Grati-Tuesday 8 Dec

G'day.  Another week has rolled around and it is time to share this week's lovely messages. 
Enjoy!

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Hi Jan-Maree, 

I just wanted to let you know that I have received my beautiful quilt sent to me from Lynn. I have been away on an exercise since getting back from deployment and had my mail redirected whilst I was away, so it took a little while for me to receive it, but it is absolutely lovely. 

I've included a photo for you. It was made by Lynn with contributions from Cheri and Debbie. It is exactly what I had hoped for and will be a truly wonderful keepsake and momento. The special patch remembering my Great Uncle who died at Gallipoli is wonderful. My mother was delighted to see it as I showed her over Skype. 

I have an address for Lynn so will write directly to thank her for her beautiful work. 

Thank you for your efforts in coordinating such a wonderful program. The contributions of your volunteers are truly appreciated.

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Jan-Maree,

I received my quilt a little while ago, sorry I haven't let you know - things are a little busy.

When I have time I will send my thanks to the Quilter (Pennie) for the amazing job she did on my quilt. I absolutely love it and I can see my three kids are all going to fight over it.

Thank you also Jan-Maree and your helpers for the awesome job you do in arranging for this to happen, It is a highlight of my experience while deployed and it goes along way to keeping morale in the positive. I have enjoyed a laugh with my fellow workers on a number of occasions for various reasons but often it is for the subtle humour sewn into some of the quilts. The quilters do an awesome job and I would like to thank each and everyone of them.

Regards

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Hi Tracey!

I received the quilt that you made for me yesterday!  Thank You so much!  It's beautiful and I love it!! I am absolutely honoured to be the first recipient of one of your quilts!!

One of the guys on our deployment's Mum was our point of contact for the hero quilts - otherwise we probably wouldn't have heard about them - I'm so glad we did, because it was really special to receive in the mail yesterday!  It was 3 or 4 months ago now that he told us about them, and asked what we would want on our quilts - I told him a unicycle and an accordion, which probably sounds weird to you so I'll explain - my Dad taught me to ride the unicycle, and my Mum plays the Piano Accordion - so it really reminds me of home!

The weather here is actually really nice at the moment - it's just comfortable outside, without the oppressive heat of high summer.  Considering this is pretty much the middle of their winter, and the weather is quite balmy and nice shorts-n-tshirt weather, you can imagine what it's like in summer!!

Its nice to hear that you live in XXXXX - I lived there for a few years as well, so I know it well and have really fond memories of it!  Fishing in the Harbour on afternoon run-in tides and bobbing around in the boat watching summer storms skirt the city... good times!  And an apt reminder that we really do live in the most beautiful country in the world!

Thank you again for the quilt - it really does mean a lot to me!

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Hi, Val.

Thank you so very much for my quilt. It is amazing. You have done a wonderful job with your fabric selections. I do understand it could be hard in guessing what we want from just a few words, but you got it just right. Your time and effort is very much appreciated.

Once again, thank you so very much for your kind work.

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Hi AHQ,

I just wanted to say a big thank you for the awesome quilts you did for TG 632 and especially mine! It makes my room here feel more, well, more like home and it is fantastically crafted. My mother is also a quilter and has made a few for my kids (two girls 1 and a half and 8 months old) and she was also impressed with the photos I sent back.

And a big thank you to Keryn, her letter was really nice to read and she absolutely hit the brief with the quilt.

Everyone here loves their quilts and laundry bags. 

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Dear Norma and Jan-Maree,

Just a short letter of thanks for all of your support to both me and members of the Task Force whilst deployed here in IRAQ.

I, like many here was humbled by your gift, its impact on the Task Force’s morale has been an extremely positive one as you would expect with everyone being proud of their new quilt or laundry bag and showing them off.

My quilt made by Norma is wonderful, it is in red and black representing my Regiment’s colours and Essendon my favourite AFL team.

The temperature is starting to drop here so it has been a welcome gift which is now on my bed.  It is fantastic to have something of sentimental value in your room, which is quite bland and lacks any real character.

Just having it on my bed has made a real difference as it reminds me of things that I love in life back home in Australia and why I am here to protect and defend those things we hold dear.

The quilt is also a constant reminder for me from the time you wake up to the end of the day when you go to your room weary that you are making a contribution and that people (like Norma and yourself) at home deeply care.

Norma and Jan-Maree, thank you for your gift of kindness, it has been a humbling one.  It will remain a treasure to me for many years to come.

No doubt in old age it will find itself on my lap as I look back at my life in Service.  It will become a family heirloom in time to be handed down, reminding others of the power of kindness.

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Good morning Ruth,

Thank you so much for the blanket which recently arrived in sunny Juba, South Sudan. I was delighted to receive it from you part-way through my deployment: it made my day, week and month much better. It is an amazing blanket, the rest of Australia House military members are quite jealous!

It is Remembrance Day here in Juba. We are about to head out to the makeshift ‘parade ground’ and conduct a short ceremony.

I wish you and your family a safe, happy and relaxing holiday period. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Take care and all the best.

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Good morning Jean, 

Thank you very much for the frozen themed laundry bag that you made me. It was a wonderful surprise.

 

The movie "Frozen" was the last movie I watched with my fiance before he deployed last  year.  So despite being a great Disney movie, it also holds a lot of memories. 

