Friday 31 May 2024

Weekly Dispatch 31st May 2024

 Hello Friday!!!

Another week of Amazing Quilts and Laundry Bags being sent off to our ADF pers!!

I think we can all agree, a great display of quilts and laundry bags, yet again from our amazing volunteers....

Please enjoy!!!

🌟 🌟 🌟

This week we dispatched 10 Quilts which takes our yearly total to 349 and our grand total to 16,372!!

We dispatched 23 Laundry Bags which takes our yearly total to 529 and our grand total is 34,936!! 


Bridget R

Gayle W and embroidery by Joan

Jenni S

Jenni S

Jenni S

Jenni S

Jenny R

Lois S

Lois S

Raelyne B

Sue N

Susan P

Toni D

Toni D

Amy K

Bev U

Bev U and Sheena B

Colleen S

Heather B

Heather B

Jenny N

Jenny R

Joy H

Lyn R

Lyn R

Shirley D

Toni D

Toni D

Toni D

Toni D

Toni F

πŸ§΅πŸ¦˜πŸ‡¦πŸ‡ΊπŸͺ‘

Tuesday 28 May 2024

Grati-Tuesday 28th May 2024

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

We have some great messages today including some photo's showing how happy our quilts and laundry bags make people.  We always read it in their messages but its so great to see the happiness in an image.

So grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while you soak up some well deserved gratitude from all over the globe! 

...

Good morning Joy H,

 

Thank you so much for the quilt and laundry bag you made for me.

I’m so appreciative and at awe at the creation you’ve made.

You’ve captured all the details I could have wanted for the quilt and laundry bag.

I pray that your family is doing well and that many blessings come your way.

 

I’ll be heading to New Zealand in July for a 6 month exchange.

I will take the quilt and laundry bag with me and I’m sure it will keep me well-grounded with the aussie spirit.

 

Thank you once again and keep doing what you do. 

 

Kind regards,




...

Hi Hilary T

Thank you very much for your contribution to Aussie Hero Quilts.

Your dhoby bag made my day. The combined hues of the green and orange are my favourite. I’ve called Sydney home for the majority of my time in Navy. The double lining is of benefit (I do not need to explain what a week’s worth of laundry smells like) in a compartment that is a size of a small domestic bedroom. I do have one suggestion if you decide to create another one. Having the option of a tab so the bag can be hung closer to the hook would benefit the nose of the sailor who lives underneath.

Below is a picture of its new home. My rack/ pit/ bunkbed is the middle one. It is custom that every sailor competes for the most outrageous doona cover. Mine is a Lego dinosaur cover. And no, I didn’t win. Dora the explorer always wins. Having something colourful individualises the sailor as we wear the same clothes every day. Also why sailors never grow up: bunkbeds.

I agree with your letter in that family is very important. The photo stuck on my locker were my pets that I left behind when I joined Navy 21 years ago. Sandy the Palomino was broken in by Granddad who also ‘broke in’ horses for the Australian Army. She liked gymkhanas as much as me. The western bend was our favourite. The dogs were named Tim (Border Collie x Kelpie) and Max (Border Collie x German Shepherd). Today, I call Sydney home with my wife and 13 year old son.

Once again thank you for your contribution.

...

Good Morning Colleen S,

 

I trust you and yours are well! I am the father of 5 children and family truly is a blessing.

 

Thank you so much for the Dhobey Bag you made for me, your craftsmanship is exceptional – I absolutely love it!

 

I too served in the Army Reserve before transferring to the RAN full-time in 2021 and like you, I have many fond memories on my service in green. 

 

Fair winds and following seas …

 

Thanks again,

...

Hi Beverley C,

Thank you so much for your letter and of course my beautiful quilt. It certainly makes things brighter here amongst all the sand! You've truly done a beautiful job. It's a work of art and I really appreciate having something so special handmade by such a caring person and organisation, thank you

You sound like a very busy lady with all those animals, I believe it takes a special person to dedicate so much of their time to such selfless activities. As a retired primary school teacher I guess you've been caring for others for a very long time...thank you for your service.

I love that you have so many dogs - I can just imagine your pup getting into all sorts of trouble but happily haha. l have a two year old Cavoodle named Miles who is currently living with my parents and getting spoilt rotten. Not that he's not spoilt with me anyway. He's as cheeky as can be and treats their place like he owns it apparently - he knows he's cute enough to get away with everything I think and he's so cuddly and sweet when he wants to be. My mum has never allowed dogs on furniture and Miles is currently sleeping in their bed with them! Madness really but it makes being away from him a little easier knowing he's well loved.

I have served in the Air Force for almost 23 years (in July) and this isn't my first deptoyment but it is my first quilt. I'm in Logistics and therefore needed everywhere which has been a blessing for my career as I have been able to undertake many different roles and have seen many places I wouldn't have otherwise.

Thank you again for taking the time to make this beautiful quilt for me and I wish you all the best with the dogs, chickens and all the wildlife you're caring for, I have no doubt they're in the best hands.

Take care!



...

Dear Ruth S

I have just received the beautiful laundry bag you made for me!! Thank you so much. It is gorgeous! 

I look forward to using it in the future. 

I am one of the chefs on board HMAS Broome. I like to think we eat pretty well! We are set to go back to sea in a couple of weeks. Where it will be all hands on deck and busy doing what we do. 

Thanks for supporting us and showing me a little bit of love. 

Kind regards 

...

Good morning Anne H,

 

I received your Quilt today, and you’re right it is ORANGE! It looks fantastic. I was particularly impressed with the MFO logo – that is a real treat. Thank you for the Tim Tams, I’m going to share them with some of my coalition partners this morning (I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, so will only have one).

 

It’s great to hear you like Tasmania, I have often considered buying a place there for the day I discharge (not on the immediate horizon) but have always been warned that you don’t know you like Tassie until you’ve survived two winters there – is this true? Of course there are other parts of Australia that appeal to me but just something away from the big cities, land to grow some things and some water is all I’d really need.

 

The operation over here is going well, its certainly made complex by the Israeli/Hamas war going on not too far from here but mostly we have time to get away from work and go to the gym (I’m also studying, which takes up my nights). There was certainly a vibe once upon a time that this operation was considered one of the more ‘comfortable’ operations. That said, I’m here for thirteen months and missing my two young kids (2 and 4) as well as my wife immensely – I’ll see them in August!

 

Thank you again, I’d of written a longer email but I need to dart out to a helicopter to visit some of my team to the North.

 

Kindest regards,

 

Quilt by Anne H - I was curious as to how orange so I thought I would include it as I am sure others were as well. LOL

...

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

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

Monday 27 May 2024

Request List 27 May 2024

Hi All

I spent some time in Canberra this week to attend the Planning Conference for the International Air Show that will be held in Victoria next year. We were given a very warm welcome by the organisers and they are very pleased that we are able to be in attendance next year.  



Here is the request list for this week. We have a number of people on the list who are currently in Bahrain and they have asked for the Bahrain flag. As you can see it would be an easy one to applique.

Lots of the requests this week have asked for quite a few details but many of them are not as complicated as they look. Just ask me if you are not sure. I generally don’t put them on the request list if I don’t think there is someone on our list who will enjoy taking the request on.

Happy hunting. I hope you can find something that tickles your fancy. Some of the requests have quite a bit if detail in their request but most of them are not too difficult once you know what they are asking for and I can give you a lot of help/guidance to make them a lot easier. Please don't hesitate to contact me.

PRIORITY REQUESTS

The first 12 requests on the list this week are all for recipients serving overseas, mostly people in the Solomon Islands and others in Bahrain.  

As always it would be lovely to get these quilts and bags underway and put some smiles on faces that are a long way from home! Don’t forget we can provide the crests and text embroideries that are being requested.

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 1 July 24 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


Wonder Woman, Poppies,
Rugby League (Cowboys), Yellow, Blue,
Beach, Pineapples, Camels, Palm Trees,
Southern Cross,
AUS Flag, Bahrain Flag,
Operation Manitou 2024 in a large banner.

F

B

2

Gym,Crossfit, Dragonboating, name  in large bold font, Beach, ANZAC, Bahrain Flag / Aus Flag, Motivational Quotes  (fav colour teal blue)

M

B

3

Royal Australian Navy, Star Wars, 4WD, Camping (we can provide RAN crest)

M

Q

4

Green, Gold, Boxing Kangaroo, Southern Cross, Text - Op Manitou 2024
(we can supply an embroidery of the boxing kangaroo and the text as an embroidery if needed)

M

LB

5

Gothic, Florals, Galaxy, Dark Blue, Greens and Purples

F

B

6

Blue, RAAF crest, Aussie Flag, Bahrain Flag, Canadian Flag, (These are the 3 groups in OP MANITOU 2024 Combined Task Force CTF 150) Southern cross, maple leaf, Bahrain Oryx,
Soccer - Tottenham Hotspurs, 
Beach, Surfing,
League - Storm or Dolphins.
Team from down under  - "XXXX and the boyz world tour - Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Europe and Jordan (I can help with embroideries for this one - let me know if you are interested.)

M

Q

7

Blue, RAAF crest, Aussie Flag, Bahrain Flag, Canadian Flag,
Soccer - Tottenham Hotspurs, 
Beach, Surfing,
League - Storm or Dolphins.
(I can help with embroideries for this one - let me know if you are interested.)

M

LB

8

Navy Crest, AFL (Richmond Tigers), Ships, Camels, Poppies, Harry Potter, Books
(we can provide an embroidered Navy crest)

M

Q

9

Blue and Grey, RAN and RAAF crests, Middle East (Bahrain Flag), Canadian flag, Football, Camels, Sourthern Cross. With a maritime focus
Text "OP Manitou - CTF150, XXXX and the boys world tour - Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Europe.
with four names"
(we can supply the text as an embroidery and crests)

M

B

10

Dark coloured - Olive green, navy blue, gold, Emblem of Saudi Arabia, forest, cattle dogs (the emblem of Saudi Arabia is not hard to applique)

M

B

11

Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, Poppies, Camels, Cross Stitching, Disney (Beauty and the Beast), teal, lime green, hot pink, baby pink, cosmic purple, Bahrain Flag, Text "Op Manitou 2024"
(We can provide an embroidery of the text)

F

Q

12

Sydney Roosters NRL Team

M

Q

13

Purple, Western Bulldogs

M

Q

14

Blue, Sydney Roosters

M

Q

15

Outdoor, Adventure

M

Q

16

Holden V8 Cars

M

Q

17

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

M

Q

18

RAN crest, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge - Diesel, Rock climbing, Light blue, Nickname
(we can provide the RAN crest and MT-D badge and nick name embroidered)

M

Q

19

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

M

B

20

Brisbane Broncos themed

M

Q

21

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

M

Q

22

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

M

Q

23

Newcastle Knights

M

Q

24

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

M

Q

25

Sydney Roosters NRL Team / Chameleons (the animal)

M

Q

26

USA NBA Basketball Team: Houston Rockets

M

Q

27

Bulldogs (NRL) OR Cars

M

Q

28

Surfing / Cycling / Diving (We can provide a dive helmet embroidery)

M

Q

29

Anything Diver related & Koala (We can provide a dive helmet embroidery)

M

Q

30

Nissan GQ Patrols (4WD vehicle)

M

LB

31

Brisbane Lions Theme

M

Q

32

Red Bull Ampol Racing Team (Supercars)

