Tuesday 27 February 2024

Grati-Tuesday - 27th Feb 2024

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Last week of Feb!!! 

Hope you are all having a great day, it is about to get a bit brighter.

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some well deserved gratitude!

...

Good afternoon Toni F,

 

Thankyou so much for my Laundry Bag!

 

I wanted to pass on my thanks as soon as I could. It is such a credit to yourself and blew away my expectations, I love the addition of the Tank and the detail in the Signals Logo and the Rising Sun are incredible.

 

On a side note my Nan does a lot of sewing as well and has previously made me blankets, she was very impressed and dare I say it even a little jealous of what a great job you did!

 

A bit about myself, I’m currently here on operations in the Solomon Islands but currently home is in Darwin. I’ve only lived there for a short while since the start of 2023. “Home” is Canberra where I was born, raised and lived and where I will move back to. I am looking forward to getting back there and having proper seasons after my time in Darwin and Solomon Islands. I try to keep fit and enjoy sports, running and going to the gym. Although work takes up a lot of my time, I try to enjoy myself and get away to travel and see family and friends who are all back on the east coast from Brisbane down to Canberra.

 

Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into making this for me, it is greatly appreciate.


I hope you have a fantastic year and will be in touch. 

Kind regards,

...

Presentation of AHQ.

 He was absolutely delighted and said …”it’s exactly what I asked for “. His wife was delighted as well and said that they have a wall picked out to hang it on.

by Ellen N


...

Hi Gayle W, 

 

I wanted to say a big thank you for my gorgeous Ocean themed laundry bag I received from you. I hope this email finds you well, I would have loved to have taken the old school route and posted you a handwritten letter, but I am currently at Sea on my ship HMAS Choules so an email was my only option.

 

I loved your letter it was great to hear about your experience making my laundry bag! I especially love the rustic looking name you created. It’s so wonderful that you make these personalised quilts in your spare time, I will cherish mine forever! Everyone that received a quilt/laundry bag on my ship were over the moon. I was especially happy as someone on board took my laundry bag on our last trip (an accident as all the standard issued bags look the same). Now I am safe as no one could possibly mistake this unique and personally named laundry bag as their own!

 

We are a big amphibious ship, we work a lot with Army for joint operations and I’m loving my time on here. I’ve been in the Navy for 2 years.

Warm regards,

...

Dear Bridget R,

 

I cannot express how happy it made me to receive the quilt you made for me. It truly is amazing. I am also very thankful for the letter you sent me and for sharing a little of your life with me. I love hearing peoples stories back home, it helps with the homesickness. I would like to share a little of my life with you as a thank you.

 

I have served in the Australian Army for a little over 10 years now. I started as a Cavalry Soldier before I went through  of training to become a Combat Medic. Following this training, I studied part time and completed both my Bachelor’s of Nursing and Paramedics. Nursing in the Army is a little different to in hospitals.  

I am married and my wife is also in the Army. We have two children, My Daughter is 5 years old and my son is currently 11 months old. I also have a very naughty dog, he is a Boarder Collie named Loki. He is an incredible smart boy, I would say too smart because he always believes he knows best. It can be quite difficult being away from my family, I will be here for 7 months all up and I will miss my daughters 6th birthday, my sons 1st birthday and my wedding anniversary. I only say this to try and show just how much it means to someone like me to receive a gift and a little love and support from you.

 

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you so much Bridget.

...

Good Morning Sue-Ellen S,

 

I am writing to thank you for the wonderful quilt that you made for me. I am currently serving in the Solomon Islands which was the place I first deployed 20 years ago. When I first deployed I was permitted to return to Australia to get married after 3 weeks and my wife’s introduction to the Army was the keys to our house, our address in Townsville and the church we attended, I then returned to the Solomon Islands for 3 months to complete my deployment, and she relocated from the Gold Coast to Townsville. Having not had a honeymoon, I booked a hotel on the Gold Coast and planned a wonderful holiday to celebrate our anniversary last year. My wife found it annoyingly ironic when I had to cancel the holiday because I was deploying back to the Solomon Islands again.