I wish you a very Merry Christmas. 

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Hey Sue G, 

I'm in the Australian army. I've just received your laundry bag and wanted to say thank you for the time and effort you must have put into it for me. We all appreciate what you do for us boys overseas.  

Kind regards, 
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Good Morning Kate

Firstly I would like to give you a huge thank you for the delicious treats ( Tim tams are always a winner) and the laundry bag, I was amazed when I saw it. I didn't think I would get a such such a customized bag as I know you guys get a lot of requests, so I was very pleased when I saw how much time and effort you put into making the bag. It is fantastic! As a Game of Thrones tragic I am very impressed with your knowledge of the houses and will be clutching it tightly when season 6 finally arrives. I was just as impressed with the all the rugby stuff on the other side and I thought the wallabies symbol with my initials was a very nice touch.  Thanks for your hard work in keeping young guns like myself safe in a potentially dangerous working environment, believe it or not we are grateful, however we may not say it when we have to wear our hardhats and fluro vests all day long.

Once again I would like to thank you for your hard work and the service you provide, it has put a big smile on my face and many of the guys I know who have also received quilts and laundry bags. I wish you all the best with you and your family and I am sure the next person who asks for a GOT bag will be just as pleased as me.

All the best :)

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Dear Jill

My apologies on the length of time between when you sewed the quilt and a response from myself.  Having just opened it up and read your card, I feel your comments about snow at Mt. Dandenong, as winter has just arrived here (and fast).  Apparently it snowed a couple of years back around this time in Jerusalem, and with the temperature the way it is now, I'd believe it.

The quilt (and the well thought of magazine) is very much appreciated, as are your effort and kind words...thank you very much for the wishes (I share them), and I wish you all the best for summer and your work with the grade 6er's!

A little about here.  We have usually about 12 Australian officers (including Navy and Air Force) in support of the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation (UNTSO), which operates in Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.  It is the oldest continuously running peace keeping mission run by the United Nations (UN), as it was formed in 1948.  Australians work here both as Military Observers on ceasefire lines between Israel and Lebanon or Syria, and within headquarters within UNTSO, and we are here normally for a period of 12 months.  

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Hi Jean,

Firstly please accept my apology for being slack in not writing a thank you note to you sooner. Unfortunately time has gotten away from me as I have been extremely busy over here. I would really like to thank you for all your hard work in making my laundry bag. I absolutely loved it! I am such a baseball fan and to receive the bag and how it symbolised baseball and NY was amazing. It is extremely appreciated and I have certainly put it to good use since I received it.
Again thanks for the laundry bag and apologies for my tardiness. Keep up the great work as I know people love the job that you all do. It becomes a little like show and tell when we receive them.

Take care and have a safe and Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Thanks,
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Hi Marilyn,

It was fantastic to receive my quilt and laundry bag, its fabulous, thank you very much.

I think I will have a power struggle for ownership of the quilt with my 6yo grandson, he loves bikes more than I do sometimes.
I am an electronics technician and have spent 27 years in the Air Force, great life I reckon.

I wish you a wonderful Christmas, and a fabulous New Year,
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Hello Diann,
I have just recently returned  from leave to find my amazing quilt, done to perfection.  My partner and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts - you truly have a gift.
The reason for the two teams, I am a life long EEL'S supporter and my partner  as much as I dislike the team, a BRONCO'S supporter.  She was very flattered  that I had them put on the quilt. 


Thank you so much again for the quilt,  I hope you and your family  have a wonderful Christmas, filled with  joy and laughter.

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Hello Jan-Maree

How are you going? Yesterday I received my quilt and laundry bag. Thank you so much and thank you to everyone in your team who do a wonderful job. The Soldiers over here are very appreciative of the work that Aussie Hero Quilts does.

Not only was it the quilt, but it was the personal letter from Mrs Jackie J that made my day.  It was a very touching personal note and I appreciated her efforts. I will send her a reply letter as soon as possible.

Regards

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Hi Jean,

I received the laundry bag that you made me in the mail today. It is so beautiful and was exactly what I wanted, I love bunnies and I am missing my partner and bunny rabbit whilst I am away from home.

I think that what you do is amazing and such a lovely gesture for us serving members who are away from home for extended periods of time. I can not thank you enough for making me a laundry bag it has made my day.

Thank you again I can't wait to get home and show off my laundry bag to my family and friends.

Take care,
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Hello Kaye,
Thanks for the package, well timed.
I have been over here for three months now, and I am half way through, so it was great to get a "resupply" from Australia.
I especially like the "I love Australia" post card.
As the Padre for the Task Group it is always nice to have support. I am enjoying my time over here, we are doing some good stuff.
The group of people over here are really excellent. Like all work environments, working with committed individuals makes life much more easier and enjoyable.

Thanks once again for your support and have a great Christmas holidays
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To Kaye,

I would like to thank you for all your hard work and I really do love the quilt you made me and I will treasure it and hopefully pass it on it my son when he is old enough. What you all do definitely does not go unappreciated, we know the work that goes into these quilts and makes us very proud to be from such a great country. I do hope you enjoy the Christmas season and it is a safe one. Once again I appreciate your efforts.
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Til next time.............keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx