HMAS Ballarat visit in Hobart by Anne Horner

On Friday 24^th April, my grandsons and I visited HMAS Ballarat which was in Port for the ANZAC Day weekend.

About a month ago, I happened to be reading the Hobart Port Authority shipping schedule and noticed that an “Australian Warship” was due in Port for five days over the ANZAC Day weekend.   I am always interested in visiting RAN ships and there was a good chance one of my creations might be on board.  I contacted Jan-Maree and she set the wheels in motion.  Last week I received an email from SBLT Tom, inviting me to join a group tour on Friday 24 April. 

Once I found out it was HMAS Ballarat, I checked my records and sure enough I had made some items for the crew back when they were deployed in the MER in 2019.  One was still on board, though I didn’t get to meet him.  I also recalled that at the AHQ Annual Dinner at Old Parliament House 2019  I sat with the then Captain and CWO of HMAS Ballarat.

Friday was obviously a busy day for the ship.  Although there were no public tours, there were a number of organised groups visiting – potential recruits and defence industries personnel, plus VIP LTGEN Fox, who was in Hobart for the ANZAC Day events.  As it was school holidays, I asked if my 14 yr and 7 yr old grandsons could come along too. We were then offered a ‘private’ tour with Command Warrant Officer (CWO) Lex.   My grandson, Oakley, has visited several ships with me, but this was Huxley’s first visit, so he was quite excited.

We were met at the security gate by CWO Lex and we were issued with Hi Vis vests to walk across the wharf area.  Once on board, first stop was the Sea Hawk helicopter, under cover, with its tail turned in and the rotor blades folded.  We then wandered through corridors and up and down very steep ladders.  A certain level of fitness is required!   Next stop the Control Room where crew members were waiting to explain their functions – quite technical and lots of acronyms.  Next, up to the Bridge to check out how to drive the ship.  As soon as I mentioned I was from AHQ, two of the Bridge crew enthusiastically told me about their personalised LBs, one with Baby Yoda and Power Rangers, and the other with KFC! 

On the front deck, we checked out the anchors, and there was a fascinating (for the boys) hands on display of guns and they were taught how to hold, load and fire  - no ammo, of course.

Lots more ladders, and at my request, we checked out the laundry – spotted a few AHQ LBs, (apologies for the poor quality photos).  Most seemed to be relatively recent bags, as they had the little AHQ tag.

Finally, back to the rear deck via the kitchen and gym, for a photo with the white ensign.  The CWO excused himself for a moment and came back with some RAN drink bottles and RAN lanyards for the boys, how kind, great souvenirs. 

A big Thank you to CWO Lex for the tour, to the friendly and helpful crew on board, and to SBLT Tom and Jan-Maree for organising it for us.  A great outing and one the boys will remember.

Submarine Tour HMAS Farncomb by Lyn R

Preface -  Commissioned in 1998, HMAS Farncomb is the second of 6 Collins Class submarines to enter service in the Royal Australian Navy.  At a length of 77.8 metres and a range of 11,500 nautical miles, the submarine has conducted a range of activities throughout the region in support of Australian Defence Force exercises and operations.

On Easter Saturday (4 April), my husband, Max, and I drove to Beauty Point to meet my recipient, a mechanical /electrical engineer, and crew member on the submarine who has been in the Navy for 10 years.  I had made a laundry bag for him and in the lovely email of thanks I received from him was an invite to tour the sub when it came to Tasmania for a break over Easter.  It was a beautiful day when we arrived at Beauty Point to find the submarine tied up alongside Platypus House and quite a few people milling around the security gate hoping to get a closer look.

After introductions, a quick sign in, safety talk and a walk across the small gangway onto the submarine.  Here is where the nerves kicked in.  Now I am a 70 year old woman who doesn't normally, in day to day life, climb any sort of ladder or step stool.  Glancing down through the hatch door of this submarine you see a long, vertical ladder which I would have to climb down to reach the sub's inner sanctum. But I DID IT !  I pulled up my big girl panties and with some encouragement from above and below, conquered that ladder with grace.  And it was so worth the effort and willpower. 

