Weekly Dispatches - 31st December 2021

   Happy New Year Everyone!!

Well, what a year it has been!! As with most New Year celebrations, there is time for reflection on the previous 12 months and anticipation of what the New Year may bring. 

Here is hoping that the next year brings you joy and happiness. The creations that are to follow in this blog will certainly bring joy and happiness to the recipients of them. It will be a tremendous start to the New Year for them. 

Without all of you (recipients and volunteers included) and your creative flair in choosing a theme and then bringing it to life that would not be possible, so thank you.

Please enjoy!!!

🌟🌟🌟

This year so far we have sent off 1316 quilts 

and that has brought our total since we started to 14235

We have also sent off 3236 laundry bags, bringing our total since we started to over 30062 laundry bags.

Keryn M

Anne H Front and Back

Ruth S Front and Back

Bel D

Cheryl F

Ellen N Emb Clarissa

Heather Butler Emb Inge

Helen & Pat G

Helen C Clarissa applique Quilted by Philomena

Joy H

Joy H with donated blocks from Bobbie S and Mystery BOM group

Kathy W Emb Inge

Keryn M

Melissa L

Noelene W Emb Clarissa L

Gayle W

Ruth S Front and Back

Ruth S - 3 Laundry Bags front and back

Ruth S - 2 Laundry Bags

Ruth S - 2 Laundry Bags

Ruth S - 2 Laundry bags

Ruth S

Ruth S - Front and back

Ruth S

Ruth S - 2 Laundry bags

Ruth S

🎆 🎆 🎆

Whatever you may be doing tonight, I hope you have fun and stay safe.

Till Next Year,

Happy sewing Everyone!!!!

Grati -Tuesday 28th December 2021

             Last Grati post for 2021! 

WOW, what a year it has been. Despite the crazy the world has been experiencing, we have been able to witness and be apart of some genuinely happy exchange of your creative talents to our Service people both near and far! What an absolute treasure.

Thank you for letting me share these gorgeous letters and photos week in, week out. It brings me so much happiness, and inspires me to keep creative and stay connected. Something as simple as thinking of someone is just so, so important.                    

                                                                           ....

Dear Wendy,

Just a short note to sincerely thank you for the recent gift of Aussie Hero Quilt. I love it.

What you and the team to do in support of our Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen and Airwomen is impressive and I know everyone is humbled when receiving these treasures.

After 36 years of service, and 9 tours overseas this quilt will forever be a reminder of the experiences along that journey. The detail is incredible.

Again, thank you so much for the kind gift and what you do.

 ....

Bev,

It was wonderful to receive such a beautiful quilt in the mail during an overseas deployment with such limited contact with home. It is not often that so much care and effort goes into a gift for a stranger.

Thank you so much - it is something I will keep for the rest of my life as a memento of my time serving in the Navy and of my recent deployment in particular.

My mother and father both served in the Navy and my sister is a contractor to Defence in the ACT. In many ways our families give up as much as we do serving.

There seems to be a special bond created between serving members, and between the families of serving members. My service friends are indeed like family to me.

I love my job as an electronics technician and I appreciate every moment that I can serve with some of the finest people Australia has to offer.

I am often asked what country is my favourite, and inevitably my answer is Australia. The world is a wonderous place, but to me there really is no place that is quite like that great southern land.

Best wishes

....

Morning AHQ and Thelma,

Thanks for the awesome quilt and laundry bags. 

As we get home soon prior to decommissioning they will have to wait for the next time I go to sea, but they will definitely be coming with me to sea.

Regards.

....

Good Afternoon Bridget,

I just wanted to write to say a big THANK YOU to you for the truly magnificent laundry bag and quilt that you made for me. I absolutely love them and you couldn't have picked better colours or patterns. 

Thank you also for your letter. It was lovely to read about you and your family, and I am touched that you would share the information with me. 

I am married, and my husband is also in the Air Force. I have 2 step-children. A daughter 17 and going into year 12 next year, and son, 15, starting year 10 next year. Unfortunately, we have no cheeky fur babies. 

I have been in the Air Force since 1996, but I haven't always been a nurse. I joined the military as a working dog handler. He was a fantastic dog and we used to be part of the RAAF display team as he knew when he was working and when he wasn't so he was able to be patted by people, which he loved. I re-mustered to Loadmaster after being in the Air Force for 7 years and flew on C130J Hercules, which I am sure you are accustomed.

I then decided to change jobs again, after many wonderful years flying hercs, and I went back to university to study Nursing. I've been at hospitals in ACT and NSW while also working in the health centre.

