Here is another week's worth of posts about our traveling 15th Anniversary Laundry Bags. This week we shared more of our volunteers.
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It is always a joy to welcome new volunteers to our Aussie Hero Quilts family and here is one of our new ones. Of course, I wanted a photo of Steph with our bag and considering where she works, who could blame me wanting to make a special request for such a grand location. Thanks Steph!!! Our 15th Anniversary laundry bags are really getting around the place.
“I am a relative newcomer to Aussie Hero Quilts and am
delighted to have found a place where my insatiable need to sew and create
things can have such purpose. I am not
even 12 months in but hopefully it is the start of a long and happy
association. Speaking of long and happy
relationships that is what I have with the Sydney Opera House where I have
spent most of my working life. Jan-Maree
mentioned the AHQ 15th anniversary to me with a twinkle in her eye and I knew
the Opera House was somehow going to be involved. There have been many wonderful things on the
Concert Hall stage and now Aussie Hero Quilts can number themselves among
them!!!”
“Why I joined AHQs
In 2014 I was asked why I didn’t belong to AHQs. I had never
heard of the group. The woman who asked me knew I quilted and had a father who
had been 6 years in the Army in WW2, a husband who had been in the Navy for 30
years and son who was in the RAAF and ended up serving for 31 years. I
immediately googled the group and shortly afterwards attended my first sewing
day at JM’s. I felt that I could contribute by sewing quilts and laundry bags.
I have enjoyed every day and have gained as much from participating in the
group as the recipients have from receiving their quilts and LBs.
Anzac Day Display
It was my privilege to be able to display the four Aussie
Hero quilts at my bowling club, Pennant Hills, on Anzac Day.
Each Anzac Day we have a Sausage Sizzle followed by a fun,
social game of bowls before a Sunset Ceremony. I felt that there was nothing in
the club to show our respect for those who have served or to even indicate that
it is Anzac Day so I asked if I could hang the quilts and attach a brief
explanation of the quilts and AHQs.
There was so much interest I was then asked to tell the
members more about the quilts and what we do, how the quilts are requested and
the significance of various crests and designs.
The display and the work done by all the volunteers was
greatly appreciated.
Beverley F”
And last but absolutely not least we have Melissa....
“I first learned about Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags
in March 2017. At the time, I had stepped back from 8 years being involved with
a local community festival, Scouts and the kids’ various sporting commitments.
When I first saw a call to assist “Aussie Heroes” on Facebook, I knew it was
right for me. The timing was perfect. I
love this initiative and I think sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts has become an
obsession. I know my husband definitely
thinks so. What can I say? I love doing it. Being crafty is all very well but I often
find there is only so much craft you can have in your own house. (Some may
disagree). Sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts
and Laundry Bags ticks my boxes for the opportunity to be creative AND to do
something for someone else.
Each week the request list comes out and I look through for
ones that appeal to me. I love the variety of requests we get from you all. I
am always drawn to the ones that will challenge me or that are a bit left
field. Some requests are a lot more left field than others! Google is my best
friend; there are times when I have no idea what a request is and need to
research! I prefer doing applique which
I find works well for some of the more specific requests. It can take a bit of
time to find the right image for your personalised quilt or laundry bag. And
then to figure out how I’m going to put it all together!
I have albums and photo books of laundry bags and quilts
that I’ve made for AHQ recipients – there are far too many to count. For a
while there I was making a quilt a week! All while working full time and
playing mum’s taxi. Three years ago my study/craft room was moved to what was
the formal dining room. It can be a challenge to keep it tidy; especially when
it is in full view of the living areas! When I sew, I take over the kitchen
bench. Sorry, not sorry.
There are volunteers all over Australia. I am a solo sewer; I’m
not part of any local sewing groups, etc. The network of AHQ volunteers is
quite incredible though. Some volunteers make whole quilts, some do the
quilting, some make laundry bags, some do the embroidery pieces for specific
requests, or any number of other tasks required for this tightly run ship. It
is not uncommon for a volunteer to make for example, an embroidered logo, and
then send it to another volunteer to include in the item they’re making. This
probably sounds like no big deal but the amazing thing about AHQ is that
volunteers may not know each other or have never even met! We are a network
across this country connected by our commitment to AHQ.
In the 9 years I’ve been volunteering for AHQ, I have been
incredibly fortunate to have many opportunities to meet recipients; some who
have received one of my creations and many who have received items from other
volunteers. I’ve listened to recipients speak at our annual events in Canberra,
have had opportunities to present quilts to Veterans and attended many
functions and events as a representative of AHQ. It is an honour and a
privilege.
Messages on the grati blog, meeting recipients and/or their
families, and hearing their stories reinforces my commitment to this
initiative. It is incredibly rewarding and humbling to know the impact your
homemade gift can have on another person you don’t even know. That is what
gives me my purpose. As a recipient, you’re probably wondering why would a
total stranger make this quilt or laundry bag for me? Because we care…and you deserve it."
Being reminded of that whilst at sea through your laundry bag is just an extension of the happiness from my real family into my grey family (my Navy family!).
