I recently received the quilt you made for me and I honestly am amazed at how good it is. I really appreciate the time you took to make it and how good it came out! I have attached a photo of myself and the rest of our workshop with the quilt. (I am standing to the left of the quilt.)

A little bit about me, I have been in the Army for 5 years and am a fitter armourer. My main role on deployment is to maintain all the weapon systems that are used by the Australian forces. The army has taken up alot of my time with courses and this deployment so my only real hobby is going to the gym and trying to keep fit.

Once again I really appreciate all the hard work you have put in to make this awesome quilt for me!   All the RAEME boys love it!   Also RAEME is far better than RACT, don’t let anyone tell you differently ha ha!

Regards

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Gday Julie-Ann,

I hope this e-mail finds you well.  I am serving in the Middle East. I received a parcel from you.
All I can say is WOW! Thank you for the quilt and laundry bag. Everything is fine with them and the little touches brought a smile to me and my medics. I was not expecting one. I have deployed in the past and received care packages but this was an very nice surprise. My mum likes to sew and makes quilts herself.

Some of my Officers and Soldiers have received quilts and they are all very happy with them. I have few who are on their first deployment and it reminds them of home and that we are still thought of.

We don’t have long to go (only a few months) and thankfully it’s been a quiet deployment. We are all looking forward to ANZAC day and coming home.

Thank you again for your gifts.

Regards,
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Hi Rhonda and Raylene

Thank you so very much for my quilt and laundry bag. I love them.

It was like I opened the box and couldn’t wait to pull them out and when I did my face lit up and I had a smile from ear to ear.

You put so much work and thought into them and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that.

I am moving back to New Zealand to continue my navy career  there after ten years in the Australian navy and my quilt will take pride on my rack (bed) on whatever ship I end up on, as it does here. We don’t have that many to choose from in New Zealand.  I love the Australian flag on it. This makes me so proud to be Australian and New Zealand owned. I love to feel that we are making a difference and hope one day when we talk of the defence force it will be for all the ways we have made a difference in making the world better for our future as our families had done so before us.

I love everything about my gift from you both, the patterns, the colour, the bike is excellent and some how, you both must have known that I have a very quick wit and humour which is reflected in all of my quilt. Also love the laundry bag and its owls. I use it, to carry  my uniform to the gym as we have to be ready at all times for action and must take our uniform with us. It sits among my other ship mates personal bags. Stands out too, and of course its quick to find.

What you do for us is amazing. This is truly a gift from genuine caring people. This really lifts the spirits of all of us on board to know we are worth something to strangers who believe in why we are all here.

Some days role into one and the small things amuse us. We all try to support each other and when we get our quilts we show each other and it opens up for discussion at how accurate our friends have made our quilts to our personality and off go the dooner covers to make room for our new piece of pride, (our quilts)

 There is not one thing I would want you both to change on my quilt it is just fantastic and I have found the straight line in it.

 I know your grandparent in the army would be proud that we have kept what they fought for alive. Everyday we can be better.
Again thank you so much. I can honestly say it has made my trip to know you all care about us enough to give us your time and energy, and that you believe in us as we do you.
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