Welcome to Part 22 of the Tales of our 15th Anniversary Travelling Laundry Bags. Boy these bags are getting around! It is volunteers' week here so enjoy reading their stories.
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“My lovely daughter-in-law first let me know about Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags when her husband – my son - was about to be deployed. I contacted Jan-Maree and we had a lovely long phone call where she explained all about AHQ. As a result, I became an AHQ volunteer and I posted off my first quilt shortly thereafter which was in December 2020.
This photo of me with the laundry bag honouring 15 years of AHQ was taken outside Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera. The location is very meaningful for me as I grew up and lived for 25 years in a street in Gaythorne where the back fences of the houses backed on to the Army base. Afternoon rifle practice etc was a regular thing to hear. We lived a stone’s throw from the Gaythorne RSL where my father was a committee member for many years. It was always a part of our lives in one way or another including me working a second job tending bar at one point in my life.
As for our family’s involvement with the Defence Force, my son has been in the Army for nearly 20 years, and currently is nearly through a 2 year posting in 1 Div at Enoggera which is only a suburb away from my current home, along with his family. I’ve loved having them so close to me. My son has done quite a few tours and even had a year on exchange at Fort Benning in Georga USA just before COVID. Of course, I took the opportunity to visit them and see the southern states.
My Mum was in the WRAAF in WW2 and used to drive transports in North Queensland for the troops. Dad was younger than her and couldn’t join but as a newspaper man, worked on the BECOF Forces Newspaper in Tokyo after the surrender.
After two failed attempts, I finally retired after working for 55 years, the last 25 for Queensland Health, allowing me time to myself to enjoy a slower life and of course more time for sewing.
I love being part of the AHQ family. I have made new friends and have learned a lot and still learning about quilting. While working on the laundry bags and quilts I make, I always reflect on the immense sacrifices made by our brave Service members. It feels special to contribute, even in a small way, to honouring the courage and dedication of the brave men and women who protect our freedoms every day.
Sue-Ellen”
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“With a traveling 15th Anniversary Laundry Bag in my possession, it is my turn to tell my AHQ Story. Aussie Hero Quilts became part of my life in 2014 when my daughter made the comment to me that “you should do this” - in reference to an AHQ post on Facebook. She was engaged to an army fellow at the time who had been deployed to Afghanistan in the previous year.
Yes, I like to sew / quilt and there is only so many quilts a household needs, especially living in Queensland. My first AHQ quilt was certainly very ordinary! I did have a stash of fabric and thought this was perhaps a way of getting rid of some of it. Over the next decade, I have learnt a lot - about sewing/quilting, different techniques and collected numerous pattern ideas AND about the military too - ranks and operations, units, medals, citations and places in the world where our service personnel have been deployed.
I have been lucky to meet some of my recipients, have tours of ships and defence bases and make friends with other volunteers around Australia and locally through the Thank You Weekend. I have been fortunate to attend on four occasions but will miss this special 15 year celebrations due to family commitments. It is a very rewarding hobby to have and I always have a quilt on-the-go and rarely does a day go by without some sewing.
To date I've made 130 quilts and 200+ laundry bags – each one is different and designed to the recipient’s request. That’s the fun part for me, as I design with graph paper, calculator and pencil, working out each with whatever fabric and embroideries are appropriate. No bought patterns are used but I must add that sometimes the mathematics is in error and the eraser / unpicker get a workout too. Hahaha! - now I have more fabric accumulated so I can’t stop yet!
Sue-Ellen S and I made a visit to a local park for the photo - “The Keith Payne VC Park” which is located just down the road at Stafford from where both of us live. I recall WO2 Keith Payne VC (Vietnam Veteran) visiting an assembly morning at Stafford State School which is where my children went.
It is significant that poor recognition of Vietnam Veterans when they returned to Australia, was instrumental in the foundation of Aussie Hero Quilts by Jan-Maree Ball some 15 years ago.
In addition, Aussie Hero Quilts have donated many laundry bags to veterans at the Keith Payne Unit at Greenslopes Hospital.
Heather B”
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“Hi, I’m Ellen Newman.
I worked for 45 years as a nurse. During that time, I made many quilts for family and friends. My family eventually got overwhelmed with the quilts they had received from myself and my mother and said ….NO MORE QUILTS!!!! You can imagine how devastating that was for a committed quilter. At the same time I met another nurse who was quilting for Aussie Hero Quilts. I was interested as most of my family had been soldiers, in all wars from the Boer War to Afghanistan. I was an ‘army brat’, we never stayed anywhere more than 2 years, so I had experienced what a life of service meant for the families. I retired about 8 years ago and since then have made over 200 quilts and hundreds of Laundry Bags. It has been extremely rewarding, especially when I’ve heard from recipients about the difference it has made to them. I look forward to continuing with Aussie Hero Quilts for many more years.”
“I heard about Aussie Hero Quilts from a girlfriend who is into quilting and I asked if there was any room for someone to do non quilting stuff, and that's how I met Jan-Maree. I have been sewing since I was a little girl and I had a Mum who trained as a tailoress but was put to work before she finished her course for the WWII effort making uniforms for soldiers. Sewing has always been part of my life. When my children were very young I spent quite a few years working parttime in a local fabric shop and it was great to be around fabric all day. Over the years I have done less and less sewing for myself, but I like the idea of still being around fabric and sewing machines and other women with a passion for 'fabric'. I have been involved in volunteering most of my life and combining volunteering with fabric and the company of other women is just a great combination.
Julie K"
“Hi, I’m Jacqui D. I’ve been sewing for Aussie Heroes for 11 years now. We’re an ADF family, my husband is retired RAAF, our son still serving along with his two boys all RAAF. His daughter bucked the trend as Army was a better fit for her.
After moving to the Mid North Coast of NSW, I was looking for something worthwhile to do. I read about a lady in Sydney who was making quilts and laundry bags for our ADF.
I rang Jan Maree and told her I had a lot of fabric and that the family and friends didn’t need any more quilts. Trips to Patchwork shops, Spotlight and online purchases of fabric and threads are the norm these days and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I do want to mention my husband Bruce as he’s always been very supportive. So many times when I’m busy, he’s happy to have scratch for dinner. I really could not do this without his love, support and encouragement.
I’m very proud to contribute to the fabulous organisation that is Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags and our wonderful ADF. I thank you all for your service.”
"Hi, I’m Bobbie. My Ausie Hero’s journey began about 8 years ago after not long meeting my now lovely and special friend Jacqui D.
Jacqui was introduced to my small quilt group, and she talked about Aussie Hero’s and what it was about. To say I was interested would be an understatement. I began by making blocks each month and a few Laundry Bags. I enjoyed making the blocks each month. It helped me keep focus while I was caring for my husband.
Then in 2021 I was asked if I would take over the Mystery Group. My husband had passed the previous year, so I was more than happy to take it on. We changed the group’s name and became the Mystery BOMers. We have our own Facebook page so I can keep everyone up to date with what is happening and what I have done with their blocks.
There are 13 ladies in the group from most states around the country and nearly all of them make blocks for me each month.
Each month I design a block, take photos and type up the pattern which Wendy F magically transforms into a tutorial for all the ladies.
I receive approximately 65 blocks each month which I then make into quilt tops. I love the design process of making the tops as well as the sewing. It keeps my brain working.
I post the quilt top to Sydney where the team at HQ turn the tops into quilts.
Occasionally Jan-Maree will have a specific request such as tops for members deploying to Antarctica. This gives the ladies quite a thrill as they know exactly where the quilts will be going.
Aussie Hero Quilts fills a great part of my life and fills a need to design, sew and play with fabric.”
“I started sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts in February 2017, I needed an outlet to make quilts and not have them cluttering up the house.
My second quilt was for a young Air Force Officer stationed with the UN in Sudan. She said my quilt made her cry – well, her email made me cry!
The tears seriously came in October 2018 when I went to my first Volunteer dinner in Canberra, a young man got up and told us all how receiving a quilt saved his life. Literally stopped him ending it.
Since that moving speech I have been to every dinner I can get to since 2021 (thanks COVID, missed 2020), and is the highlight of my year catching up with other amazing volunteers. The power of a quilt has stayed with me since and I go out of my way to social media stalk my recipients and get in tiny personal details that they may not have told us about.
Being a gamer and total geek myself, I love to pick those style quilts - there’s a Dr Who quilt, then there is a Dr Who TARDIS quilt with your name, PM Keys number, location and other personal attributes stitched in Circular Gallifreyan on the TARDIS door panels! Overthinking is my superpower.
I took my photo up at Kings Park, next to the Perth War Memorial with our beautiful city and Swan River in the background. I wanted to show that there is life further west than the East Coast, and AHQ has volunteers that stretch the length and breadth of Australia. I believe I have met a volunteer or sent a quilt to someone in every state or territory.
Anna C"
Well that is all for this week. Stay tuned to see whose stories I share next week.
Till next time... keep spreading the word and happy stitching!
Jan-Maree xx
