Grati-Tuesday 26th November 2024

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Welcome to the last post for November!

Another great bunch of messages and photos from near and far,  so grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude.

Only 29 sleeps until Christmas Day. 

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Hello Bev and Geoff C,

Just wanted to thank you both for the amazing quilt and laundry bag - perfect choice of colours and pattern! It’s almost got a festive feel to it, perfect for my upcoming Christmas over here in the Middle East. You’ve certainly helped to liven up my room here!  

I’m one of roughly a dozen other ADF members here in the Middle East working in a combined Headquarters as part of a Coalition operation supporting the protection of shipping in the Red Sea. I have about four months left of my deployment and look forward to getting back to be with family.

I sent a photo of the quilt and laundry bag back home and everyone loved it and thought it was an amazing to have people back home look after us like this.

Thank you again for the great workmanship (plus Tim Tams) and all that you do to support us - it’s very much appreciated.

All the best in your business and future quilt and patchwork creations!

Warm regards,

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These two letters were inside our goodie's bag from the Volunteer's Gathering at the recent Thank You weekend.

Aussie Hero Quilts

Thank you for all your wonderful support for the Aussies that serve Australia in so many ways. Please accept a small token of my support for the magnificent work you do. These scissors are often called power scissors because of their ability to cut almost anything.  They were designed to be used by medics to remove touch clothing and equipment from injured patients. Ambos and military medics will have a pair of these on them at all times.  For you they can be used as insurance to protect your good scissors from cutting something they should not. They are great for opening touch packaging!

Kind Regards, Trev (Scissorman.com.au) 

Dear Quilters

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible work that you do.  Your dedication, creativity and generosity are inspiring, and I would like to take a moment to recognise and thank you for your efforts.

As you know, our Army recipients greatly appreciate the quilts and laundry bags that you make for them.  These items provide comfort, warmth, and a sense of home during their time away from their loved ones.  The quilts and bags are a tangible remindear that their service is valued and appreciated, and they often provide a much-needed morale boost.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the diversity of the Aussie Hero Quilts volunteer community.  It is truly remarkable to see so many people from different backgrounds come together to support our Army personnel. Your connects to the veteran community, as well as your empathy and compassion for those who serve, are a testament to the strength and resilence of the Aussie spirit.

To show our appreciation for your efforts, the Army would like to give you a small gift* as a token of our gratitude. We hope that this gesture will help to express our thanks and let you know how much we value your contributions.

Once again, thank you for all that you do.  Your quilts and bags are a source of comfort and joy to our Army recipients and your contributions are making a real difference in their lives.

Yours faithfully

Acting Chief of Army

*The Army items in our goodie bags was a travel mug, lanyard, chap stick, key-ring with light, small water bottle and challenge coin.

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Dear Aussie Hero Quilts, 

I was fortunate to come to the recent dinner in Canberra with my friend.  I rejoined the Navy only in the last few years after a long absence.  I had never heard of Aussie Hero Quilts until I saw my friend quilt when she left the Navy recently.  

What an amazing organisation you are!  It is such a wonderful thing you do for serving or ex serving members.  I was so lucky to win a raffle prize of a quilt on the night which is photographed here.  I have never owned a handmade quilt.  I do sew and crochet, so I very much appreiciate how much effort goes into making one. I wanted to thank you and the very talented and special people who made this beautiful quilt (even the back is beautiful)  and to let you know how valued and treasured it is.  

Thank you for doing all you do! 

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Hi Jenny N, 

I received a lovely handmade laundry bag from you a couple of years ago after I had spend some time on Kangaroo Island with the 1st Combat Engineering Regiment, helping with the Bushfire Recovery and clean up.

More recently over the last 12 months I have spend six months in the Middle East region. Each time I have deployed your laundry bag has accompanied me and served me well. Only a few days ago when I was packing for a new trip, I found your letter and thought I wouldjust reach out to thank you and to let you know that the fabric does make my days brighter!

Hope all is well and thanks again

Kind regards

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Dear Amy K, 

I wanted to thank you so much for sending me the quilt and laundry bag whilst I was deployed overseas.  They are both beautiful and I love them. 

I have finished my deployment now and am travelling around with my partner and kids.  They are from Birmingham so we have been based in the UK, spent time in London, Dublin and Amsterdam. 

I picked this postcard up whilst we visited Stonehenge, it was beautiful!

