Thursday 31 December 2020

Farewell 2020, Welcome 2021

I think you would agree that this has been quite a year, the likes of which none of us expected. So many people and businesses have struggled to keep going but I am pleased to say that Aussie Heroes has continued to provide support and encouragement to our troops even with the challenges thrown at us by bushfires, floods and COVID 19.  

In 2019 we sent off 1233 quilts and 2553 laundry bags. 

In spite of bushfires, floods and COVID we managed to exceed those numbers in 2020.  

We sent off over 1472 quilts and an amazing number of laundry bags......

a total of 6972 laundry bags which includes more than 3000 for troops on Operation COVID Assist. Just one of our army chaplains has handed out over 3220 laundry bags for COVID Assist this year.  What a huge achievment on the part of the volunteers who have been tirelessly sewing for us. 

A massive thanks goes out to all of our volunteers who have kept busy all year making quilts and bags.   

I would also like to give a special mention to Clarissa, Alex, Lisa, Catherine, Kylie and Courtney for stepping  up to take on the administration roles, keeping Aussie Heroes running whilst I concentrate on my cancer treatment. 

It looks like I have another year of treatment ahead of me which will take up most of 2021 so their help will continue to be essential to the running of the organisation.  Thank you so much for all the support and kind encouragement they have received via emails and messages.  The admin jobs are constant and demanding but they are made so much easier when the ladies know that what they are doing is appreciated, not just by me, but by those of you who sew for us. 

I also want to thank the members of our Board of Directors who have continued to support us this year.  I look forward to a bright future for Aussie Heroes in the years to come.

2021 is the year of our 10th Anniversary and we will be having a fabulous weekend in Canberra to celebrate that milestone. Standby for dates and details sometime in February. As I will be out of action most of the year, we are blessed to have an awesome experienced events team who are gearing up to get the Celebration Weekend up and running. 

 Here's wishing all of us a safe, happy and healthy 2021. I think we are all due for a good year, dont you?

Till then.... happy stitching! And Happy New Year!!!

Love

Jan-Maree xx









Tuesday 29 December 2020

Grati-Tuesday 29th December 2020

Hello Friends,

Hope you are all having a wonderful week and getting ready to welcome in the new year soon to arrive.

In the meantime, sit back and enjoy these beauties.

All the best for the rest of 2020. Alex

.... 


Dear Marianne and WPH Ladies,

Thank you very much for your kind words and wonderful quilt. The embroidery is excellent and the quilt is very beautiful. I'm sure it will offer me a lot of comfort while I am away from my home and family.

I'm very grateful that you have taken the time and effort to show your appreciation for deployed Defence members. I'm very glad and proud to be over here on behalf of Australian's, it is still really amazing to have someone give a lovely gift and letter and offer their support and thanks.

Thank you again for the quilt, in particular Sheena and Inge, I'm so impressed with the embroidery. 

Yours truly.

.... 


Dear Sue,

Thank you so very much for my quilt.

It far exceeds any expectations I had and is very much appreciated. 

It is nice to know that complete strangers care about my wellbeing.

Thank you

.... 


Dear ladies of the Crib Point Community House inc,

I am so grateful to receive a laundry bag from you whilst deployed in the Middle East. I love the jungle theme and it looks very different to everyone else's bag, so I won't lose it. :)

This is my eight deployment but my first laundry bag made by hand.

Thank you

.... 


Good Morning Heather,

I am the very happy and thankful recipient of your beautifully made quilt. I love the laundry bag, love the use of my Corps colours and the Australian Flag. Thank you so much! You have certainly made my days and now my room, brighter!

Thank you for introducing yourself to me, it is great to hear how much this initiative resonates with you. You have such a rich connection with the ADF and I hope what we do make you proud. I am very thankful for those that have served before me and I thank your family for their contributions to keeping our way of life Australian. I hope to continue to honour this legacy.

I am now in my 12th year of service to the ADF and have loved my career thus far.

As you would have gathered, I am part of the Corps of the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and am I am employed as an Electronics Systems Technician. I have specialised as Biomedical Technician and also an Electronic Countermeasures maintainer. These specialities are the crux of what I do within the Middle East, enabling and supporting clinicians and various other personnel in carrying out their roles safely and effectively.

I live in Queensland. I am husband to a beautiful wife of almost 7 years. My wife is an accomplished veterinarian nurse. We have two sons, aged 4 and 2, and we are expecting the birth of our daughter early next year. I unfortunately, will miss the birth.

Thank you once more for your very kind gift of the quilt and laundry bag.

Stay safe and talk to you soon.

Kind regards 

.... 


