Grati-Tuesday 19 February 19

Hey all some great messages.. and just as awesome photos

Enjoy!

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Received this message from a very happy recipients of Marg B's 

It arrived! I’m literally blown away by it, it’s perfect! It will become an heirloom that I will cherish always, can’t wait until my girlfriend sees it, she’ll be speechless! I’ve sent a special parcel to its creator, I can’t thank all the quilters enough for their efforts, the smiles and happiness they make over here are priceless!

Bless all of you for your continued efforts to makes us all feel remembered. Warmest regards,

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And this one for a quilt made by Lyn S for one of our Invictus Competitors

It still blows me away, the detail that Lynn S was able quilt - my Invictus quilt is amazing!

The photo was taken on our balcony in Queenstown NZ - during the summer we get the most amazing sunrises. When Lynn was coming up with a concept for the quilt she had read my profile, so she include the Remarkables Mountain Range as a feature of the design

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Dear Cath, 

I am sending you this email to say that I have received your beautiful laundry bag and wonderful treats! 

I just wanted to say thank you so much for spending so much of your time on creating my laundry bag! I don't think I could have asked for anything better. You truly have designed a masterpiece! It is so beautiful and it has made me very happy. I made sure to show all of my work mates what an amazing job you did! It is very vibrant and one of a kind, which I like to think suits me! In regards to your Galah question, I think I am playful! I definitely like to joke around otherwise life is too serious! 

I am sure that all of the quilts and laundry bags you have made and sent to soldiers have made them all very happy. I'm glad that you have involved your students in designing laundry bags. I think that is a wonderful thing!  I hope you continue to sew and create; it is definitely a gift. 

I've enjoyed reading about your life, your beautiful animals, Hope, Aloha and Zoe and the activities you get up to. Thank you for sharing so much with me! 

I thought that since you've shared a bit about yourself, that I would tell you a bit about myself. 

I am a Nursing Officer within the Australian Army (full time) and have been in this job for just over two years. I was sponsored by the Army back in 2014 while I was studying my degree. I was definitely lucky to receive such an opportunity! It allowed me to get the most out of my degree without the hassle of working at the same time! I have a return service of three years and am due to complete my service January 2020 but I will stay in for a bit longer after that. I am currently posted to Townsville at the moment but am expecting to receive a posting order this year - hoping to move back home. I'm not sure if you were following the floods that happened in Townsville? It was so sad to see everything consumed by water. My place is okay, but I think my belongings in the storage container underneath my unit got damaged. 

We have had some great events over here for Christmas, Boxing Day and Australia Day. We have been having BBQs and dessert as well as some games and activities to celebrate. We have also been receiving quite a lot of care packages from those back home, which is always a delight! 

Thank you for the treats that you included with the laundry bag! I will definitely enjoy eating them all. You would be happy to know that the raspberry bullets are actually one of my favourite lollies! 

So, thank you once again for your time and energy that was put into making my laundry bag. It is something that I will treasure forever! I hope that the first semester of school is going well for you! 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Warm regards,

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Dear Anne D

I would like to personally thank you for the laundry bag I received from you. The love and care that has been sewn into this is greatly appreciated and I will treasure it always. The packages deployed troops receive from generous people like you make a huge difference in morale especially this time of year when we  are away from our families.

I am currently deployed in the Middle East. My role here is to manage the logistic quality control framework which supports all deployed Australian Personnel within the region. The role is busy but rewarding as I know the work I do impacts how all deployed Australian Personnel conduct their business. I have been in this role for 14years.

Again I would like to thank you for both the laundry bag and your ongoing support. It is these acts of kindness that makes these long periods away from my family and loved ones worth it.