This deployment is my second as a nurse, with my first in 2016 in the Middle East. I was silly enough to not order a laundry bag or blanket on that deployment and have kicked myself ever since, so when the opportunity came up again, I jumped at the chance.

Again, thank you, for the laundry bag and blanket. The laundry bag will certainly travel with me on every trip I take in the future. The quilt will come in very useful and be dear to my heart.

I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and safe and happy new year.

Warm Regards.

....

Good Evening Ruth,

This is WO2 and I received a lovely laundry bag from you, just the evening before I flew back home to Australia from my overseas deployment.

It was a really great surprise and great timing. It arrived on 29 Nov. There has been a lot of delays with mail, so I was very glad to receive it.

The animals and patterns are fantastic and I really appreciate the care and effort you put into the design. 

Thank you again.

I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas and safe and happy new year.

Warm Regards.

....

Hi Aussie Heroes!

My wife has said there is a package for me but is waiting to open it until I get home (soon).

Thanks!

....

Hi Heather,

Firstly, I would like to apologise for not writing earlier, but I only got my 'present' when I came home from sea. I absolutely love it.

It brought a tear to my eye and made me speechless for a few minutes, as I am not sure that I deserve something so beautifully made with both talent and love. I look forward to being able to be posted back to a ship and have it permanently on display on my rack for everyone to see and admire (and hopefully be just a little bit jealous)!

I am part of the Navy's mobile training team that bounces from ship to ship putting them through their paces to make sure they are safe to deploy. It is a rewarding job mentoring the junior medics/sailors at sea, but my family has become a poor second over the last 4 years. I am due to leave this job in a fortnight's time and am mixed emotions about that.

I had 1/4 life crisis and left my job as a Bank Manager in Tasmania to join the Navy. It came as a bit of a shock to my family who have always served in either the British or Australian Army as Infantry Officers. I met my husband when he was in the Navy in 2000. He also is the black sheep of the family joining the Navy as his family tee is 100% Army with his Grandfather and Great Grandfather being in the lighthouse Brigade during the charge. Needless to say, Christmas time gets a little bit interesting with Army / Navy rivalry.

Again, my heartfelt thank you for the beautiful quilt. I'm just looking at it with a big grin on my face. It's just perfect for me.

I hope you and your family stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas.

Take care.

....

From the Facebook Page:

Hi Robyn,

I just received your letter and laundry bag in PNG.

Thank you so much it was beautiful.

Such a great gift because I forgot my laundry bag on this trip!!

....

Good Morning Heather,

Thank you for your lovely long letter - I apologise that I can't respond in kind, but the outgoing mail from Asia has all but come to a halt amid the COVID restrictions over here.

I did want to drop you a line to let you know the laundry bags arrived yesterday - a small miracle in itself as there have been significant delays for even the incoming mail. They will be distributed to the next rotation of troops through Butterworth, early next year. But it's such a blessing for them to know that someone back home has remembered them, and I wanted to pass on their thanks in advance - judging from how the previous rotation received their laundry bags! and offer my own word of thanks for your continued support as well. With such strong connections to the Defence Force yourself - it's easy to see how the work of AHQ would mean so much.

Blessings for your Christmas and beyond!

....

Dear Heather,

Thank you so much for the tri coloured laundry bag! I didn't know what quite to expect when I ordered it, however, I am so glad I did. I absolutely love it.

Glad to see that there is another beagle lover out there. Mine looks as all beagles should, merry and healthy.

I loved reading not only about your story, but the stories of your family.

....

Dear Deb,

Thank you so much for my laundry bag. I LOVE IT.

I am soon to depart the Middle East, heading home to Queensland, and hopefully out of quarantine quickly. Just in time to reunite with my kids and enjoy the break. 

I can't wait to see them, this is the longest I have been apart from them. Cross fingers home quarantine comes into effect. 2 weeks chilling on the couch would be amazing.

Thanks again for the package. You and the other amazing volunteers do such an amazing job and you really do make our days when these packages arrive. This laundry bag will get lots of use next year as I have quite a few things on the cards, I'll be away for.

Kind Regards

....

   Short and sweet this week, but I hope you all had a safe and Merry Christmas, and were able to share the day with people you cared about. 

Till next week..

Request List 27 December 2021

Good morning and hello everyone,

Another Christmas is done and dusted.....

A cheery greeting to you all and trust you had a peaceful and blessed Christmas. Another week of Requests and interesting projects to tackle.

Do please EMAIL friendsofAHQ@gmail.com and Catherine  or I will be pleased to assist you with your selection. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you!