Dear Shirley,

What can I say, the quilt is amazing. When I listed what I thought I might like on the quilt I never imagined what you created. I love it and it is sitting centre on my bed here in the Middle East. I have since seen another of your work for a quilt you made for one of my colleagues who happens to work two desks over in the Head quarters.

Thanks for your letter.

I have been mostly posted to the NSW region for the last 28 years with Navy. It has treated me well and given me many opportunities to see and experience everything that I could never have imagined as a country boy. I have travelled all over the South Pacific, South East Asia, Hawaii and now the Middle East (though with COVID restrictions, I haven't see much besides camp and limited visits to a few shopping centres).

My family live in NSW. My wife is working part time in sales. However, she is a beauty therapist by trade and would love to get back into that. My eldest twin boy still lives at home and is working in engineering company, I think he will return to University next year to continue his engineering degree. My other twin daughter, lives in NSW and works in childcare. Our youngest is still in school and just finished year 11.

I hopefully will get to travel to my dad's 70th early next year. I love visiting and I do miss the river and bush, it always feels like home. I leave here early next year.

Take care and hopefully Santa is good to you.

Regards.

.... 


Hi Jan-Maree,

I would like to thank you and the ladies who have made and donated laundry bags to the ADF personnel conducting WA COVID assist.

The members in the photo are from Queensland and Air Force are from all around Australia.

Some of our RAAF members will be conducting COVID Assist for over 3 months including Christmas Day and New Years Day, so this present is truly appreciated.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much.

Your Sincerely,

P.S. everyone in the photo had their own laundry bag given to them.

.... 


Dear Catherine, 

Just letting you know that my husbands Aussie Hero Quilt has arrived safe and sound.
Sadly I’m interstate and won’t get to see my husband reaction when he opens it. Thank you to you and you fabulous team once again for being able to make this possible. A beautiful way to thank our loved ones for their service. 
Will forward a photo when he is given the quilt by our daughter. 

Kind Regards
.... 

Good Morning, 

I wanted to let you know that the quilt has arrived. Thank you so much for the time and effort put into it by everyone involved.
.... 

Dear Jan-Maree,

This is to thank you and your team for the quilt and accompanying letter I received a few weeks ago. It was presented by W01 who came up accompanied by his wife.

As I am currently President of this RSL, it was presented in front of members, it also made the event that little more service touch, than it would have at home. I served in the RAN for 12 years having joined at the magnificent age of 16 years old in 1958. I did an apprenticeship with them and have never regretted my service.

Had they left me on destroyers instead of aircraft carriers I would have been in for a long time. Once a destroyer man, always a destroyer man. There are some amazing persons and groups in Australia, and yours is, to me, among the best as it gives service personnel some recognition not readily available in Australia outside of ANZAC Day. I am finding the older one gets, the more important that our time spent in the service becomes particularly as we start to lose our mates who we joined up with and/or served with. I also have a grandson who has spent the last 13 years in the Navy and is still in. This makes my wife and I very proud.

I have contacted Diane to thank her. I would also ask that you thank Kerri for me, for her work in this as well please.

Once again, I thank you and your group for your thoughts and your efforts.


.... 

Hello Pat,

My thanks to you for this outstanding gift. I am glad you accepted the challenge to design and sew my quilt; it is fantastic. You have done yourself proud with your work; it is more than I could have expected. I have used it all this week and not only does it keep me warm (the aircon works extremely well here), it brightens up my room with all the colour. This will be a great reminder of the many deployments I have been on over the years. This is my forth this region. 

I read your letter. Let's hope this summer the fire season is significantly quieter to last year; the smoke was choking and impacted all of us. The lockdowns earlier this year were another hit to Australia but it seems we have survived it well. I hope you and your extended family have remained safe and continue to do so.

I am normally based/work in ACT having deployed to the Middle East a few months ago. I expect to return back there mid next year after returning to Australia and taking some leave. I am due to leave the Air Force in the next two years and look forward to living permanently in QLD where my partner and I have a home. She loves it and won't ever leave.

My sincere thanks to you for your efforts and hard work. I wish you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Let's hope 2021 is a far better time with a positive outlook for us all.

Cheers.
.... 

Dear Toni,

I cannot thank you enough for the time and care you have shown me and many others for the beautiful laundry bags received. I absolutely love mine! Thank you also for your letter it was nice to know more about you.

You are an incredible and giving individual and the world is brighter for having people like you in it.

I thought I would also share a bit about me. I am married I met my husband over 15 years ago, when I joined the Army. He was a cook, and I was a clerk.

In 2006, we deployed to the South East Asia, and I saw the great work of my Medical Team there. I had finished my Nursing degree and decided to transfer to the Air Force as a Nurse.