Yours faithfully

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Hello Marilyn

I received my laundry bag a couple of weeks ago and I have been a little busy hence the delay in this email

When AFL is on we try to watch it , I don’t have an AFL team but I do now. I will be supporting Richmond this year

My role on board is called combat systems operator (cso) I am responsible for maritime warfare on the ship specifically anti-submarine warfare

I had a very good Christmas with the ships company all of us are away from someone while we are away so it is good to get that support from everyone

Thank you very much for all the effort of putting a Christmas box together and making a laundry bag I love all of it very much 

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Hello Ashleigh,

Thank you very much for the Quilt and Laundry Bag. It looks absolutely amazing. Originally I was 50/50 on deciding whether to get one, mainly due to being quite indecisive, but I have no doubts in my mind that I made the right decision in the end. Especially after receiving the Quilt and Laundry Bag.

I myself am 27 years old and have been in the RAAF for almost 5 years now. I'd like to say that I know what I am doing with my life having established a career and all, but just like you, I have no idea either. Despite my job having brought me to different places within the world, I believe I am overdue for a proper travelling vacation and have made plans to travel to Japan for the winter season later this year.

I hope you all the best for your future plans to study, unless you have already begun, in which case I hope you are enjoying yourself. I've never been great with children and am envious that you enjoy being around them. I definitely consider the ability to interact with young children as a skill and not something that can be learned easily. Again, thank you for the Quilt and Laundry bag, I'll be sure to take great care of them.

Much appreciated,

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Good Morning Ashleigh,

I am deployed as a fire fighter to the middle east with the Air Force at the moment. I was lucky enough to have you make a wonderful quilt for me to send home. The quilt was for my partner  who absolutely loves Disney films and Disney Princesses. She watches Beauty and the Beast and Frozen all the time at home and will absolutely love your quilt. I would also like to say the boys over here love getting their laundry bags and quilts from Aus.

Thank you so much for dedicating your time to making me this quilt it really raises my moral. I wish you a happy 2019.

Kindest Regards

PS I loved eating the snakes you packed in with the quilt

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Dear Jenny,

I received your package with the quilt you sewed for me in it.  Thank you so much for the time and effort you have put into it.  It is better than I could ever have imagined!  I was so excited when I received it, I went around our office area and showed it off to everyone I work with.  I particularly love the camel section; I can’t believe you got the fabric from America!  I love the subtle gold, blues and reds it reminds me of the sun setting over the desert, which is a truly beautiful sight I get to experience every day.  Please thank your daughter, the colours and tones are beautiful, it’s truly a work of art.

We work a lot with the British and American soldiers who always comment about our beautiful quilts.  When we explain the premise behind Aussie Hero Quilts, the other soldiers can’t believe that people back home voluntarily put so much hard work into sewing us something so lovely.  It gives me a real sense of pride to have so much support from people back home like you, that we take every opportunity to show our quilts off.  Your quilt takes pride of place on my bed and has made such a change to brighten up our room.  I can’t wait to finish work at the end of the day and snuggle up under it.

As you’ve sent me something that I will treasure, not only the rest of my deployment, but also when I get back to Australia, I thought I might tell you a bit about myself.  I was born and raised in  QLD with my five sisters (I know right!  My poor dad!)  I joined the army when I was 21 because I wanted to see the world and have adventures whilst still being able to have a job that I would be proud to work in.  I have been in the Army for 4 years now, and I am a Lieutenant.  This is my first deployment to Iraq, actually this is my first deployment to any war zone.  It has been quite an adventure!  It’s truly an amazing experience that I am privileged to be a part of.  This deployment has been equally rewarding and a little tough at times.  I find now as I get through my six months it’s the little things I think I miss the most, like a hug from my mum or sharing a cup of nice coffee with my sister.  When I start to feel a bit homesick I think of all the good we are doing over here, and that I am privileged to be given the opportunity to help in any way I can.

Having said that, your quilt could not have come at a better time.  To some it may be just a quilt, but to me it’s a physical reminder of the love and support from people back home and it makes me proud to have served my country.  It is the support from people like you that makes all the difference to the lives of the deployed ADF men and women.  Yours and all Aussie Hero Quilts bring smiles to all who receive them.

I am proud to serve a county whose unwavering loyalty and support for its deployed soldiers runs deep.  I am proud to call Australia home and even prouder to display your quilt.

From myself and all the other soldiers you’ve sewn quilts for, thank you for the hard work that you put into each quilt.  Your quilts are loved and very much appreciated.