 

We have 4 children, the eldest is studying at university and the other 3 are all in school, with the youngest commencing year 3 this year. I have served for 28 years and the children were born in 3 different states. My parents both live in towns I have never lived in and my wife and I have never dwelled in the same house for more than 5 years so my poor wife and family have endured a somewhat nomadic lifestyle and home is literally wherever my family is. It is always appreciated when we have something special to remind us of significant times in our lives, and in the words of Darryl Kerrigan from the Castle, the quilt you made for me will definitely “go straight to the pool room” when I return home, it is a wonderful gift and is more than I could have hoped for, thank you for all of the effort that you have put into it.

 

Thank you for your support it means a lot.

...

Good afternoon Lyn R,

Firstly I must apologise for the late reply of this email but the amazing quilt that you made me went on an adventure. The quilt arrived to the ship I was posted on but I had already gone on Christmas leave and I was told it was left aside for me. When I returned from leave on Boxing day the ship was still at minimal staff and no one could tell me where it was. Once the full crew returned mid-January I once again asked if anyone knew where it was but with no luck. I had lost hope that it was misplaced. Finally last week I received an email that somehow the quilt had made its way all the way out to Lidcombe at an air force office. I was able to go out and pick it up but I still have no idea how it ended up there.

Sorry for the long story but the main thing is I finally received the quilt and I have to thank you so much for your amazing skill, effort and time that you spent on making it for me. I have had the pleasure of visiting Tasmania several times and it’s so beautiful. A couple personal trips in which one I spent a week travelling the whole of Tasmania in a campervan and also some quick port visits while being in the Navy.

My family own dairy farms in North NSW . I can appreciate the lifestyle and hard work that goes into that life.

Once again I can only thank you for the beautiful quilt and I will treasure it throughout my naval career and beyond.

Kind regards,

...

Hi Lois S!

I cannot tell you how genuinely amazing this quilt is. I really appreciate your incredible work and care on it, and I am so grateful that I have it. I am so happy everytime I look at it. I will be deploying soon and taking it with me as an amazing touch of home.

I am so appreciative, truly. Thank you so much.

Kindest

...

Dear Jan-Maree, Bobbie S and the mystery BOMers,

 

I recently received the wonderful gift of an Aussie Hero Quilt, after my much better half received one in November last year while in hospital. I wish to express our gratitude for the wonderful work you and the others within Aussie hero Quilts do, words will never be able to describe the humbling and emotional moments when we received the quilts, suffice to say we again found out that we are not alone in our battles and discovered new energy to continue fighting through.

 

Thank you again

...

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.  

Tuesday's would be so totally boring without them!
💟💟💟💟💟💟💟

Monday 26 February 2024

Request List 26 February 2024

 

Hi all, 

REMINDER

Please be advised that on Monday 4 March you will have to access the request list via the blog or the Facebook page. There will be no email. Our wonderful Clarissa who looks after these emails every week will be offline that day. First time she has been offline in all the years she has been doing this for us! It is only one week, we can cope.  So please remember, next week, please check the blog and the Facebook page if you would like to see the request list.


The lovely Emma has had these these labels made for Aussie Hero Laundry Bags and is happy to share them with other volunteers. If you would like some please send Emma an email for her address - emma.gray@hotmail.com.  She will ask you to send her a stamped addressed envelope that she can put the labels in to send back to you.

Thanks Emma! Very generous offer!

Here is the request list for this week. Happy hunting. I hope you can find something that tickles your fancy.

PRIORITY REQUESTS

This week the first TWENTY ONE requests are all people overseas on deployment in most of the places we support. Let’s get these quilts and bags underway and put some smiles on faces that are a long way from home!

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 1 April 2024 (and that is no joke) 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. 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.    

Request Information

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 but please include at least 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. 

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 bold below. 

