Aussie Hero Quilts Annual Thank You Dinner.... my speech....

Every year at the Annual Thank You Dinner I make a speech.  This year was no different, except that this year I announced some info that I feel should be shared with all of you.  For that reason I am publishing my speech here for all of you to read if you are interested. 

Good evening.

Please allow me to extend a very warm welcome to our distinguished guests,

VCDF, Vice Admiral David Johnston and Mrs Belinda Johnston

Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC and Mrs Rhonda Davies

Commander of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld and Mrs Louise Hupfeld

Chaplain Darren Jaensch and Mrs Julie Jaensch, representing Chief of Army,

RSM-A, WO Grant McFarlane and Mrs Tracey McFarlane

WOFF-AF, WOFF Robert Swanwick and Mrs Lisa Swanwick

Commandant of RMC, BRIG Rupert Hoskin and Mrs Rachel Hoskin,

And to all of you here, thank you for coming along tonight to celebrate the achievements of the Volunteers of Aussie Hero Quilts in the last 12 months.

I’d also like to say a very big thank you to WO1 Andrew Shore, Regimental Sergeant Major- Duntroon, for allowing us to use this wonderful Mess (the RMC SGT's Mess) tonight.   There is nothing quite like a military mess and we are privileged to be able to meet here this weekend.

I think it was on the tenth of October 2011 that I sent off the first email that started Aussie Heroes on its way.  From that first batch of 49 boxes, which included fifteen laundry bags and twenty-five quilts... we have steadily grown...

In this, our seventh year we have exceeded all my expectations and those of many others.  Whilst trying to maintain a policy of under-promising and over-delivering we have kept up with the requests of our troops deployed to the Middle East and our peacekeepers serving with the United Nations, and we have also managed to support our submarine force and our rifle companies in Butterworth.

We have put quilts on the wall in a small coalition chapel in Kabul, and on coalition hospital beds in Kabul, Iraq and Parent Reading Rooms in the Middle East.

We have sent several quilts to defence members in compassionate circumstances... we have given quilts to the Wounded and also to the families of those who have lost their battle after coming home.

We have acknowledged the relationship between Afghanistan and Australia, with a quilt made for the First Lady of Afghanistan which she now keeps in her sitting room as a reminder of the friendship of our two countries.

Our efforts were highlighted and acknowledged during an ANZAC Reception for invited guests at the Australian Consulate in Honolulu on ANZAC Day this year.

We have commemorated 100 years of Mateship between Australia and the USA, the anniversary of the Battle of Hamel, the first time a combined force of Australians and Americans fought under the command of an Australian, General John Monash, with a quilt which was presented to the Walter Read Medical Centre at the Annual Wounded Warrior Dinner held at the Australian Embassy in Washington.  

We paid tribute to our inspiring Invictus Games Team, to those responsible for managing and supporting the team, and also to the CEO, and the members of the Board of the IAMG, volunteers who made the inspiring Invictus Games 2018 possible.  It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge the donations made by the Castle Hill RSL and another benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. Their combined support covered the administrative costs of this ambitious project.

We have welcomed defence chaplains into service with personalised laundry bags and we are supporting Air Force and Navy personnel transitioning from the service due to physical or mental injuries. We hope to expand that to include army personnel in similar situations in the new year.

We presented laundry bags to the ship’s companies of HMAS Rankin, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Sirius, HMAS Success, HMAS Canberra and the largest single batch of laundry bags to be presented at one time, 1065 Laundry bags, to HMAS Adelaide and her entire embarked force, along with the Task Group, before they deployed on APEC Assist.

It is worth noting, and I am incredibly proud to say, that we are the only organisation anywhere in the world that looks after its country’s navy, army, and air force personnel on deployment in this manner. No other nation sends a homemade gift of a quilt or laundry bag, let alone personalised ones, to their troops.

By the end of this year, our seventh year, I expect we will have given more than 10000 quilts and 20000 Laundry bags to serving members and veterans.

Along the way we have had the support of various organisations but most notable has been the Ramsgate RSL Sub-Branch, under the guidance of their President Gary Mawson and Vice President Chief Petty Officer Ron Palmer. For the second year in a row they have significantly contributed to our ability to provide the deployed men and women with our signature quilts and laundry bags.

We’ve only been able to achieve this because of the amazing generosity and commitment of a surprisingly small group of volunteers who, as far as I am concerned punch well above their weight when it comes to the volume of output... but also... the impact they have on the morale of their recipients... and importantly, the mental health of those they touch with their gifts of homemade, lovingly constructed quilts and laundry bags and accompanying personal letters.  

We are a 100% volunteer organisation and I believe we have the best volunteers you could ask for.  Without those of you who sew for us... both here tonight, and all the others who cannot be here ... we would be nothing. Tonight is YOUR thank you dinner.

Please take the opportunity to talk to the uniformed members that are here. They have come to thank you and they will be more than happy to meet you.

In the last seven years Aussie Heroes has grown in output and reach.  We have achieved far more than I ever imagined and have become an intrinsic part of our military’s deployment experience, particularly in the Middle East.   I think I have taken Aussie Heroes as far as I can whilst effectively running it on my own. The time has come to enlist some support and for Aussie Heroes to “grow up” if you will.  I want to ensure the longevity of the organisation that so many, quilters and service members, have come to love and depend on and so the decision has been made to work towards becoming a registered Not For Profit Organisation.  Work has started on the administrative tasks required.  I am being assisted by some brilliant people who have experience in Not for Profits and are also familiar with the current working of Aussie Hero Quilts.  The spirit, comradery and overall nature of Aussie Hero Quilts will not change.  It will still be about supporting the members of our Defence Force though providing Quilts and Laundry Bags to Servicemen and Women doing their bit for our country.

Several people have been asked to serve on the board and a few of them are here tonight. I would ask them all to raise their hand.   They are Glenda Stevens, Lauren Phillips, Sam Lovick and CAPT Phil Henry, CSC, RAN.  Also on the board will be LTCOL James Baker, quilter extraordinaire Helen Godden and Greg Alderson.   Within this group we have a wealth of experience as commissioned officers, seasoned Not For Profit executives and business leaders and in several cases, all three apply.  I am honoured that they have agreed to join the Aussie Heroes Board and I am look forward to working with them and drawing on their experience.

Our focus will be on longevity and sustainability, rather than becoming a bigger organisation.   I intend to maintain as much of the personal touch as is possible whilst drawing on the experience and resources of those on the board.  We have exciting times ahead.

.... 

The rest of the speech was just about the auctions that were to come and encouraging people to bid boldly.... which I am pleased to say they did.

So there you have our news... we are not a registered charity yet, but we are working our way towards it.  I will let you know when we finally achieve it. 

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

Jan-Maree xx