Another week of celebrating our awesome volunteers with our 15th Anniversary Laundry Bags.
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One of our longest serving and most prolific volunteers is
Lynn Field. Even though Lynn can’t take
on specific requests any more due to health concerns, she loves to create ANZAC
themed quilts and has made several quilts for me to use when I travel and speak
about Aussie Hero Quilts. Two of her fabulous quilts will be up for auction at
our Annual Dinner this year, and these are two pretty special quilts (to be
revealed in the future).
“One day 14 years ago I heard Jan-Maree on radio 2GB asking
for anyone who would be able to assist her in making quilts and laundry bags to
be sent to deployed troops. She talked
about the concept of AHQ and it really struck a chord with me. I could not make it to the venue but decided
to phone her and to hear more about her plans.
I knew I had some fabric and at the end of the call I told her that I
hoped to be able to make 8 random quilts - a number which I must admit soon started to grow. A couple of months later Jan-Maree phoned me
and asked me if I would like to do a quilt request or two. And that is how it all started!!!! Aussie Heroes became part of my daily
life.
I had spent many years designing and sewing stage and
eisteddfod costumes for entertainers and local dancing schools which I had to
stop due to health issues and a long hospital stay in 1997. My husband & I then retired our business
and after a year or two I knew that I needed to keep my hands and my mind busy
and I discovered quilt making but, as many of you know, there are only so many
quilts you can gift to children and grandchildren. So now I had found a new something and the
request list became my 'go to' place each week. Once I became committed to this
I made a rule for myself that I would
make each and every quilt different even if the requests were the
same. If a group of recipients came
across a pile of quilts they would be able to pick theirs out easily was my
aim. Within a year JM also started
asking me to make some presentation and display quilts.
There are so many facets of AHQ that we are not particularly
aware of when we, the sewers, start this involvement. Being from a non-military family I find that
being involved at the quilting level has also taught me so much about the
things that are asked of the people who sign up to serve. I have met some amazing people, made some
wonderful friends and been to some interesting places that I would never have
had the chance to do or see. Who would have
thought that a bit of fabric and a sewing machine could achieve such
interesting memories for me.
Now, 14 years on I am in a situation where age, more serious
health issues and worsening arthritis means I have to take a step back from
meeting requests. However, I will still
be in the background working with my friend Dorothy to keep making Fallen
Warrior Quilts. I take so much pride in
all that I have been able to do and the achievement of my total of 1477
quilts.”
Behind some of our wonderful volunteers are their equally wonderful husbands/spouses/partners, supporting and enabling the sewing to continue. One of our longest serving spouses is Arthur, Lynn’s husband, who not only supported Lynn, but also decided to volunteer alongside her for a number of years. I should also mention that Arthur is also a veteran having served in the Army in RAEME Corps.
“Initially my wife Lynn F joined AHQ in 2013. Over the next couple of years the quilts Lynn was making became a little more involved and I was able to help by researching badges, photographing them and running them through photo shop to enable printing onto material for the quilts. I was also able to help by sketching enlargements of various flags etc.
Although I was helping I felt there should be more that I could do but what?
One evening when we returned home from a dinner at HMAS Harman I mentioned to Lynn that I would like to sew for AHQ. We dug out an old PFAFF machine that Lynn had used many years ago when making thousands of dance costumes for our local dance schools.
It was on this machine that Lynn taught me how to sew. I managed to sew 4 usable quilts on the machine. Eventually I bought a Bernina 570 QE and my total number of quilts reached 22. In between I also made a few laundry bags.
Because of the limited space we have in our unit it was becoming difficult for two of us to be making quilts and laundry bags. I became interested in the embroideries that were required for the quilts and purchased some embroidery software and taught myself how to digitise and stitch out embroidery.
Eventually I digitised, often a very time-consuming task, in excess of 80 crests, badges and flags which have been distributed out to the embroiderers within AHQ.
I would estimate that I have stitched out 80 to 85% of the badges, logos and personal information included in Lynn's quilts.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the years I've spent involved with AHQ and miss not being so active with the organisation now.”
I always say we have the best volunteers and Bev is a great example of them. Enjoy her story. Her words speak for themselves.
“Seeing an article in our local paper after Jan-Maree Ball received her OAM, peaked my interest.
I have always loved to sew and JM was looking for people who would be interested in sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags. I had recently retired and was looking for something to do that would satisfy my need to be busy and contribute to the community.....this sounded ideal. In February 2016 I joined this fantastic organisation.
A small group meet every week at JM’s home in WPH (Headquarters) where we finish off quilt tops, layer and quilt, pack, sort and generally do all the background work that makes everything come together.
The joy and interest I have in making quilts and laundry bags for our deployed men and women makes me truly happy. They stretch my imagination with their requests and get the creative juices going!
