Happy Tuesday Friends!
Welcome to April.
Hope everyone had a very safe and happy Easter long weekend.
Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some well deserved gratitude!
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Hi Michelle T,
Just a quick note to thank you for the laundry bag I received from you.
I am currently deployed to Darwin as a part of Operation Resolute from January to June. I have been in the Army for 32 years – a combination of full time and part-time service. I was born and raised in Victoria, but now live in Western Australia with my wife and two boys (aged 15 & 12) and a five year old Greyhound.
I really do appreciate what you and the other ladies at Aussie Hero Quilts do for us while we are away from home, it’s nice that someone (apart from our families) is thinking of us.
Regards
Lyn R,
Firstly, I am so impressed by the quilt and I can only imagine how hard it was for a Richmond (and I assume a foundation member of the Tassie Devils) fan to make an Essendon themed quilt. I also hope Essendon does well this year, but I expect a similar result to last year. As for Richmond I can see you staying out of it for too long, much to my disappointment (lol).
This June I hit 25 years in the Navy working on helicopters, I am glad you got to have a look on HMAS Hobart, I was on her Sister ship Sydney in 2022 and start of 2023. If you saw the helicopter and Hangar, that is where I work when at sea and the team and aircraft you saw was my old team and I have a lot of very good memories with that group of people.
As for living on a ship I love it. I get rocked to sleep! I find it funny that the best part of my professional life is at sea, but the worst part of my personal life is being at sea away from my family. I have 2 boys (12 and 9) one who has started High school this year and just started Army Cadets last week. My younger son has recently started martial arts and is loving it which is good because it is less time playing video games.
As someone who has only spent about 20 days in Tassie, I would retire there happily, I like the cooler weather and the bush and soon Essendon will start playing games down there.
I genuinely cannot express how much I appreciate receiving not only an amazing quilt, but knowing how much effort goes into them and I promise next time I am back on a ship, I will be taking it with me.
Thank you
Good afternoon Sheena B,
I am writing to you to advise that I have received a quilt made by yourself for a fellow shipmate.
Firstly I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in over the years. For me this initiative goes a long way to improving the wellbeing of deployed service personnel and I hope your team understands the positive impact their efforts have.
This is the first time I have personally seen any of the Aussie Hero Quilts work and I must say you haven’t disappointed. I was expecting the ships crests to be a patched, the fact they are individually embroidered is quite spectacular. In the case of my shipmate, he has unfortunately had to call time on his career early for reasons beyond his control and the quilt and laundry bag will serve as the perfect testament to his career as her moves on to the next chapter. We very much look forward to presenting it with him and will be sure to pass on a photo when we do.
Thank you again for your efforts.
Good Afternoon Toni F,
Due to the speed of the mail system in Defence, I have only just received this fantastic laundry bag you made for me!
I particularly like the eagle on it. It matches the style of several of my tattoos. Your letter to me was written in 2023, and it felt like it went by like a blur. I was out of the country for most of it, and when I was home, I was flat out.
You said you were an artist, my partner is also an artist. She has decorated our home with many portraits from pop culture, and she has introduced my son to painting. He is autistic and prefers building Lego, but painting with his stepmom is something that relaxes him and grounds him. Similar to what you did, the industry I started in is a lot different to what I do now. I began life as a fitter machinist in the Hunter Valley mining industry. From the age of 15 to 23, I was dirty everyday, earning more money than I knew what to do with (although, I always managed to find a way to spend it) and living care free. Now I sail around the world fixing engines and pumps and whatever else that falls apart.
In 2019, I was on HMAS Hobart, so it is likely we crossed paths when you did a tour of the vessel. I was likely covered in grease, and extremely unpresentable at the time. Regardless, I am honoured to have received one of your 400 laundry bags. I say with all sincerity that it is covered in all of my favourite things ( I love Star Wars, old school tattoos and am a huge Rugby Union fan.
I’ll admit I am a little jealous of how you describe where you grew up. My partner and I dream of retiring to acreage with my son and our Australian Shepard and just living a peaceful life. And admittedly, it would mean I don’t need to walk the dog 12 km’s a day to stop him digging holes in the yard.
Thank you for the laundry bag, It genuinely warmed my heart to see it, and I look forward to using it when I go back to sea in 2025.
You’re the best Toni
Warm Regards
Dear Clarissa L,
I wanted to take a small moment to write to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for the laundry bag you have sewn together. I am proud to say I am the new owner of it, having had one previously from my very first deployment in 2010. My wife has been on my case as my previous bag is looking worse for wear, so this will now take pride of place for quite possibly the next 14 years!