When selecting a request, remember, you do not have to include everything they have asked for.    Footy quilts do not need to have the logo or even the team’s name. Using the team colours is all that is required. Simple is perfectly acceptable.  A number of these requests have given you favourite colours as well as footy teams or other hobbies and interests.    It is fine to make a quilt using their favourite colours and include only one of their interests.  It is fine to keep it simple.

If there is more than one request on this list that you would be happy to do I suggest that you send me a list of requests and tell me how many you want to be allocated….i.e. one of the following please….  There are always a few requests that everyone wants to do (and I can never pick them) so if the first one you ask for is taken then I can allocate another from your list if I have a list.

****************************************

Essential info and weekly updates .....

Any queries you might have, please don’t hesitate to contact via the AHQ email as per usual with any queries and we will assist you from there.  We may not know the answer but it will be our pleasure to research and get back to you.  

A reminder, when  you are ready to post  the quilt or laundry bag you’ve created, please use the PMKEYS number given you in any correspondence with the admin team.  This helps the volunteer admin team keep a track of what’s been sent etc.  The PMKEYS number is included in the address details we supply for your recipient e.g.  the 7 digit number in red below. Also, please use the Aussie Heroes P O Box address on your parcel in the event the parcel is Returned to Sender -  the PO Box is a safe place in the event of  any mishaps with postage. 
Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags)
PO Box 248, Cherrybrook,
NSW 2126
 
CPL Wanda Quilt 8765432
TG 3456
AFPO XX
ADF
Sydney NSW 2890

Don’t forget to take a photo of your completed craft, email to AHQ with the name and PMKEYS of the recipient and we can include in the Weekly Dispatches blog and also add to the tally of quilts and laundry bags sent off to the troops.  I personally love viewing the photos of those projects dispatched – so inspiring.

If you are using a AHQ supplied prepaid satchel please kindly use the AHQ address – also for your own packaging – if a parcel is Returned to Sender it is likely we can expedite its journey to the recipient from Sydney.   I have an Aus Post app on my phone and, scanning the QR code on each satchel using the smart phone camera, all I have to do is type in the name of the recipient and I can track the parcel via my phone. https://auspost.com.au/about-us/about-our-site/australia-post-app

 Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags)
PO Box 248
Cherrybrook  NSW 2126
 
as the Return / From address on the reverse and also please hold on to the Tracking number – we’ve experienced mail delays lately (haven’t we all?) and having the Tracking number is very reassuring to keep an eye on the parcel’s progress in arriving at its destination.

Don’t forget, if you look at today’s Request List and need help choosing, please feel free to get in touch to discuss, we will be ready to reply and offer guidance by email. Our goal is to help you find a request that you will be comfortable with doing. If you need a crest etc we may be able to post embroideries / printed fabric images or email some of these to you. Helpful info may be gleaned here  http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/2019/07/information-post-for-those-that-sew-for.html    I look forward to seeing the photos of completed quilts and LBs when they are ready to post off.

As aforementioned I will respond to your emails when you respond to select a quilt or laundry bag to sew.  But please don’t delay, make your selection, send your email through, say “Hi”  and let me know what you’d like to sew this week.

Wishing everyone a super week of sewing.
 
Clarissa, Alex, Courtney, Lisa, Kylie, Catherine, Jan-Maree, Pamela and Ben.

P.P.S.  Don't forget to check out AHQ on the Blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter 

POST BY DATE
 
PRIORITY  Requests:-   Quilts 4 - 12 are on the must get done list this week. Can you help?  – I’d love your help getting these on their way to forever homes?  We need to have these quilts in the mail by 12 January 2022, but earlier is always appreciated :)


The post by date for all other Requests on this list is 2 February 2022  please or earlier if you can manage this.  If you cannot make that date, please let me know.   Do reach out if you have any timing issues and we’ll resolve one way or the other. PLEASE note the date and let me know if you have any problems getting your quilt/LB away on time. In fact, if you are going to be late posting it please let me know BEFORE you post it.  Also, if this time frame is too tight for you, there are options, just email me to discuss, thank you.   There are a few unloved requests that have been lingering  - if you can help with one of these please email me .....mostly early numbers on the list. 

PLEASE note the date and let me know if you have any problems getting your quilt/LB away on time. In fact, if you are going to be late posting it please let me know BEFORE you post it.  Also, if this time frame is too tight for you, there are options, just email me to discuss, thank you.
 
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE copy the ENTIRE line if you wish to nominate for a quilt or laundry bag. 
For example….
Marvel Theme. Ironman     M       LB      1
This is really important to make sure that neither you nor I copy the wrong number which could lead to me giving you the wrong details for specific request.  If you find it hard to copy and paste, please copy the line out as follows…  
 
Decoding The Columns
The first column is the theme or preferences requested.
The second column indicates the gender of the recipient.
The third column is as follows.
 