Thank you,

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Dear Anne D,

I am writing to thank you very much for my laundry bag which I received recently.  I love the pink design!  As I’m sure you could appreciate there isn’t much colour over here, so it’s nice to have something bright and cheerful in my room.  I certainly do not have the talent for sewing (let alone 106 laundry bags worth!) so I am very grateful for the time and effort that you have obviously put into this piece.  Thank you also for the very thoughtful gifts which you included in the parcel.  It’s the small touches which make our lives easier over here so I will really enjoy using the Body Shop items.  Unfortunately the Tim Tams are all gone – they were eaten as soon as they came out of the box!

I am a C130J pilot currently deployed as part of Operation Accordion.  Our work involves moving Australian and Coalition cargo and passengers all over the Middle East Region including throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.  I’m enjoying this work as every day is different, although one of my favourite tasks is bringing people back to our main base on their way home to Australia. 

My brother (who is also in the RAAF) was the recipient of a laundry bag on his first deployment in 2014 so we both really appreciate the work of Aussie Hero Quilts.

Thank you again and warmest regards to you and your family.

.....

27 Oct 18

HMAS Adelaide, Coral Sea

Hello Rita,

Thank you for taking the time to write and especially craft the fine laundry bag I received.  I sought it out amongst the pile so this is fate that we should connect.  I love the design with the old world labels, some of which I was familiar, but some others are a little before my time!  It will be a special reminder about this particular trip that I keep with me.  I am very impressed with your ‘tally’ of laundry bags and quilts over the years.  I can tell you, we all think this a great organisation and my few sailors were quick to sort through the many bags that came into our work area to grab the one they wanted, thankfully there was no bickering.

I am a Chief Petty Officer (E8 rank equivalent to the US) Communications Information Systems, and my role is the Communications Information Warfare Manager in HMAS Adelaide.  I manage all the Communications to and from the ship so the Captain has what he needs to do the mission.  This includes access to messaging, the internet, email and welfare networks to name just a few.  On a ship this size it is quite an important job, especially when things don’t go quite as you plan them to.  The ship is based in Sydney and I have only been on the ship for around 6 weeks and enjoy it immensely!  This is my fifth ship in my thirty year career, and whilst I have gotten a little older, I still enjoy being out here at sea doing the job.  I also manage thirty odd sailors and around ten army signallers who I consider as ‘family’ so I look after them as best I can by offering them fatherly advice or even in exceptional circumstances, reprimand them for their errors.  But you will be happy to note that they are a very good bunch of men and women, and I am already proud of what they do and how they do it.

My ‘real’ family reside in Melbourne.  We have been married for (I think) twenty six years, and she is a well versed navy wife who did it tough with minimal complaints for all the years that I was and am away.  My 2 children,a daughter (23) and son (19) both have their own lives they live, albeit still in the nest. 

During my career I have mainly served in Western Australia, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.  I have also completed one tour in the Middle East with HMAS Parramatta, keeping the seas safe from pirates and drug smugglers, and also completed a land tour into the United Arab Emirates/Afghanistan as part of Australian contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism.  They were particularly hard days, but it was the people such as yourself that would make our days just that little bit easier.  

My recreational pursuits include photography, fly fishing and fishing.  I also own a Jeep Wrangler and she is my ‘other’ love, I take her out to the trails and tracks mainly to get me to my fishing spots and now and again I would camp too.  I enjoy the company of my family, it has been lovely the past few years watching them grow up and mature into young adults.

We know this isn’t an easy job at times, but I wouldn’t change a thing.  I love the Navy and what it has done for me and what it has taught me, and importantly the people I have met over the years.  This includes receiving the small things that you know just put a smile on your face.  So please know that your work is appreciated and I know I echo all of the sailors, soldiers and airmen onboard when I say thank you for what you have done.

All the very best to you and Lou, Sherry and Ryan, Jill, Will, Lizzy and Benny, Rachel and Lawton, Ludo and Kelly!