Most of the submarine's 60 crew were away enjoying the tourist attractions Launceston has to offer or visiting with family who had flown in to see them.  As Launceston is a 45minute drive away, many of the crew book into hotel accommodation for a comfy bed and more importantly, internet connection. On the submarine they have access to no comms of any description, even while the sub is moored.  The skeleton crew that remain on duty on the sub oversee maintenance work and delivery of fresh produce supplies .

As we progressed along the narrow corridor, it was evident that every available space was utilised for storage.  Our first stop was the Command Room, a room where all decisions are made and where it was hard to envision up to 20 crew including the Commanding Officer all working together when at sea.  Along one wall were 7 chairs, along the opposite was the hub of the command centre controlled by 3 crew.  In the corner on a not so comfy seat sat the crew member who steered the submarine, along with crew manning the charts console behind the CO's chair.  And in the middle of this room stood 2 imposing periscopes to take up what little room was left.  Could only imagine that everyone got along well.

Our next stop was the sleeping quarters and my recipient showed us his bunk area consisting of 6 bunks, 3 each side.  His bed was in the middle, all looked cramped, claustrophobic and downright uncomfortable.  Ànd the inevitable question was asked about snoring - yes it did happen, some louder than others so ear plugs and headphones were a must but my recipient said it never worried him.   The few quilts and laundry bags that were on board had been taken with the crew when they went into Launceston.  The submarine wasn't carrying torpedoes so where the torpedoes would have been was taken up by bedding, used by visitors or crew members wanting to stretch out their legs away from their other cramped sleeping bed.

The Mess area was compact and clean and every imaginable space available housing non perishables.  The kitchen area was big enough for the chef to stand in and turn towards the stoves or ovens or back to the bain-maries without taking a step.  The eating / chill out area would probably seat around 15 crew members at a time. We were told that the food served around the clock was amazing.  2 chefs served meals at breakfast, lunch, dinner and at midnight.

Even though the submarine was long, it essentially was halved, with 57 crew in one half and 3 crew in the other half which housed the massive diesel engines and machinery which kept the submarine operating at its optimum capacity.  When in Tasmania, the submarine usually came to Beauty Point as Hobart stopped it docking at the wharf as the diesel fumes overpowered nearby establishments.

And then came the moment of truth as we were back at the long ladder to take us back to the submarine's surface.  And believe it or not, this climb up scared me more than the climb down.  But taking each step carefully I finally managed to get to the top and haul myself back out without causing any damage to myself OR the submarine!

My recipient got called away for a brief time so another crewman chatted to us about his 3 years on the submarine.   He had also received laundry bags from Aussie Hero Quilts, 3 in fact, which he loved and used all the time.  He couldn't emphasise enough how the laundry bags and quilts boosted the morale of crew members and brightened up sleeping quarters and laundry days.  Other crew who hadn't received a laundry bag for some reason were definitely envious.  The crewman that we were chatting to explained he enjoyed his time at sea and in particular loved listening to the underwater world through headphones.  He laughed when he told us that dolphin and whale noises weren’t anything like the calming sleep app noises but that they chatted incessantly and you could only listen to them for a short while.  He liked listening to the lesser known sounds of the carpenter fish or the snappy shrimp which caused a bubble popping sound created by the snapping of the shrimp's claw to stun prey. 

We had the most incredible day and it was such a pleasure to meet a happy recipient of an AHQ laundry bag.  Thank you to my recipient for the invitation to tour the submarine, it was amazing.

Lyn R

HMAS Farncomb

                                 Lyn with the laundry bag she created and her recipient

Weekly Dispatch 1st May 2026

Hello Friday!!!

Another week of Amazing Quilts and Laundry Bags being sent off to our ADF pers!!

I think we can all agree, a great display of quilts and laundry bags, yet again from our amazing volunteers....

Please enjoy!!!

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This week we dispatched 7 Quilts which takes our yearly total to 223 and our grand total to 17,813!!

We dispatched 43 Laundry Bags which takes our yearly total to 722 and our grand total is 38,599!!

Also dispatched 7 Stay Mats which takes our yearly total to 9 and our grand total is 88!!

