Grati-Tuesday 29 November

Before anything else tonight I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to all those who worked together to make my beautiful quilt.   I had no idea it was coming and was quite overwhelmed by the thought, time and effort that was devoted to its creation. I am amazed that all of you were able to keep it quiet for so long, and even more amazed that Caroline was able to pull it all together with her ridiculous work schedule. 

There is nowhere in this little rental home that I can hang it on the wall so it is currently on my bed as that is where I can see it every day.  I love all the little details in the quilt, the lady birds, the stain glass window and the phoenix.  

For those who have asked, the stained glass window has been delivered to us and is packed in foam and bubble wrap and is stored between two sheets of ply wood under the chests of drawers in our master bedroom where it will be safe until it can be re-installed in our new home.  I still can't believe that it survived barely damaged.  I really missed seeing it every day so to have it on my quilt is incredibly special.  I also love the phoenix and would love to know who stitched it please. 

To Naomi, Caroline, Lisa K, Clarissa, Lynn, Helen, Sue G and everyone else who played a part in it a huge, huge heartfelt thank you.  I now know how hard it is for the recipients to try and find the right words, the appropriate words to describe how much I love and appreciate it. Thank you does just not seem enough.

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Recently I shared a snippet from a thank you message on our Facebook page.....

"I would like to amplify how important your work is . Everybody I know has requested a quilt. Many of them look forward to receiving the quilts, almost as much as receiving their medals for service . Please keep up the good work & let the other ladies making the quilts know that sailors, soldiers and airmen ( and women ) of the ADF appreciate their work."

Many quilters responded but so did one of our other recipients.....

"Please allow me to agree with the thank you message but also add that as a recipient of a quilt whilst on deployment, receiving my quilt meant so much more to me than receiving my service medal. I remember immediately seeing the care and attention to details that had gone into it - it was an extremely hot day and my eyes were sweating!   Thank you."

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Dear Bridget,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing to express my gratitude towards you for the lovely quilt that you have made for me.

It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to receive the quilt and it now takes pride of place on my bed in my room.

The embroidery on it is top notch (thanks to Kerri B for her input and time as well) and the theme outline has been pulled off perfectly!

                                                                                                                                                               

It was an honour to be a deployed member on the anniversary date, something that you have captured in a permanent keepsake for my family to enjoy!

My family at the moment is completed by two cats, one who is a cuddle monster and the other that is too cool for school (at least he thinks he is).  We had a pair of lovely huskies, but unfortunately they both recently passed away due to old age.

I’m glad that you have an outlet to express yourself through your hobby; again, the work that you mob at

Aussie Heroes do is amazing and a great boost to the morale around the camps.

Again, thank you for all that you guys do for us!

Many warm regards,

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Dear Joan & Robin

I would like to start by thanking you so much for your wonderful laundry bag. It is very appreciated and was put to use immediately.

As you could probably imagine it is very easy to get a little home sick whilst over here but thankfully receiving your gift has relieved some of that burden. It truly is a fantastic reminder of home and all that I love about Australia.

I am forever grateful that you would take time out of your day to create something so unique and individual and to send to a complete stranger. I wish you both all the best and definitely encourage you to keep up the great work as it is hugely appreciated by all of us.

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Dear Joy,

I wish to thank you for the amazing quilt that I have recently received. It's arrival was perfect as it was uplifting to have a daily reminder of Tropical North Queensland. Your creativity is outstanding and I love every facet of the end result. The deep maroon and Queensland outline mixed with the perfect beaches really help to ground me on the tough days. It has taken me a while to get deployed, some 13 years of training (and some other overseas trips), but the experience has been rewarding. I am  proud to have been raised in North Queensland, though I haven't had a chance to go back for a while.

I trust that this finds you safe and well. I'll be sure to fire through a photo as well.

Thank you again

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Hi Inge

I just wanted to email you to let you know I received my laundry bag in the mail on Tuesday, and I couldn’t be more stoked, it’s awesome, thank you! I’m a massive fan of both the Wallabies and the Sydney Swans (even though it’s bloody hard at times lol) and it’s such a distinctive, personalised bag, thank you very much.

I’m on my first deployment and I just find it amazing that there are wonderful men and women out there like yourself who are so willing to give your time to brighten up our lives just a bit. From the sounds of things, you are very familiar with the Defence lifestyle and the pressures that it places on us and our families, so I’m particularly grateful for the time you’ve spent to help us out.

Anyway, I really just wanted to say thank you so much for my bag, it’s a lovely gift and every one of us who receives one is so appreciative. Thank you for all your hard work and continued support for those of us on operations; it’s times like this that remind us how lucky we really are, and why we do what we do

All the best,

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Dear Ms Ball,

Your generosity and support in providing quilts to deployed troops has directly contributed to the welfare of over eighty Australian soldiers.

The support you have provided assists the troops in demonstrating the enormous support from back home in Australia in a very special and unique way, and is very humbling and greatly appreciated.

I was personally and deeply touched by the quilt I recently received from the Dolphin Quilters, which provides a constant reminder of my son who is a promising rugby union player.  In addition, a significant number of the soldiers here have received quilts and laundry bags which are amazing and a testament to the Aussie Hero Quilts teams skills and devotion to deployed troops.  These are greatly appreciated by all of us.

In conclusion, your ongoing support to deployed soldiers and officers is greatly appreciated.

Commanding Officer Mentor

Senior Australian Representative

Qargha, Afghanistan

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Dear Thelma ,

Just a quick note to say thanks so much for my ‘Funky Dinosaurs’ Quilt and laundry bag.  I showed my kids on skype and they just loved it.