We have 2 beautiful children aged 8 and 6. My husband has done an amazing job taking care of our kids while I have been away.

I realise now it really is the partners and families at home that make the sacrifices to enable us to do our jobs here.

I hope you are keeping safe and the covid clusters remain controlled.

Thank you again, and Merry Christmas.

.... 

Good Afternoon Catherine

I received my Aussie Quilt today safe and sound Beverley. I love it, it's an excellent quilt and I appreciate all the work the Aussie Hero Quilt ladies do for our deployed forces.

Thank you
.... 

Hi Catherine,

I've received my quilt and laundry bag and written a letter back to Ellen.

I love them. Thank you so much. The work done by people who make the quilts is highly appreciated by the members here. It's nice to know that people at home are thinking about us while we are away.

Kind Regards.
.... 

Hi Beverly,

I just wanted to pass on my sincere thank you for the fantastic quilt that arrived here in the Middle East for me.

I was expecting something good but was incredibly impressed with it.

It will serve me well over here. 


.... 

Dear Kate,

I cannot thank you enough for the amazing quilt. 

It is everything and way more than I could have imagined. Since I received it, I have been using it every night to keep me warm. Who would have thought the desert could get so cold. Everyone who sees it also loves it, and the fine detail is amazing.

I managed to get a photo of the quilt sent home and my 2 kids and hubby both cannot wait to see it in person.

Thank you once again for this amazing quilt, my family will treasure it forever. 

Thanks 

 




Monday 28 December 2020

Request List 28 December 2020

 28  December  2020 Request List 

 

Good morning everyone! A new week of sewing for Aussie Heroes.....if you have time to take on a quilt or laundry bag this week please read on and consider which Request might suit your stash or shopping basket this week.

If you were with family over Christmas I trust you enjoyed some special celebrations but for those who were unable to be with family or friends, sending my warmest good wishes and a cheery word of “Hello”  to you in these unusual times.

Clarissa

Essential info and weekly updates .....

Any queries you might have, please don’t hesitate to contact via the AHQ email as per usual with any queries and we will assist you from there.  We may not know the answer but it will be our pleasure to research and get back to you.  You may find your query is answered by me or perhaps Alex, Catherine, Courtney or Lisa. We will be ‘on duty’ in rotation.  I do wish however to bring to your attention the link to info regarding posting off your laundry bag or quilt  - click here for up-to-date info > http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/p/posting-information.html.  If you have a quilt underway but are concerned you may not complete it by the ‘post by’ date, please let me know;  an adjustment may be available.

A reminder , when  you are ready to post  the quilt or laundry bag you’ve created, please use the PMKeyS number given you in any correspondence with the admin team.  This helps the volunteer admin team keep a track of what’s been sent etc.  The PMKeyS number is included in the address details we supply for your recipient e.g.  the 7 digit number in red below. Also,  please use the Aussie Heroes P O Box address on your parcel in the event the parcel is Returned to Sender -  the PO Box is a safe place in the event of  any mishaps with postage. 

Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags)

PO Box 248 Cherrybrook NSW 2126

 

CPL Wanda Quilt 8765432
TG 3456
AFPO XX
ADF
Sydney NSW 2890

Don’t forget to take a photo of your completed craft, email to AHQ with the name and PMKeyS of the recipient and we can include in the Weekly Dispatches blog and also add to the tally of quilts and laundry bags sent off to the troops.

If you are using a AHQ supplied prepaid satchel please kindly use the AHQ address

 Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags)

PO Box 248

Cherrybrook NSW 2126

 

as the Return / From address on the reverse and also please hold on to the Tracking number – we’ve experienced mail delays lately (haven’t we all?) and having the Tracking number is very reassuring to keep an eye on the parcel’s progress in arriving at its destination.

Don’t forget, if you look at today’s Request List and need help choosing, please feel  free to get in touch to discuss, we will be ready to reply and offer guidance by email. Our goal is to help you find a request that you will be comfortable with doing. If you need a crest etc  we may be able to post  embroideries / printed fabric images or email some of these to you. Helpful info may be gleaned here  http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/2019/07/information-post-for-those-that-sew-for.html    I look forward to seeing the photos of completed quilts and LBs when they are ready to post off.


As aforementioned I will respond to your emails when you respond to select a quilt or laundry bag to sew.  But please don’t delay, make your selection, send your email through, say “Hi”  and let me know what you’d like to sew this week.

Wishing everyone a super week of sewing. 