Karina T

Bridget R

Bridget R

Cheryl F

Clarissa L

Anne H 

Clarissa L

Colleen S

Joy H

Joy H

Joy H and embroidery by Joan B

Kristie H

Lisa N

Lisa N

Steph F

Swanky G

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Part four of the tales of the travelling 15th Anniversary Laundry Bags

Here is the next installment of tales about our travelling 15th Anniversary laundry bags.  These are turning out way more meaningful than I had expected.  Each bag is numbered and some of them I am not seeing for months as they are passed from one person to the next. It will exciting to see them all together at the Dinner this year! 

Enjoy this week's installment! 

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In 2011/12 when I started Aussie Hero Quilts I had no idea that we had service personnel deployed to South Sudan as Peacekeepers. I venture to suggest that the majority of the Australian public has no idea we have people serving in South Sudan, let alone all the other countries where we serve as peacekeepers.  It wasn’t until a bloke called Gus contacted me and asked if the contingent of Aussies in country at that time could be included on our list. Since that day we have looked after many Peacekeepers in South Sudan, a deployment which in many cases, has left a lasting impression on those who served there.  These are the last photos of the current contingent of Aussies deployed to South Sudan.  I hope we will be sending quilts and bags to South Sudan as long as we have Aussie Peacekeepers serving there.

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On the Eve of ANZAC Day I am pleased to be able to share some more photos courtesy of COL Brandon Wood. 

“Today I visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Be’er Sheva, where the ANZAC Memorial Centre is also located. A few photos that may be of interest in the lead up to ANZAC Day.”

ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance, a day to acknowledge all those who served and those that are still serving, a day to reflect on the sacrifices made for the safely of our country and its citizens.  

As well as those who have gone before I will be thinking of all of our Australian Defence Force members deployed overseas, probably in more countries than many people realise. I will also be thinking also of their families and friends back home. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten.

Lest We Forget.

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Congratulations to AHQ on your 15th year of supporting our current and former ADF members. While I wasn’t there from the beginning, my association over the past 12 years has been nothing short of incredible. Not only for helping with my quilt requests, but also me witnessing the amazing work your team does overall with all the recipients

Reflecting on the joy that AHQ brings with quilts and laundry bags, I’m reminded of the one I presented to my old WWII mate, Keith. It was so special, and he absolutely loved it.

Being asked to sign the 15-year laundry bag was an honour. To make it even more special, I took it with me while visiting my son in Seoul, South Korea. The photo was taken in front of the Korean War Memorial (their version of our AWM, but dedicated to a single conflict). The station honouring Australia’s contribution sits prominently beside the USA, recognising Australia as one of the largest troop contributors to the war. It is a very special place.

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Another special Anzac photo from Israel with one of our traveling 15th Anniversary laundry bags…

“Hi Jan-Maree, a quick note and photo from the Australian Embassy’s ANZAC Day service here on Israel today. Because of the ongoing regional conflict the service was kept small, and held at Ramla British War Cemetery where approximately 90 Australians who lost their lives during both the First and Second World Wars are buried. The service was lovely and a fitting commemoration of Australia and New Zealand’s long history of service in Israel. The Australian Defence Attache, GPCAPT Janine Fetchik was kind enough to join me in a photo with the AHQ 15th year commemorative laundry bag!”

Huge thanks to COL Brandon Wood and GPCAPT Janine Fetchik for their support.

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Earlier this year one of our retired Military Working Dogs, Harlo, asked her handler, also retired, to see if we could make a coat so she would be able to march on Anzac Day proudly wearing her service medal.  Or course we were only too delighted to do so. Afterall, a veteran is a veteran whether they have two legs or four.

Just before Anzac Day Harlo came to collect her new coat.  She was only too happy to model it for us.

On Saturday, after the march, she also sent us more photos showing her proudly wearing her medal.  Thank you for your service Harlo (oh and her handler).

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That is all for this week! I have a heap of great posts coming up and next week I intend to have a week of volunteers. Please don't forget to let me know if you would like to take part.  Even if you don't like having your photo taken, be brave and join in, you will be sorry if you don't!

Till then, keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx

Grati-Wednesday 29th Apr 2026

 

Happy Wednesday Friends!

There are, as always, some awesome letters which definitely pull at the heart strings.