CPL Wanda Quilt 8765432 

TG 3456 

AFPO XX 

ADF 

Sydney NSW 2890

Also, please use the Aussie Heroes PO 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 

Don’t forget to take a photo of your completed quilt or laundry bag to email to AHQ with the name and PMKEYS of the recipient and we can include in the Weekly Dispatches blog and 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 an AHQ supplied prepaid satchel please kindly use the AHQ address for the return 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.

Please also please hold on to the Tracking number (the pink sticker that you should remove before posting – 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. 

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 above.  

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  

Looking forward to seeing what you want to make this week. Happy stitching! 

Cheers, 

Jan-Maree

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


Favourite colours are Navy Blue & Royal Blue - Carlton (AFL) and Canterbury-Bankstown (Rugby) (both teams Navy and white). Marvel Superheroes and Mountain Biking

M

Q

1

Regimental Badge, Australian Flag, Union Jack, Maltese Cross, RASIGS, Manchester United

M

B

2

Australian Flag, RASIGS, Video Games (Halo, Skyrim & Star Wars) & Technology

M

B

3

Paramatta Eels

M

Q

4

Rising Sun,
Regimental Logo
Artillery Badge
Text "TF12 Rotation VIII"
Australian Flag

M

B

5

Rising sun, soldier silhouette (shadow/black), AAIC, slouch hat, Poppies, Green colours
(We can provide an embroidered Rising Sun and AAIC emblem)

F

Q

6

Rising Sun, soldier silhouettes (shadow/black), RACT badge, Poppies, Australia Flag, Dark Forest Themed  (we can provide service badges)

M

Q

7

RAAF Crest with personal details and deployment details
Wedgetail airplane silhouette on a blue background with Scales of Justice and Map/Outline of Europe.
(we can supply the crest with text, Scales of Justice and Wedgetail silhouette)

F

Q

8

Middle Eastern/Egyptian theme using the colours for the Multi National Force Observers orange and white as the primary colours.
(We can provide the MFO Badge)

M

Q

9

North Queensland Cowboys or Wallabies Rugby Union theme would be amazing.

M

B

10

Egyptian theme with Multi National Force and Observers logo with text and the Australian Flag.     
Orange and white as the main colours.
(we can provide the MFO logo)

M

Q

11

Multi National Force & Observers logo with text with Orange and white as the main colours.
(we can provide the MFO logo)

M

LB

12

Red, white & Black, Poppies & daisies. Anything and everything fitness and sport. "MFO PTI"
(We can provide the MFO badge and the PTI Badge)

F

Q

13

Modern military theme, Rising Sun, Skippy Badge Modern silhouette of soldier over a camo Aussie flag central.  RAR themed images (mortars) around the outside predominantly in earthy camouflage colours. Roman numeral VI for 6RAR somewhere. Multinational Forces Observer (MFO) badge with text.
(we can provide the MFO badge with text and RAR skippy corps badge)

M

Q

14

Multinational Forces & Observers Badge with text . Colours green, orange and white.
Badger (animal) to represent the Force Protection Branch
(we can supply MFO badge and image of badger holding MFO badge)

F

B

15

Egyptian themed (Pyramids, Great Sphinx etc) with subtle inclusion of Lord of the Rings symbology. With text "Nada Especial" OP MAZURKA 57A 2024
(we can provide text if needed)

M

B

16

Egyptian/middle eastern themed. Sausage Dogs/ German Shepherds. With text OP MAZURKA 57A 2024 (we can provide the text if needed)

M

Q

17

Rising Sun, Army and ANZAC Day themed with Australian flag design
(we can provide the Rising Sun)

M

B

18

Egyptian theme, Multi National Force and Observers logo with text and the Australian Flag.  Favourite colour is Blue and likes flowers
(we can provide the MFO badge and text)

F

Q

19

Rising Sun, Army and ANZAC Day themed with Australian flag design
(we can provide the Rising Sun)

M

Q

20

Dark background colour like night sky with The Sun, The Moon and The Stars.