As we say in the Navy,

Yours Aye,
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Dear Melissa Layton,

I can't thank you enough for the Aussie Hero Quilt you have made me, the
time and effort you have put in is amazing. I have seen many over my
deployments and it's great that people do this for men and women who are
deployed on operations, as well as ex-serving men and women. This is the
first one I have decided to put a request in for one and the result was more
than I was hoping for. However, not sure my wife (a Geelong Supporter) likes
it as much as me though!

I have been lucky enough to have been in places throughout the world during
my career and I have enjoyed the last 6 months, even though this has meant I have been away from my family. This deployment has been harder than others though, as it has been
the first time away from a daughter. As I briefly mentioned, I am married
with one daughter. My daughter is 2 this week so have
sent some presents home for her to open, we also got her a ride-on electric
car so I am looking forward to seeing videos of that when she uses it! I can't wait to spend some time with them both, hopefully go on a holiday somewhere in WA. I've also brought a West Coast Membership at the new stadium this year so I am looking forward to getting
plenty of AFL games in.

Again, thank you for the Aussie Hero Quilt and I look forward to using it
for many years to come.

Kind Regards,

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Hi Ruth,

I am deployed to the middle east at the moment. I was lucky enough to have you make a wonderful laundry bag for me to send home. The laundry bag was for my partner who absolutely loves Disney films and Disney Princesses. She watches Beauty and the Beast and Frozen all the time at home and will absolutely love your laundry bag. This will really boost her spirits. I would also like to say the boys over here love getting their laundry bags and quilts from Aus. I loved reading your letter and the Apple and Cinnamon muesli bars went down a treat. 

Thank you so much for dedicating your time to making me this laundry bag it really raises my moral. I wish you a happy 2019.

Kindest Regards 

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Dear Wendy V and Jan-Maree

Today I received a lovely surprise, an amazing quilt from Wendy. Thank you both so much for your kindness and such a wonderful quilt. Your generosity and support means so much to me and I just wanted to send you a short message to show my gratitude. The bright and cheery colours are fantastic. This is one of the best quilts I have seen, thank you.  

In a couple of days I will be completing 15 years of service in the Air Force. I work in administration which the Air Force has titled Personnel Capability Specialists. Throughout my career I have travelled to every state in Australia, I have spent 3 month in Malaysia and this is my third time in the Middle East. I completed tours in 2006 and 2009.

I’m 37 and a mother to a beautiful 6 year girl. I enjoy diving, walking and crochet. I was not expecting to receive a quilt because I know how much effort goes into making this beautiful quilt and I didn’t want to be a bother. However my husband met Jan-Maree Ball and had a different plan, for which I am very grateful.

Again thank you for such a wonderful surprise

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G'Day Sue N!

Thank you very much for my Adelaide Crows and Adelaide 36ers Themed quilt. The amount of time and effort put into each and every quilt and laundry bag is phenomenal. We all very much appreciate the work you all do! Every time one is received by a member it is proudly shown to everyone!

 They really do help brighten up what is at times are very mundane and plain accommodation!

 This is my second deployment, my last was 05/06, and the amount of support we have received during this deployment from Australia has far exceeded what was displayed on my last trip!

 I too have 3 kids, mind you a lot younger than yours, I have a daughter who is 9, a two sons aged 6 and 4.

 Thanks again for the amazing quilt it will be treasured forever!

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Marilyn,

Thank you very much for the laundry bag you made for me. It is great, I really appreciate the time you have taken to make it for me. It is very gratifying to know that the Australian public supports the members who are deployed. I was on holiday (we get a short break during the deployment), so I was actually in Thailand on Australia day. My girlfriend met me there, we were exploring Bangkok. I was here for Christmas but it was as nice as you can expect, they put on a big feed at the mess and lots of treats. We received many care packages from other Aussies which were enjoyed by all.

I work in communications, which can be very challenging but also very rewarding. Without us no one else can do their job properly. I would like to thank you again for your time and effort in making the laundry bag. It's always nice to know that the people of Australia support us.
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Good morning Michele

I hope this email gets to you as where I am has terrible connectivity at times.