Thank you very much for the letter you enclosed in the bag. It sounds like both you and your husband have kept an incredibly busy life, so you taking the time out to make this is genuinely appreciated. My thanks to your son as well, who no doubt is doing a fantastic job in the Army. Inter-service rivalry aside – they do a hard and often arduous job – so my hat off to him.
A bit about me – I have been in the Navy for just over 19 years, having joined straight out of school. I’m a Maritime Warfare Officer by trade, and have completed a number of deployments to the Middle East and throughout South East Asia in a number ships (some of which still exist thankfully!). I joined HMAS Hobart at the end of last year and have been loving every single minute as a result. We deploy on Tuesday, so the provision of a number of the Laundry Bags to the crew has been both timely and welcome. I’m married to an incredibly understanding wife who is in the Air Force, and have a 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter. Like you, we also enjoy the snow, and in our spare time chasing after our kids who keep us on our toes! We are also looking forward to my sea time nearly being done so we can get a family dog and eventually settle down in the one spot.
Again thank you very much for the kind gesture, and I wish you and your family all the very best. Please know that your laundry bags and quilts are well received from all of us, no matter the rank, rate or service, as they provide a small anchor to home and why we do what we do.
Best Wishes,
...
Hello Cath H,
I have received your Quilt, and I am gobsmacked. I
can’t begin to thank you enough for it. It arrived the other day
and it’s taking me a few days to put pen to paper and say thank you
and to reach out.
I
have a wife, two beautiful children, one dog that thinks he’s
human, three ragdoll cats, a cockatiel and several fish. My daughter
is still at home because she is saving up to buy her first house. My
son is living on his own and he’s doing well.
When
I opened that Quilt it certainly brought a tear to my eye. I realise
that my daughter will never ever get a quilt for herself so I asked
for sunflowers because they follow the sun. I decided that having a
sunflower design would mean that whenever my daughter looked at that
quilt, she would remember someone she recently lost and that they
were part of her life that she will never forget. I wanted the quilt
to also represent the two most important men in her life, myself and
the person she lost. I always wanted her to look up and be the person
that she is, and I know it could be a reminder for her as it will
never die, and it will be a huge part of her life where she can think
that is my dad he served his country. He followed his dreams and that
is my wish for her to see that she too, can get through anything, I
can’t help but think of the quote when I look at it. There is a
huge part in it of me and I can look at it and I can make sure that
my daughter will shine when she sees it. We are still trying to grow
sunflowers here in Cairns. We have had no luck at all, but the Quilt
is a constant reminder of how far we have come in times that have
been tough.
I
can’t imagine how much time it took to put that quilt together and
the designs I am beyond thankful that I have a quilt that will always
bind me together with my family, especially my daughter.
I
was just wondering if you had ever made of sunflower quilt before? I
hope I have explained the meaning of sunflower quilt well. One thing
I did forget to tell you is that they grow strong and tall and they
have longevity and resilience. This is what I require in my life, and
wish for not only for me, but for my children and my wife. I cannot
believe the end result with this quilt. I don’t really know what to
say to you except that I love it. I put it over my legs with the
air-conditioner on and doze on and off in my chair. You are a very
talented quilter, as is the network of ladies that put together these
quilts for people like me. I am grateful to have received this quilt
and I have the sunflowers on the quilt. You have an amazing talent as
do
the
other ladies, please pass on my best wishes to the quilt ladies and
keep quilting because of what you were doing brings a smile to faces
of people that may be down and out. I know I will treasure this quilt
forever
and a day,
and I will also ensure that it is passed down to my children, so they
know the story of the quilt and why they are sunflowers on the quilt.
I
am proud to have received a quilt and your letter. I don’t think
you have any idea the happiness that you brought to me and my family.
This is my quilt that I will treasure for the 29 years of service I
did for our country. I am proud to have served the country, and I’m
even proud to be a quilt recipient.
Take
care and keep on quilting and share your joy of quilts with the other
Veterans in the community because it’s certainly bought a smile to
my face. Thank you once again. It doesn’t seem enough, a simple
thank you, but I have no other words but to say I am in awe of your
work, and I am in awe of what you do for the Veterans. Keep stitching
and stay safe.
Happy
Easter Cath
I received your package you sent me yesterday once getting back to Darwin from a ship.
I honestly have to say, it’s made my trip!
It’s never easy being away from family & friends & your parcel bought a lot of joy to me & I honestly can’t thank you enough.
(I also loved the inclusion of a picture of Pinot & I promise I’ll put the treats to good use)
I have been a reservist in the Army in Tamworth NSW for around 6-7 years & this is my 3rd deployment with them.
I have also participating in COVID Assist in Sydney & Flood Assist in Coffs Harbour.
I honestly love what I do and I will treasure my bag & show it off for many years to come.
Thank you again!
Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.
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