Grab a cuppa or cool drink, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude

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Hi Ellen N,

I have received my hero quilt and it is amazing. Thank you so much for the effort and time into it. I love it.

Thank you again for all of your work.

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Hi Ellen N,  

Your creative talent has blessed our home once more with hubby's laundry bag arriving today. 

He'd not long returned home from a meeting tonight to be intrigued with a parcel he wasn't expecting mail of any sort (heehee). 

Your gifts are a highlight in our collection of service treasures. 

Warm regards

Note from Editor: The writer of the thank you had also received a laundry bag from Ellen.

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G'Day Aussie Hero Quilts

Thank you for the quilts and the "Dhoby Bags".  They were a very pleasant surprise,  the work involved in making these would be considerable.

Once again Thankyou, I have sent a letter of response to the Quilt maker (Deidre B-L). I am in the process of doing the same for Ellen N who made the Laundry or Dhoby Bag, as us sailors refer to them as.

I've attached some photos of (us with) the quilts.

Kind Regards

 

 Quilt by Deirdre B-L

Quilt by Sue N

Note from Editor: The writer of this thank you was the recipient of the LB bag from Ellen N reported above. 

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Dear Gail McQ,

I wanted to express to you how grateful I am to have received your quilt.

When my Company Sergeant Major organised our requests for the Aussie Hero Quilts, I was pretty excited. I deployed overseas once before in 2019 but didn't know about your generous and thoughtful organisation at the time. As quilts and laundry bags arrive in our headquarters, we excitedly have the member open them and show them to everyone. They are all so amazing and unique and it's great to see how you all have interpreted our requests. Of course, I love mine, and my son has already asked if he can have it on his bed when I return from our six months apart, which is only fair as he gave me his doona cover for my deployment.

Recently we had a cake made for a formal Australian Army Birthday dinner that we hosted for our ten other partner force nations here.

It is easy to get homesick, and writing this email hasn't helped! But we know we are contributing as best we can to this important mission, so that Ukrainian fathers too might return to their families, and so their nation may know victory and that victory will bring peace.

On behalf of this contingent, I would like to thank you, the other volunteers, and your wonderful organisation, for adding some colour to our otherwise olive green and grey rooms and giving us each a memento of the opportunity we were given and the honour to serve our nation. As we look to commemorate Anzac Day, it is lovely to know there are people like you thinking of us.

In eternal gratitude,

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G’day Clarissa L,

 

Thank you so very much for the beautiful laundry bag. I’m so grateful for all the time and skill you have put into creating this for me.

I’m about five months in of a six month deployment with Operation KUDU-E, so I’m finally on the home stretch now! This deployment has been both personally and professionally extremely rewarding for me. Although I am very grateful for the amazing opportunity and experiences that I’ve learnt from, there’s nothing like coming back home to Australia. Your laundry bag is such a delightful reminder of what a beautiful country Australia is to be able to call home, I especially love the pattern on the back with the koalas and kangaroos!

I am going to be moving to Canberra when I get back so the only thing I’m not looking forwards to is the fact I’m going to have been experiencing cold weather for about 9 months straight!

 

Thank you again for this amazing laundry bag, receiving this has absolutely been one of the highlights of my deployment. I feel very blessed to have been able to receive such a thoughtful gift.

 

All the very best to you and your family, I loved hearing about your life. It honestly makes me miss home even more!

 

Your work with Aussie Hero Quilts is greatly appreciated. I will absolutely cherish this gorgeous laundry bag forever!

 

Kind Regards,

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Dear ladies at Sew Crazy Quilters Club,

I serve in the Australian Army and recently received a lovely laundry bag from you guys.

I just wanted to reach out and pass on my wholehearted thanks for your efforts. Receiving gifts crafted with genuine care and thought goes a long way to reminding us who serve that there are wonderful people in the community who are always thinking of us.

Rest assured the laundry bag will be used well and will likely travel all over the world in the coming months and years. Always reminding me of Australia and the wonderful people who hold it dear.

Stay safe and please keep doing what you’re doing.

Sincerely,

***

Cheers Catherine D

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.  Wednesdays would be so totally boring without them!

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