I'm one of the Defence members who received a quilt.

I wanted to write straight away and say "Thank you" for the most beautiful quilt you made and also the Tim Tams which we will all enjoy but also share with the American Service personal who love them :)

The quilt is amazing and I cant thank you enough. It will be a very treasured possession and a much needed one as well as its quiet cold during the nights where I am.

Thank you also for your lovely card and pictures of your Cavoodles. They are so sweet. I have a German Shepherd at home and also had a corgi / Dingo cross who sadly passed away while I was here just before Christmas. It was very hard but I was able to video call and be there to a certain extent while he was going to sleep. Hopefully when I get home I can get another rescue dog as  my German Shepherd Gypsy is pining for her friend.

I'm currently serving with the Air Force and have been here since late November. We are only a small group of Aussies at this location  and we keep fairly busy. I'm due home in several weeks and am so happy to be coming home. I'm a bit over sand and dust at moment :)

I hear it has been very hot in Australia this summer.

Many thanks again for this lovely gift. It will be very treasured :)

Sincerely
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Afternoon All,

I am currently serving overseas in the Middle East, I have just received one of your lovely laundry bags that you have generously made. On behalf of all the members that received one, I would like to thank you all for you kind gifts and I assure you they will get a good use over the next few months while we are here.

Please continue your amazing work so future members deployed on operations can enjoy these amazing and practical gifts, I have no doubt they will be just as grateful as I am.


Kind regards,
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Dear Sheena,

Thank you so much for your my quilt, laundry bag and extremely kind words. It's all arrived safely to me. Unfortunately for the sweets, there are already finished!

We operate the Australian Bushmaster, Protected Mobility Vehicle which is arguably the safest and most reliable tactical vehicle in our operational theatre.

Our mission here is to protect the multi-national mentors and advisers that go out everyday and assist the Afghan National Army in training and developing its future generation of soldiers and leaders.

My kindest regards to you and your family.

Whilst it is tough spending this much time away from home, we are lucky to have good company and get along well with the other nations that we reside with. When we arrived here, the temperature wasn’t too dissimilar from Brisbane summer, where our Battalion is based. However, it now snows every few days which is a novelty for some of my soldiers who have never seen the snow before!

To let you know a little about me, I grew up in Queensland and have served in the Army for 9 years. What I’m looking forward to most when I get home is seeing my German Sheppard, Barnaby, he is what I miss the most. 

Once again thank you very much for the quilt and laundry bag, my favourite part is the German Sheppard and the rock climbing silhouettes. I really appreciated the time and effort you have dedicated to my quilt and laundry bag and it means a lot. We are doing Australia proud and maintaining the reputation of the Aussie Digger.

I've attached some photos for you, hopefully you enjoy them!

My kindest regards,

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I just want to say a big big thank you to Bridget for the awesome quilt she made that arrived today . What you and the other Aussie Hero Quilts members do is an exceptional service for the men and women who serve overseas for long periods of time away from their families, loved ones and friends. The generosity of providing a quilt and/or laundry bag is very selfless and makes a massive difference to the soldiers that receive them whilst deployed. It is and will ever be a prized possession that will always remind me of my deployment and a symbol of support that we have at home. So thank you once again for sending me my beautiful quilt and keep up the wonderful work – thank you again to everyone associated with Aussie Hero Quilts for the wonderful work that you do!!
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NOTE from Robyn re some Poppy fabric bought from Spotlight...

Just a thought for the newbies and myself- the Poppy fabric from Spotlight.  The Red runs a lot so a reminder that pre-washing may help.

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Yesterday I received photos of two of our laundry bags, made by Gail, doing duty whilst on holiday in Hawaii or all places..... the husband's bag has travelled many places with his during his army service.   The "SLAM" bag was actually a prize, the right to commission a LB,  for this recipient's wife which he won in the auction at our Dinner in 2017.

  His comment is... 

Good evening ladies, Stef’s Laundry Bag’s first deployment.... it’s been to a lot better places than my trusted old friend!

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A great selection of thank you messages.

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

Jan-Maree xx