M

Q

33

Parramatta Eels/ NRL

M

Q

34

Arsenal FC/ Soccer

M

Q

35

Geelong Cats (AFL) / Redcliffe Dolphins (NRL)

M

Q

36

Hawthorn (AFL)

M

Q

37

St. George Illawarra (NRL)

M

Q

38

Diver theme (we can provide a great dive helmet embroidery)

M

Q

39

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

40

Pink Starfish/Katana (Japanese sword)/Red and white fox

M

LB

41

Army Artillery themed - black, green, red
Images: Artillery cannon (picture provided); 104BTY patch, Turtles (we can provide the Artillery crest, cannon picture,  104BTY patch)

M

B

42

RAAMC Colours themed (red and grey)
RAAMC Badge
Rising Sun with text "OP LILIA 24"
PMKeys, Initials and Surname in text
Australian and Solomon Island flags,
SIAF Badge
Golf Theme
(we can provide the Rising Sun with the text emb, RAAMC badge and a printed SIAF badge

M

Q

43

Rising Sun and AMCU (army Camo) ,
Flags of Australia, Afghanistan, UAE, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Singapore
Vegemite, vegetables (I am vegan), black & tan kelpies,
high heel shoes,
Colours - black, baby pink, gold and leopard print (standard black/brown type - not coloured).                    Would love for the laundry bag and quilt to match.  Thank you!
(we can provide the Rising Sun, some AMCU, the flags)

F

B

44

Rising Sun, Army Intelligence Badge
Blues,
Female Paratrooper, Freefall, Staticline, soldier, Maps, Cartographer, Geospatial,
Cats,
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, South China Sea
(we can provide the Rising Sun and Army Intelligence Badge)

F

Q

45

Leopard Print
Bar-bell, weight lifting, gym theme

F

B

46

Green/black Colour scheme
Supersports bike, camping , crossfit themes

M

Q

47

Black
Music - Metalcore theme (Metalcore is a broad fusion genre of extreme metal and hardcore punk)
The Amity Affliction, Bad Omens, Bring Me the Horizon (these are all names of bands)

M

B

48

Green and Black colour scheme
Warhammer 4000 Dark Angels

M

B

49

Taylor Swift - Folklore Era theme

M

B

50

Power puff girls theme – collage of references to the show e.g. The girls, Chemical X, mojo jojo, other villains etc.

F

LB

51

Navy Crest with text, Navy Theme, FFH/Arunta Crest and theme, Conquer or Die (motto of HMAS Arunta)
(we can provide the Navy crest with text and Arunta crest)

M

Q

52

St. George Illawarra Dragons NRL Team

M

B

53

St. George Illawarra Dragons NRL Team, including three different logos
(we can supply the images of logos printed on fabric)

M

Q

54

Navy Electronic Technician Lightning bolts,
Gengar character from PokΓ©mon.
(we can supply an image of the lightning bolts which could be appliqued)

M

B

55

Donkey Kong (flexing or pounding chest) - image supplied, Donkey Kong barrels and bananas. Jungle themed

M

B

56

Marvel, Star Wars, DC

M

Q

57

NRL teams - Brisbane Broncos, QLD Maroons
Australian Cricket Teams - Queensland Bulls, Brisbane Heat

M

LB

58

Camping, reading & dogs

F

Q

59

Model making,
Surfing,
Military history,
Reading,
Cooking

M

B

60

Blue/Red, DragonBall Z, Fishing, Pugs, Star Wars

M

B

61

Nature, Dogs, Carlton Football club, Blue & girly pastel colours, horses

F

Q

62

Baked beans, ford rangers and camping

F

Q

63

Hatsune Miku (Animegirl), Halo Combat Evolved video game, F22 Fighter jet

M

LB

64

Brisbane Broncos, Tooheys new, Bull Terriers

M

Q

65

Super Saiyan,'GON' from hunter X Hunter (anime)