B=both quilt and laundry bag (feel  free to nominate to JUST do the laundry bag if you wish)
Q= just a quilt
LB = just a laundry bag
F= female
M= male
 
Please let the Admin crew know if you have any other questions....Just email friendsofahq@gmail.com 

 

Finally...... the THANK YOU DINNER 2022 – I am looking forward to meeting everyone…..

Don’t forget to check out the details for next year’s 10^th Anniversary Thank You Dinner?  It will be an  awesome time of Aussie Hero quilting fun and enjoyment.  Hotel and Event tickets may be secured via the Home Page of the AHQ blog site.  BOOK NOW!!! Every volunteer welcome to attend - this weekend is for you!

Remember - If the recipient has requested, I will arrange an embroidered crest for you to piece / applique. ...e.g. Rising Sun, RAAF , crest, RAN crest, Skippy (Infantry) badge, RACT, RAAOC, RAAMC, Signals, RAE, RAEME , Boxing Kangaroo, Centenary RAAF, Tri-Service etc . Additionally, if you prefer not to applique, we can arrange an embroidered text patch if there's lengthy wording the recipient has requested. We can also offer pics of military themes incl aircraft silhouettes and ships which are fabulous for applique			0
PNG Colours - Rising Sun- Caduceus - C19	M	LB	1
Navy engineer related	M	LB	2
Favourite colour is purple. Enjoy 4x4 driving, camping, fishing, cooking and golf.	M	LB	3
Quilt - Anime - (Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist, My Hero Academia, Hajime No Ippo, Hunter X Hunter, haikyuu) - Black/White/Red/Orange Laundry Bag - Beagle related images - Black White Tan (tri coloured) bag	M	Q	4
Modern racing yachts, classic square rigged tall ships (We have a lovely embroidery for this) , super sport motorcycles and a passion is for my Birds. I currently have a Sun Conure and a Green Cheek Conure.	M	Q	5
LB - Wonder Woman, Poppies, Australian Flag Quilt - could there be a Wonder Woman shield in front of two small hearts with the names xxxxx being shielded by their Mum who is the Superhero and poppies in the background. Embroideries - we can supply .... Rising Sun badge and UN flag	F	B	6
A one-eyed Parramatta Eels NRL fan and a sports motorcycle racer. Rising Sun, Skippy Badge.	M	B	7
Bright colours and Military/ Poppy Theme Infantry Skippy Badge, Rising Sun badge Australian animals UN flag	M	Q	8
Sand (Desert) and Waves themed quilt - text patch to be supplied	M	Q	9
Beach Themed laundry bag and a desert themed quilt - Text patch to be supplied "	F	B	10
Signals crest and squadron logo and the sig tactical colours of white and blue	M	B	11
Royal Australian Navy, Sydney Swans, medicine/caduceus, poppies, blue	M	Q	12
"FAVOURITE COLOUR: DARK BLUE, INTERESTS: PLAYSTATION, VIDEO GAMES STUFF LIKE THAT. MAYBE SOME VIKING RUNES OF SOME SORT. "	M	Q	13
BMW superbikes or any sports bikes	M	Q	14
Motorbike themed- road bikes, KTM and Kawasaki. (Emb available) Favourite colours: Black, blue, green and red Disliked colours: Brown, yellow and pink	M	B	15
ANIME	M	Q	16
Sydney Roosters NRL Team, beach, sunset, colour: blue	F	B	17
West Coast Eagles/ Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Quilt. I'd like WCE with the original logo with yellow and blue and Manly logo with Maroon and white.	M	Q	18
VB, sunsets, beach, North Melbourne (AFL), Crustaceans	M	Q	19
Charizard/Blastoise Pokemon Trading Card for both quilt and bag (one character on either side)	M	B	21
"Batman - Dark Knight Movie and the Joker" theme. Dark colours scheme, black, yellow, red for batman. Purple, green, white for the joker. If possible words "WHY SO SERIOUS" near Joker and the words "I AM BATMAN" near Batman	M	Q	22
McLaren F1 Theme	M	Q	23
Super Mario theme	F	Q	24
Leeds United Football Club	M	Q	25
The Fast and The Furious Movies, American Muscle Cars, Coronas	M	B	26
Favourite colour is blue, Football Team Is Chelsea Football Club, Mountain Biking	M	Q	27
Favourite colours are yellow and black, love soccer. Also enjoy cars and motorbikes	M	Q	28
Australian Red Cattle Dog theme	M	Q	29
Corps Badges, Army theme	M	Q	29