Clarissa, Alex, Courtney, Lisa, Kylie, Catherine and Jan-Maree

P.P.S.  Don't forget to check out AHQ on the Blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter 


Priority Quilts 

Request 3 is our priority items this week and needs to be in the mail by January 21 or even earlier if you can manage - thank you!!!   Can you help with these?     It would be fantastic to get Requests 4-14  in the mail by end of January.
 
You may be aware of postal delays holding up timely delivery of mail.  Despite that problem, the post by date for all items on this list is 7 February 2021 please or earlier.  If you cannot make that date, please let me know.   Do reach out if you have any timing issues and we’ll resolve one way or the other.
 
PLEASE note the date and let me know if you have any problems getting your quilt/LB away on time. In fact, if you are going to be late posting it please let me know BEFORE you post it.  Also, if this time frame is too tight for you, there are options, just email me to discuss, thank you.
 
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE copy the ENTIRE line if you wish to nominate for a quilt or laundry bag. 
For example….
Marvel Theme. Ironman     M       LB      1

This is really important to make sure that neither you nor I copy the wrong number which could lead to me giving you the wrong details for specific request.  If you find it hard to copy and paste, please copy the line out as follows…  
 
Decoding The Columns
The first column is the theme or preferences requested.
The second column indicates the gender of the recipient.
The third column is as follows.
 
B=both quilt and laundry bag (feel  free to nominate to JUST do the laundry bag if you wish)
Q= just a quilt
LB = just a laundry bag
F= female
M= male
 
Please let the Admin crew know if you have any other questions....Just email friendsofahq@gmail.com
 

 

DON'T FORGET I CAN SEND YOU BADGES AND CRESTS TO PIECE IN OR APPLIQUE AND CAN GET TEXT EMBROIDERED.
http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/2019/07/information-post-for-those-that-sew-for.html

0

Can you make a block or two? Wanted: For urgent requests.... 1.Star blocks
in blues with white points - cut 5 1/2 inch squares and 3 1/4 inch squares
2. Pin wheels using reds and blues - cut 6 1/2 inch squares 3. 12 inch Log cabins
using greens and creams


M

1

Our troops are still heading out on duty for this task of national importance: Covid Assist WE NEED MASCULINE OR GENDER NEUTRAL PLEASE .....When you are ready to post please contact me friendsofAHQ@gmail.com for dispatch instructions: You may need to post these at your own expense - thank you.


M

LB

2

C130J Hercules aircraft, ANZAC / middle east, poppies, Nice warm vibrant colours of the morning sunrise.


M

B

3


Quilt: ANZAC theme, Aus Flag , Boxing Kangaroo, Rising Sun and RAEME Corps Badge and details (We can send you embroidered patches)


M

Q

4

Quilt - Blue, Yellow and red for the RAEME corps , Rising sun, boxing kangaroo and Australian flag .


M

Q

5


Quilt: Middle East theme with Australian Flag, Rising Sun, Boxing Kangaroo, RAEME CORPS emblem (We can send you embroidery patches)


M

Q

6


Quilt: Middle East theme with Aus flag, Boxing Kangaroo, RAEME Crest (we can send you embroidery patch)


M

Q

7

Blue, Aus flag, RAAF Military aircraft (We can send you a RAAF crest)


M

Q

8

Aus flag, Military working dogs and EOD dogs


M

B

9

Military Dog Handler silhouette , poppies, blue over a black background with 'OP ACCORDION 2018, 2020-21' appliquéd


M

B

10

Tan or khaki quilt, Rising sun with details (we can provide this for you) plus 2 red kangaroos and 1 black kangaroo (silhouette provided)


M

Q

11

Motorcycle road racing and fan of MOTOGP Would love anything that ties in my service, family and motorcycling. Also love spending time with family 4wding and camping.


M

Q

12

Camouflage army style


M

B

13

Army/RAAF/RAE Red and Pale Blue colours, service crests (we can send you embroidered patches).
Thank you for this and for your support!


M

Q

14

Quilt - Lego/Army/Poppies/Camels theme


F

Q

15

LB - Winter mountains with poppies Quilt - Sunflowers, camels with emb patch we can arrange for you


F

B

16

Aus flag, RAAF theme / crest (We can send you one), please appliqué the text EAOU8


F

Q

17

Quilt - Aussie/UAE theme with poppy/camel


F

Q

18

favourite colour blue, hiking, camping, reading and watching most sports, with ‘airforce’ theme


M

Q

19

ANZAC theme, 303 rifle, A southern cross, Melbourne Storm NRL, Carlton AFL. Rising Sun (We can send you an embroidered crest)