M

LB

66

Scuba Diving/Underwater life

M

Q

67

RAN crest, Royal Australian Navy Themed, including FFH ship. Blue, white, black. (we can provide the RAN crest and a ship silhouette for applique)

F

Q

68

Canberra raiders NRL team in team colour's (green, blue, white, yellow & grey)

M

B

69

Newcastle Knights NRL Team with Kalyn Ponga in Blue and Red

M

Q

70

Penrith Panthers NRL team mascot in Black

M

B

71

New Orleans Saints NFL team

M

B

72

Sydney Roosters NRL in Blue

M

Q

73

Glasgow Celtic FC - green and white

M

B

74

Helldivers 2 Malevelon Creek
(have asked member for an image)

M

B

75

Norse Viking themed in black, white & gold
any of these for the main theme (Vegvisir, Valknut, Helm of Awe, Longboats, Crows, axes or protection binding rune)

M

B

76

Melbourne Storm NRL team in Purple

M

Q

77

Star wars - The  Clone Wars theme

M

Q

78

Pokemon/Bluey/Star wars Theme

M

B

79

Cronulla Sharks NRL Team, in blue, black and white

M

B

80

Bluey and Bingo

M

Q

81

Dark purple and black with pentagram, thorny red roses with a hidden my little pony and surname embroidered or appliqued

M

B

82

Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back (movie poster, minus the wording) and Ferrari F1 Team

M

Q

83

RAN crest, HMAS Arunta Themed - this can include the side number, a silhouette and the motto.
(we can provide the RAN crest and Arunta crest)

M

LB

84

RAN crest - Navy Theme, Anchors, Ships Crests (in this order please) HMAS Tobruk, HMAS Success, HMAS Ballarat, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Arunta
(we can provide the RAN and ships crests)

F

Q

85

Rainbow/Sunflower/Goose/Sun

F

Q

86

South Sydney Rabbitohs, Clearance Diver Badge
(we can provide a copy of the clearance diver badge)

M

Q

87

Collingwood and Panthers Logo

F

LB

88

SIAF logo, Op Lilia JTG 637.3 logo
(we can provide the SIAF and OP Lilian logo) 

M

LB

89

Army theme,
Australian & Solomon Islands flags with text 'OP LILIA'
Fiji flag with text 'Op Fiji Assist' 
Ukrainian flag and Ukrainian Trident with text 'Op Kudu' 
The AAPRS (Australian Army Public Relations Service) badge, as well as some camera gear and a rifle EF88
(we can provide the text, flags and logo)

B

90

8/9 RAR colours (Slate Grey/Beech Brown colours) with Skippy Badge with 8/9 RAR and Ram Logo
(we can provide the Skippy Badge and Ram Logo)

M

B

91

(RAR - Skippy Badge), Battle Group Heeler badge, Brisbane Broncos,  6 RAR theme - the mascot is the blue cattle dog, the colour patch is grass green and cream.
(we can supply the two badges)

M

B

92

RASIGS badge, primarily beige/cream

M

LB

93

RASIGS badge - primarily beige/cream

M

LB

94

RASIGS - primarily beige/cream

M

LB

95

RASIGS - primarily beige/cream

M

LB

96

Olive green and native florals
Australian flag, Solomon Islands flag, SIAF logo
Embroidered text: Policy Advisor to XXX
Embroidered text: Operation Lilia – Joint Task Group 637.3
(we can provide the flags, logo and text)

F

B

97

Aust Flag, Solomon Islands Flag, Tri Service badge and JTG637.3 patch
(we can provide the flags, badge and patch)

F

B

98

RAAOC Colours themed 
Embroidered Rising Sun Badge with text
Australian and Philippines National flag Embroidered  Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Wolf, Sun and Moon
(we can provide the Rising Sun with text, flags and Coat of Arms)

M

B

99

Pink Orange Yellow
Floristry
loves collecting shells

F

Q

100