M

Q

21

Qld State of Origin colours and emblem
-Initials-  PKT
-PMKEYS

F

LB

22

RAAF Crest and Air Force themed.
Interests: health/medical (recipient is a Medical Technician), karaoke, planes, scooby doo
Her favourite colour is purple
(we can supply the crest)

F

Q

23

RAAF Crest and Air Force themed
anything country related.  Plays the guitar and enjoys reading.
She loves her cat and dogs and is a Dragons supporter (NRL). Health/Medicine
(recipient is a Medical Technician).
Her favourite colour is Blue. (We can provide the RAAF crest)

F

Q

24

Sydney Roosters NRL Team

M

Q

25

Purple, Western Bulldogs

M

Q

26

Purple, Melbourne Storm, Lightning Bolts

M

Q

27

Blue, Sydney Roosters

M

Q

28

Penrith Panthers (NRL)

M

Q

29

RAN crest, Marvel / DC, 4WD / Camping, Video games
(We can supply RAN crest)

M

Q

30

Red and Blue (Newcastle Knights)
Motorsports (F1)

M

Q

31

Red and Black
Starwars (Siths and Darthvader)

M

Q

32

4x4 Driving Theme

M

Q

33

West Coast Eagles (AFL) and F-111 Aircraft

M

Q

34

Holden V8 Cars

M

Q

35

RAN crest HMAS Huon Crest, Maritime Mines, Navy (we can provide the crests)

M

Q

36

Submarines and Ice Hockey (we an send you some submarine fabric)

M

Q

37

Outdoor, Adventure

M

Q

38

RAN Crest with personal details. Poppy theme
(we can supply the RAN Crest)

M

Q

39

Sydney Swans

M

Q

40

Airforce Crest with service details, blue/green colours. Loves guppy fish. Would also like wife and daughter's name on quilt
(we can provide an embroidered RAAF crest and names)

M

Q

41

RAAF crest, Logistics, Cricket
Reserve Cadet Squadron

M

Q

42

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Mine Warfare and Clearance Divers Crest, Flag Alpha, Square Rigged sailing vessels, Sharks, Octopus, Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean
(we can provide the White ensign, ship & divers  crests) 

M

B

43

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge Electrical,  Square Rigged sailing vessels, Sharks, Octopus, Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean
(we can provide the White ensign, ship crest and MT-E badge)

M

B

44

RAN White Ensign, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge - Diesel, Rock climbing, Light blue, Nick Name
(we can provide the White ensign and MT-D badge and nick name)

M

Q

45

RAN Clearance Diver Rate Badge, Flag Alpha, shark, dive helmet, Forest green, Deadpool, Batman, Spiderman, Anime (Jujitsu kaisen, Naruto, One piece, Demon slayer, Dragon ball z, Pokémon, One punch man), Jeremiah 29:11 (Bible prayer/verse)
(we can provide the CD rate badge, we can also embroider the bible verse, flag alpha is a very simple blue and white flag)

M

B

46

HMAS Gascoyne Ship Crest, RAN Naval Police Coxswain Patch, Anime themed (Demon Slayer, Naruto)
(we can provide the ships crest and  NPC patch)

M

B

47

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge - Diesel,  Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean, Western Star Trucks, Sydney Swans, Aquaman, King Neptune
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crest and MT-D badge)

M

B

48

RAN Crest, Medical Rate Badge, Australian Natives, Pastel Colours (Pink), Australiana, Nurse/Medical, Camping, 78 Series Landcruiser
(we can provide the RAN crest and Medic Badge)

F

Q

49

Brisbane Broncos themed

M

Q

50

RAN Navy Crest, RAN PO Marine Technician Patch Electrical, Gadsden Flag, *Libertarian culture/artwork, Statue of liberty, Samurai warriors, Japanese culture/artwork, Cherry blossoms, Bengal cats
(we can provide the RAN Crest & MT-E (with crown) badge)
*In terms of Libertarian culture basically it’s a philosophy advocating for small government and personal freedoms/responsibility, there are several notable libertarians throughout history such as Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard. There is also the Libertarian party in Australia who advocate for those core ideals. I guess in terms to assist the volunteers with any images maybe just use google to search for some light hearted tongue in cheek memes poking fun at government overreach/anti big government type stuff.