Queensland Maroons :) State of Origin- NRL	M	Q	30
Favourite colour is blue, love music, running, the beach and water based activities	M	Q	31
Favourite colour is blue, support Essendon-AFL, enjoy cycling, running and the beach.	M	Q	32
Himalayan theme would be nice. Also love retro video games and snowboarding.	M	B	33
Canadian theme (We have a flag panel)	F	Q	34
Holden, Moto GP, Ducati Motorbikes	M	B	35
Favourite colour is blue, I also love sharks and dogs, Camping and the Beach	F	Q	36
Favourite colours are blue and green. Enjoy most outdoor activities, hiking, camping, riding, diving etc. Otherwise, Anything at all.	M	Q	37
Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club. Their colours are purple/dark blue (predominant) with white and gold lightning bolts.	M	B	38
Port Adelaide Football Club	M	Q	39
Cars and Motorbikes	M	Q	40
NHL Boston bruins and MLB Boston Red Socks favourite is blue	M	Q	41
Nautical - Charts and Stars. Member would like their first name on it too	F	B	42
Anime (Japanese cartoon) / Dragon Ball Z	M	B	43
Stars, Sun, Nebulus, Milky Way, Astronomical, Galaxy	M	Q	44
Nautical - Jolly Rogers / Skull and Crossbones / Pirate	M	Q	45
Navy engineer related	M	Q	46
Thor	M	Q	47
Skyrim	M	Q	48
Navy - ships/anchor/emblem	M	Q	49
Navy. theme - rate badges incl ships wheel - coxswain and Electronics Technician-communications (We can supply printed images / applique ) and RAN crest	M	B	50
Australian Army theme, RAAOC, Rising Sun Badge, Skippy Badge, Poppies, 3 RAR Para Wings, camouflage pattern, Boxing Kangaroo, Aussie Flag, Australia Outline	M	B	51
Loves science fiction and gadgets/technology . Loves the colour green	M	B	52
Loves irises, sunflowers . Bold Iris colours (green, purple, and gold are my favourite. I also love science fiction	F	B	53
pokemon and star wars	Male	Q	54
Australian Flag, RAAF Roundel, RAAF crest, Orion aircraft, soldier with his rifle in the position we have it on ANZAC Day during the service , unit badge and embroidery of deployment details	F	Q	55
blues, greens ocean bush and astronomy - poppy, navy ensign anchor, propeller blades being a stoker in a previous life	F	B	56
Submariners dolphins, RAN Crest, other pics on file to supply, Jolly Roger	M	Q	57
Q: DISNEY THEMED (PASTEL COLOURS)	F	Q	58
Loves astronomy, nature and learning. Colour sapphire blue and purple	F	B	59
Crests for Cavalry, Ordinance and Intelligence Corps. Nissan Pulsar SSS ,  four wheel driving and camping and mountain biking, “kinda a big deal”	M	Q	60
176 Air Dispatch as an Air Dispatcher (Image available to guide applique), RACT crest LB Parramatta Eels	M	Q	61
RAN Crest, Western Tigers and Geelong Cats, his favourite colour is green, he enjoys running, camping and the Simpsons	M	Q	62
Tiger - Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), Aviation Corp badge colour patch (easy to applique) , Rising sun.	M	B	63
Kenworth trucks, the rising sun, poppies, RACT crest (We can supply) Everything army themed if possible please	M	Q	64
RAAF, beach, woman power, strong & independent woman, level headed, Aus cricket, AFL - Richmond Tigers. In no particular order. (We have a fun retro emb to offer)	F	Q	65
Maritime theme, Marine Technician , propeller HMAS Arunta pennant number 151 , Motto 'Conquer or Die' , favourite colour is Blue	F	Q	66
RACT crest, Her favourite colours are aqua, Navy, blue and white (beach colours but not beach prints).	F	Q	67
Navy Blue, Light Blue, Orange, Grey, white and black. Anchor and signal flags (His name in Signal flags)	M	B	68
RAAF crest, Caduceus, shades of blue	F	Q	69
Avengers or Dr Who	F	Q	70
RAAF crest, Diesel Mechanic, Text "MEOMS"	M	Q	71
Navy, White Ensign Service Values – Service, Courage, Respect, Integrity, Excellence	M	Q	72
HMAS Kuttabul, RAN, White Ensign	M	Q	73
Navy Crest, Mine Hunter HMAS Diamantina	M	Q	74
RAN, White Ensign	M	Q	75
Blue and Green/Aqua (to represent the sea) and Sand (to represent the desert). Seahorses to reflect his actual horses, but with a Navy theme, and Albatross, to reflect his Fleet Air Arm service.	M	B	76