M

Q

20

Muscle Cars, Blue, 69 Camaro


M

Q

21

Emu Export, Multicam


M

Q

22

Quilt - Poppies, ANZAC, desert LB Unicorns


M

B

23

Cricket - Perth Scorchers


M

Q

24

Leo Messi, Barcelona Football Club - Soccer


M

Q

25

Ghost Busters theme with pictures of Slimer


M

B

26

World War 2 Theme


M

B

27

Quilt: Sydney Roosters NRL


M

Q

28

Quilt: New England Patriots


M

Q

29

Nordic, Viking, Ocean


M

B

30

Dinosaurs Quilt for son 4 yo son


M

Q

31

Multicam


M

B

32

Blackhawk Helicopter/ military Theme LB Green MX5 Mazda convertible


M

B

33

Aussie Beers / Green Colours


M

Q

34

Rick & Morty Theme


M

B

35

Australian Flag & Southern Cross


M

B

36

Australian Flag, crest , Red


M

B

37

New Orleans Saints (NFL), Black


M

Q

38

Tasmania Flag, crest , Red


M

B

39

Australian Theme


M

Q

40

Batman LB the Moon


M

B

41

Samurai LB Race cars


M

B

42

Sydney Roosters NRL LB Australian animals


M

Q

43

Aus Flag Australiana


M

Q

44

Red, Dirt bike

M

Q

45

Adventure LB Ocean


M

B

46

Australian ADF/Iraq LB ANZAC


M

B

47

Australian ADF/Iraq LB Aus Flag and Melbourne Storm


M

B

48

Black German Shepherd Dog Theme      LB Fitness, Arnie Schwarzenegger


M

B

49

St George Illawarra NRL LB VB


M

B

50

Disney, Frozen Theme LB Emma Wiggle


M

B

51

Western Bulldogs Premiers 2021


M

Q

52

Bluey - ABC Cartoon


M

Q

53

Liverpool Football Club


M

B

54

Australian Flag , ANZAC + poppies


M

Q

55

Middle East theme


M

Q

56

Queensland State of Origin NRL theme / ANZAC Theme


M

Q

57

Queensland State of Origin NRL Theme


M

Q

58

Quilt Pomeranian dogs

 LB Blue – snowboarding


M

B

59

Royal Australian Engineer Corps badge (We can send you one), construction (machinery, hammer etc). Red and blue colours for RAE Corps and include the Australian flag. Thank you.


M

B

60

Quilt- different shades of blue, a Hercules C130 Aircraft silhouette and a camel. Please also include the Australian flag. Thank you


F

Q

61

LB - Essendon and / or Melbourne Storm theme
Quilt - RAEME and Rising Sun, army theme (we can send you embroidered crests) .


M

B

62

Red, White & Blue traditional pattern quilt. Air Force theme (e.g. RAAF Roundel); favourite aircraft is F/A-18 Classic Hornet (A/B Model). "


M

Q

63

Emu Export


M

Q

64

West Ham United soccer. Their colours are maroon & pale blue, and their crest is two crossed hammers. Thanks for your awesome works!


M

B

65

Bluey cartoons


M

B

66

Blue, Australian Native animals /flora & fauna, Aussie slang


M

Q

67

AUS Coat of Arms (we can send you one) , Poppies, crest


M

Q

68

Richmond FC (black and yellow) , Marvel Superheroes, Ship/Boats, Black/Gold/Purple


M

Q

69

Forest Gump, Bubba Gump Shrimp Bag - Machine Guns


F

Q

70

The Wiggles


M

Q

71

Navy blue and purple for the Melbourne Storm NRL Premiers 2020


M

Q

72

Staffie dogs

 

M

Q

73

Submarines, gym, video games


M

Q

74

Gym, skate boarding, swimming, sunsets, blue


F

Q

75

Boxing, Bundy bear, the beach, black and purple


M

Q

76

Black colour, HMAS Rankin crest, RAN Crest (We can send you crests)


M

Q

77

Quilt - Dragon Ball Z (Anime)


M

Q

78

Quilt - Grim Reaper


M

Q

79

Little Mermaid, Moana, Disney


M

Q

80

Australian Flag


M

Q

81

For the laundry bag - Maroon and White. Hercules C130 Aircraft and camel silhouettes please. Quilt - Black and army/olive green Australian Flag (Black background/green details). Thank you


M

B

82

Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor Flags (We can provide assistance here)
Corps Crest (We will supply for you)
Surfing and Van life + some appliqué


M

Q

83

Orange and white with a black Hercules C-130 aircraft silhouette with a camel.


M

B

84

Richmond Tigers FC, Back to Back Premiership 2019/2020


M

Q

85

Black and army/olive green Australian Flag (Black background/green details)


F

Q

86