M

B

51

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, Australian Flag, South Australian Flag, Sextant, Nautical Compass
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crest and flags)

M

B

52

HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Crest, Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean, Sextant,  Transformers G1 cartoon, English Bulldog (white coat with lots of brown patches and spots named Pickles)
(we can provide the ship & MWCD crests)

M

B

53

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Perth & HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crests, Nickname
Killer whale &/or Emperor Penguin, Sonar, Ocean, Nickname 'Laz', Boxing/Muay Thai, Singapore artwork/culture, Pineapple
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crests and nick name as text)

M

Q

54

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, Mine Warfare Crest, Australian Flag, Sextant, Nautical Compass

M

Q

55

Penrith Panthers theme in Black

M

Q

56

Hunting/Camping/Fishing theme in Olive Green/Tan/Camo colours

M

Q

57

Fish/sharks/ocean/waves theme in blue/green colours

M

Q

58

Dinosaurs theme in Black and Blue

M

Q

59

Samurai theme in Black and Orange Colours

M

B

60

Dragons theme in in Black and Orange Colours

M

Q

61

Cowboys theme in any colours

M

Q

62

Space theme in blue/red and black colours

F

B

63

Torres Strait theme in Torres Strait colours

M

LB

64

KFC theme in Red/white and black

M

Q

65

Mt Fuji / Japan theme in dark blue colours

M

Q

66

The Great Wave off Kanagawa theme in ocean blue colours

M

B

67

Hawaiian/hula girls theme in blue colours

M

B

68

Cycling, Swimming & Running. Blue & red are favourite colours.

M

Q

69

Something Climbing Related (carabiners, ropes, quickdraws) with surname
(we can supply surname as text if required)

M

Q

70

Puppies

M

Q

71

Warhammer 40K

M

Q

72

Surfing Pandas

F

Q

73

Smiling shark, octopi and pineapple

M

Q

74

Ghostly cats... i.e. cats as ghosts!

M

Q

75

Dewalt Power Tools - Black & Yellow

M

Q

76

Pineapples

M

Q

77

DJ Turn Table / Disco

M

LB

78

NRL Sharks theme

M

Q

79

Stars & Moon

F

Q

80

Newcastle Knights

M

Q

81

Marine Technician Propeller / Disney Princesses
(we can provide an image of the propeller)

M

Q

82

Cycling

M

Q

83

Cats

M

Q

84

Nuclear / Radiation

M

Q

85

Plants / Green / Flowers / Rabbit

F

Q

86

Sydney Roosters NRL Team / Chameleons

M

Q

87

USA NBA Basketball Team: Houston Rockets

M

B

88

World Map

M

B

89

Bulldogs (NRL) OR Cars

M

B

90

Boatswain Rate badge with crown

M

B

91

A half-peeled banana on a black background with the phrase: "yellow on the outside, white on the inside"

M

B

92

Brisbane Bronco on top side + NRL team logos on bottom side

M

Q

93

Gym weights / Trident / Koala / Green colour

M

B

94

Surfing / Cycling / Diving

M

Q

95

Anything Diver related & Koala

M

B

96

Pokémon and other video games

M

LB

97

Crocodile and other Australian animals (kangaroos, koalas, etc) going on an adventure around Australia

M

Q

98

I really like the anime show called "Demon Slayer" and the main characters main characters "Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke and Zenitsu. Having Each character on the quilt & bag would look cool. I'm not sure what colours to use on the quilt as each character has their own pattern. Maybe grey and black to be neutral?

M

B

99

Rising Sun with text, Infantry /Skippy Badge themed - Dark earthy, green, black tones
(we can supply the Rising Sun and Skippy Badge)

M

Q

100