I’m so glad that XXXX and I got the same material as we placed our order together and we have actually come to be very good friends over here so it will be something we can remember each other by.

I have been in the army now for 17 years now and this is my first deployment, I’m also hoping it’s my last!

It’s something I’ve spent my whole  career wanting and now that I’m here , I just want to be home with my kids!

Hopefully I will be back home by the time you read this!

Thanks again , it was perfect, 

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Hello Thelma ,

I cannot thank you enough for the amazing quilt and laundry bag ! I absolutely love it!

I have been parading it all around camp . At the start of my trip all I wanted was something to make me happy when I walked in through the door to  my room and you have given me exactly that . You hit the colours perfectly.

The amount of detail you have put into it, the hearts and the changing colours around the edges is just spectacular.

The pictures I have taken , I have also sent to my family and partner to show them what you have done for me. They are so thankful for the support  your organization brings to us overseas.

I control the mail going in and out of the area . So when I came upon a parcel with my name upon it I was ecstatic.

Thank you again for such an amazing gift . I will treasure it. It makes me so happy! Hope you enjoy the photos .  I am extremely grateful.

From a very happy solider!

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Dear Thelma ,

Thank you for your letter & gifts. I am doing well, we are  looked after very well considering the circumstances.  The biggest downer is missing our families, so acts of kindness such as yours, remind us that we have support other than our families back home .

Your quilt is excellent. Thank You.  It is a great piece of art that is greatly appreciated. Your mother gave good advice .The other gifts were a nice touch. I took a bit of time to myself to enjoy the chocolates. I haven’t had Cadburys for a while.

I would like to amplify how important your work is . Everybody I know has requested a quilt .Many of them look forward to receiving the quilts , almost  as much as receiving their medals for service . Please keep up the good work & let the other ladies making the quilts know that sailors, soldiers and airmen ( and women ) of the ADF appreciate their work .

A very appreciative Serving Australian,

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Hi Rita C and family

I have received my hero quilt and it is amazing. Having the quilt on my bed has put some colour into my day and made my room feel like a room away from home. Additionally I have passed hump day on my deployment. I can't wait to share my quilt with my wife and daughters on our coach at home watching a movie together.

What you do is amazing, thank you!!!

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Gday Ann,

Was able to pick up one of your laundry bags from our chaplain a couple of weeks ago and thought I would write this quick email to say thank you. 

It has a sky blue interior with some WW1 and WW2 piston pounders on the outside. I had my name embroidered on it from the local shop on base.

Very happy to sling it over my shoulder and wander off to the laundry, an improvement over the green woollies bag to be sure.

Thanks to you and the other ladies for making and sending all the good kit over.

Cheers,

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Hello Ann,

I hope this note finds you, your family and all the ladies sewing for Aussie Hero Quilts well.

I received my colourful laundry bag and I'd like to thank you and all the ladies for providing theses items to my workmates and myself; we appreciate it.

I wish you, your family and all the ladies a merry Xmas and happy 2017.

Thank you.

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Hi Ann,

Thank you for the lovely laundry bag, it is great and just what I needed. I have deployed on many occasions and every time I still forget to take a laundry bag with me. It has made my life easier here when I need to wash my uniforms and clothes. I have spent 20 years in the military both in the Army and Air Force. This is my second deployment to the Middle East in the last 2 years and this one is coming to an end. 

Once again thank you Ann and Murray for the time and thought in making this laundry bag. All the personnel that receive this gifts over here appreciate the effort everyone puts into these gifts and it makes the time over here easy knowing people back home care.

Yours Sincerely,

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I just received my Brisbane Lions Aussie Hero Quilt. 

I just wanted to send a special thanks to all the ladies that helped make my quilt, which I think is absolutely amazing! Dorothy C, Sandy A, Claire W, Maria W, Jill M, Jenny W, Val M, Jenny S, Inge C, Wendy F, and of course, Lynn; a huge THANKYOU to you all.

I want you to know that all your time and effort is valued and brings a lot of morale to the soldiers out here. Please don't under-estimate the impact your kind gifts have on the troops as I know receiving any form of mail is exciting out here, let alone an awesome Aussie Hero Quilt!

I hope you have a good Christmas and New Years. Thanks again.

Cheers,

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Dear Julie-Ann 

 

Thank you so much for sending me the laundry bag. 

 

It has come at a perfect time ... my old laundry bag (made three years ago from a sarong purchased in Singapore) is on its last legs. It is currently held together with staples. 

 

The new bag will immediately go into service. 

 

When I get home, I will ask my 12-year-old son  to use the laundry bag ... it is his dog Lockie - a Cairn Terrier - whose picture is on the bag. 

 

With very best wishes. 

Dear Helen and Pat

Since I wrote to you last, the weather in Iraq has turned bitterly cold.

This is quite bizarre after a summer when the temperature passed 55 degrees every day.

Your quilt is being put to good use.

Thank you again for your generosity in making the quilt. It will always be there to remind me of an extraordinary period in my life.

With best wishes 

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Dear Gail

I want to thank you so much for the beautiful quilt you made, with such a great talent, with a gifted taste of amazing work, wonderfully sewn in a way to magically bring a big smile to every face. Thank you Gail.

I really loved the quilt, and so proud to be here to serve my country and participate in restoring the peace in the world.

This is my first deployment as a reserve member. I’m a man that doesn’t see myself as a hero, as I’m just doing my job, and my share towards the nation.

I’m glad to have the opportunity to be able to thank you for all your amazing wonderful work in bringing a big smile on so many faces around the world, on behalf of me and all the other members who for different reasons don’t reply to thank you.

Take care of yourself and BEST WISHES.

Kind regards,

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Till next time... keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xxxx