Some of the requests we get make me smile and I do my best to meet their expectations, some of the stories behind the requests are priceless.........some stories make me cry.
The feedback from the recipients make it so worthwhile.....they are so grateful and remember, there are some that never receive anything from home, so getting a gift from a perfect stranger just melts them! The joy on their faces when they open their parcel is worth every stitch! (We get some on video and photos)
They brighten up their beds and ‘racks’ ( on ships and subs) and their laundries where they can spot their bags immediately.
To date I have made: 207 quilts and 374 laundry bags.
Visited: Submarine........HMAS Farncomb
Ships...HMAS Darwin, HMAS Hobart, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Kuttabul.
Visited places I never would have had the opportunity to see.
I always come away from visits like this in awe of what our forces do, what wonderful men and women they are, I heave a sigh of relief and know we are in good hands!
My husband does the mail and buys the treats for my recipients and keeps my teapot full while I sew. My granddaughter sorts my fabrics. My grandson helps me identify the computer games and football requests. My extended family give me gift vouchers for Spotlight.
I am the lucky one!!
Thank you for your service,”
“I first read about Aussie Hero Quilts in the Army
Newspaper, in about 2012 and thought that 'one day' I'd like to get involved -
the AHQ purpose seemed so fruitful and caring, a real blessing to others....and
along the way I would do more sewing, use up my fabric stash and enjoy! Our son was at RMC Duntroon at the
time. That seems like a long time ago. In January 2016 I finally contacted
Jan-Maree and discovered we lived close by.
She emailed me the details of how I could volunteer for AHQ and I made
my first (rugby themed) quilt. I brought it along to a morning tea at her home
and met other new volunteers. Ten years
later the friends I made at that morning tea and I are still meeting to create
quilts and laundry bags. Covid didn't
stop us as we temporarily relocated to the home of one of the volunteers and
also set up some of the quilting equipment in JM's garage - thus we are known
as the "Garage Girls"! In 2021
due to JM becoming unwell I had the privilege of managing the weekly request
list for the year and got to know many more of our volunteers, a team of
generous and amazingly talented (mostly) women spread across our beautiful
country. I particularly enjoy sewing laundry bags; they are practical, unique
and often wildly colourful.
Congratulations go to JM and all connected with AHQ on the amazing fifteen
year journey of supporting our ADF through our stitched fabric 'works of the
heart'.”
Another of our long term volunteers is Kristie… I hope she
is proud of how far she has come coz we sure are.
“My Aussie Heroes Sewing Journey
I first contacted Jan Maree in September 2014, hoping to volunteer but quietly wondering whether my skills were up to scratch. At the time, I was still learning and didn't feel confident jumping straight in. So, I began by joining the Penrith group, offering my hands wherever they were needed. I learned how to cut fabric and iron, all while watching the ladies around me work their magic. It was the perfect way to observe, learn, and grow.
Before long, I transitioned from the Penrith group to
what is now affectionately known as the Garage Girls. From there, I supported
Aussie Heroes mostly behind the scenes-photographing finished laundry bags and
quilts, helping baste quilts ready for the long arm machine, packing finished
items away, and preparing parcels for posting. Every role, no matter how small
it seemed, felt meaningful.
After a change of jobs, I began joining Jan Maree and
another lovely lady to sew one weeknight a month. That small gathering slowly
evolved into the wonderful group of women who now come together on Saturdays,
once a month.
It's a space I truly cherish. There's something special
about working collaboratively, sharing ideas, problem solving designs together,
and supporting one another to create the best possible items for our
recipients.
Almost 12 years later, I'm incredibly proud to say I've
made over 60 laundry bags and 15 quilts, and have lent a helping hand to many,
many more. Every single design carries a little piece of my family too. They've
often helped me choose fabrics or patterns, making each item even more
personal.
Outside of sewing, I'm a mum to two boys, aged 17 and 14.
My journey with Aussie Heroes began on the suggestion of my sister-in-law, who
was receiving parcels during her deployment. At the time, I was learning to
sew, and she gently suggested I put my practice to good use. What a great idea
that turned out to be.
Between my husband and me, we have five siblings who have
served our country. Through them, I've seen firsthand the challenges that
military service brings-not just to the members themselves, but to their
families as well. Being part of Aussie Heroes allows me to contribute in a
small but heartfelt way, showing appreciation and support to those who serve.
I'm deeply grateful to Jan Maree, to the incredible women
I sew alongside, and to everyone involved in Aussie Heroes who makes this work
possible. Most of all, I want to thank every service member who has given so
much. It's an honour to play a part in letting them know they're remembered,
valued, and supported.”
Till next time.... happy sewing everyone.
Cheers
Jan-Maree xx
