this specialised item and wish you the best with everything that comes your way.

Thank you!

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Hi Jan-Maree,

I have received the quilt and it looks amazing. Thank you very much for organising it. Once again you have all out done yourselves with your work. Very fitting that it came from Perth as we will be traveling there for new years.

Again thank you for the quilt. I hope you have a relaxing Christmas and a fun New Years.

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Dear Jan-Maree,

I want to thank you oh so much for the work you and your fantastic volunteers do. I have received my wonderful monkey quilt and monkey laundry bag (made by Diann) and they are bringing some desperately needed colour to my world. I found the letters I received with both very touching and I am looking forward to writing back to the two wonderful ladies with my thanks.

Thank you again.
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Lisa N made this quilt and recently received a photo of it in action.

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Hi Sophie,
I have to say I was blown away by the quilt I received from you and I can’t thank you enough for the beautiful job you have done.
Everyone on the ship has seen it, it was so good I had to show ‘n’ tell. The attention to detail is amazing and I am the envy of the mess, they all love the centre with the velcro for patches. It is something I will hold dear for many years and remind me of this long and arduous deployment, I sent pics home to my wife and my girls,”that is so you dad” so by now you can understand why I love what you have done for me, yes Sophie, I have slept on it , under it and when not in use, it makes the coolest single bed spread.
I am so grateful for my quilt, I love it and I appreciate so much all the work you did to create a masterpiece for me.
I also wanted to thank you for the goodies and let you know I am a Ford lover probably the only one in the mess (sorry)
Thanks again, for your first Navy quilt and mine – I am so lucky.
Sincerely yours
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Good Morning Jan,

I have finally received the quilt and laundry bag. I received the laundry bag on my birthday which was a lovely surprise. The quilt is beautiful. I look forward to taking it to sea with me on future deployments.

Can you please pass on my thanks to the lovely women of Rosewood Crafts and Quilts. They do an outstanding job, on not only my quilt, but of all the other ones I have seen.

Thank you once again. You and your team do an amazing job getting no doubt, hundreds of quilts to troops serving overseas. They are certainly appreciated.

Have a lovely day.
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Good Afternoon Dianne, Heather and Dot. Thank you so much for my laundry bag. I absolutely love it. I appreciate all the time and effort you put in to my bag. Im honored to be the first recipient. Also thank you for the Tim Tams and lollies.
I hope you continue to work with Aussie Hero Quilts. They are a fantastic organisation.
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Hey Sue,
Thank you so much for my blanket! I absolutely love it!!!
It is so lovely to receive mail about what people are getting up too back in Australia, we all miss home so much.
I’m 20 years old, and my job is to maintain communications on board, I can do morse code, flags, semaphore and systems that involve satellites. Basically everything to do with talking is my job (perfect job for my mum)

Anyway thank you again so much, will hopefully send a picture of the quilt on board the ship in the near future
king regards,
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Dear Pauline and Elaine,

I am writing to thank you for your support to us here at Taji, Iraq by sending us your fantastic laundry bags. I meant to write to you sooner, but things have been busy. We are preparing to go shortly however, so now’s the time!

The laundry bag was a real nice Aussie touch and very practical. It takes two days for the laundry service here so having an additional bag to the one the Army gives us allowed me to keep the fresh clothes flowing when the temperatures here were in the 50’s.

Again, thank you for the time and effort you put in tothe bag and know that it is a great practical fix for us, with a well received personal touch.

Wishing you both the best as I depart Iraq.
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Hello Maree J,

Thank you so very much for the amazing Quilt you made for me! It is honestly amazing how you have put it together and how relevent it is to me. I appreciate the work you have put in for me to have this specialised item and wish you the best with everything that comes your way.
Thank you!
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Hi Lisa,

Received your gift box a week ago and wish to thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Your letter really gave me a big morale boost at a difficult time of the deployment and helped me deal with the ” what am I doing here when I should be back there ” doubts that constantly raise their head. Thanks for the time and effort ; it’s had a big impact on me.

Regards.
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Hi Carolyn,

I wanted to thank you for doing such an amazing job on my Aussie Heroes Quilt and Laundry Bag. It definitely gives the rack (bed) I sleep in a nice bit of warmth and during the day I hang it in such a way so the Panthers colours block out my cabin mates Broncos quilt. Sorry to hear you are a tragic Panthers fan as well. It was shaping to be such a big year however I think injuries crippled us once again. I am hoping next year brings better luck with the new coach.

I just wanted to thank you for the brilliant effort you are doing in supporting all of us away from home. I can honestly say that every single person onboard who has received a quilt has nothing to say but good things about the work you and your Aussie Hero Quilters are doing. I really appreciate the time and effort you have put in to making this quilt and the others before it.

Once again, many thanks.
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Hi Sue,

Thank you so much for the doona, I was blown away. I was so excited that I ran around showing other Kiwi friends and had my picture taken, which was put on the ships face book page.

I have always been an All Blacks supporter and will never let them go. I bought my wife an All Blacks jersey as a wedding present and told her that we all bring baggage to a marriage and this one she is going to have to accept. Hahaha.

Well World Cup is just around the corner and although we are off to a great start in the four nations, world cups in the northern hemisphere are hard for the All Blacks but we will see how they go.

Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into my doona and I hope your renovations are going well.

Take care and all the best

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Good Afternoon Carol and Leah

Thank you so much for the quilt, laundry bag and the comic books, and apologies for the late reply. (been extremely busy)
The laundry bag and quilt were perfect, I grew up on a farm and my dad and I are big fans of Foottrot Flats, the work your team do is amazing and I’ve never seen something like that before back home (I’ve been in the NZ navy for 9 years) and the joy it brings the lads over here is fantastic, every time mail arrives and a new batch of quilts and laundry bags arrives everyone shows them off and compares them, truly a credit to your skill.

Once again thank you for the amazing quilt and laundry bag (and the morale boost it brought)

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Hi Janet,
I am writing this email to thankyou with much gratitude for the amazing quilt, laundry bag and treats you have sent to me whilst on deployment. The quilt and laundry bag have definitely brightened up my living area and I want to thankyou so much for the treats from back home. It is clear that you are extremely skilled in sewing and I am glad to have been able to show your craftsmanship off to my shipmates. Sorry about the delayed response, as you can imagine mail from back home is quite sporadic for us whilst on tour on the ocean, and my job keeps me quite occupied for around 20 hours per day. It is good to hear the weather back home has been fair, it is rather hot where I am currently, much different from what I am use to back home in Sydney. It is still many months until we return back to Aus, but all in all it is good to again be deployed and work towards a more harmonious world.

I am originally from a small country town, north of Newcastle NSW. I am 29 years old, have a strong family history within the Navy and have served for just over 11 years so far, with more to come. I originally joined as my late grandafther and my uncle served in the navy and I have heard nothing but amazing stories and tales since a young age. I am lucky enough to have served on various units, conducted many operations and seen amazing parts of the world. I am now in the higher management level of my career and work with an amazing team of proficient and competent operators and crew.

I think Aussie Quilts is an amazing organisation. Not only myself, but all deployed members thoroughly enjoy the quilts, and they definitely lift morale and re-enforce that no matter where we are or what we are doing, people are thinking of us all and that we are working towards a greater good. Your package has been the highlight of my week and I cannot express enough how much I appreciate the time and effort you have put into what you have done for me.
Thankyou so much again, I wish you and your family all the best and safe travels.

Kind Regards,
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Till next time………………..keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
Jan-Maree xx

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,