Thank you again for my gifts, it really meant a lot to me whilst I was away from family.

Kindest Regards, 

Amy's thank you was on the back of this post card

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Good afternoon Bridget R,

My quilt has arrived in the Sinai and I wanted to thank you profusely for your efforts in making it for me.

I know that quilting is no simple task and can take many hours, and I greatly appreciate the time you spent putting it together. It will be a fantastic memento of my time here and I can’t wait to show it to my wife when I get back home.

Kind regards,

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Good afternoon Jan-Maree

 

Thank you so much for organising the lovely quilt for XXX. I went to visit him in hospital today and am happy to advise that the Aussie Hero Quilt is proudly spread on top of his bed. The lovely quilt has pride of place in his room.

 

XXXX is going through some significant challenges at the moment and it is the support of people like the Aussie Hero Quilts team that will help him navigate these challenges and assure him that there are kind, loving people in the world who selflessly help others.

 

On behalf of XXXX, please pass on our most heartfelt thanks to the team and thank you for all that you do to support the Defence community.

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Hello Rita C,

Thank you very much for the quilt you made for me, I absolutely love the colours, wildlife and Aboriginal artwork. It is very fitting as I spent a few months earlier this year on the North Coast of Western Australia on Aboriginal land conducting border protection operations, I can tell you a couple of people were jealous of it.

In regard to your questions, I never thought of joining any other service except for the Army and as it was just something I didn't really think about. As of August this year I have been serving for 30 years and intend to serve for another 5 - 10 years before I retire. Over the years I have served in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, and am currently in the United Arab Emirates. I have also trained in the USA on three separate occasions and once in Canada.

I was the first in my family to serve and only recently my son enlisted and graduated from basic training in the Australian Air Force, maybe my other sons will continue the tradition.

As requested I have attached a photo of me holding the quilt.

Thank you very much for your work and on behalf of the ADF thankyou for continuing to make these quilts and laundry bags, they are very welcomed by the individuals receiving them.

Regards

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Hello Raelyne B,

 

I would like to thank you for the laundry bag I received today. It is perfect and has been put to use immediately, additionally I behalf of every service member deployed thank you for making these for us. It doesn't matter how many times you may have deployed it is always hard to be away from family and friends and gifts like this make a positive impact upon all who receive them. 

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G’day Moira M 

 

I received your quilt in the mail this week and wanted to reach out to express my gratitude. Having a small piece of home with me certainly lightens the burden of being away from home.

 

The quilt is beautiful and I already can’t wait to bring it home to Woody and my partner. He’s already grown since I left Australia in July. The quilt will be a lovely reminder of his puppy days – he turned 1 yesterday!

Getting a Ridgeback was fantastic choice. Woody has so much character and he has a beautiful temperament.

 

Your kindness makes me incredibly proud to serve the Australian people. Thank you for your effort and continued support.

 

Kind regards,

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“Thankyou for the laundry bag and for supplying all of us here”

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Hello Joan H,

I appreciate the laundry bag so much ! Its a awesome design and definitely beats the garbage bags I have used previously for laundry bags on operations ! I'm almost afraid to put dirty field cams in it. haha 

I thinks it's great what you and AHQ do and I know you have made everyone on our rotation extremely happy  

Thanks again for the gift and Merry Christmas to you and your family,

 

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Dear Pennie T,

I can't thank you enough for the stunning quilt you created. It is truly the most beautiful quilt I've ever seen!. Your thoughtful gift arrived at the perfect time. I was so moved that I teared up reading your heartfelt letter.

The Yogalates class sounds wonderful!  Combining yoga and pilates is a great way to strengthen and stretch, so I'll definitely have to give it a try.

Barossa Valley is such a beautiful place and I'm looking forward to enjoying a glass or two of Shiraz when I return home.  The horse fabric you used is lovely and it makes the quilt even more special. The apricot backing with the little fish is perfect. It fits the quilt beautifully and adds such a charming touch.

Every single detail of the quilt is perfect and I love each and eveyr part of it. Your care and effort is truly evident and I'm incredibly grateful for all the time you invested in creating this work of art. Incorporation of all my interests is a testament to how much thought and kindness you put into this gift.

The quilt will undoubtedly become a family heirloom

Thank  you so much for not only making this quilt but for also taking the time to write a beautiful letter

With heartfelt thanks

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Hi Jan-Maree,

My partner is going overseas for the next 3 weeks.

The first thing he said to me when I got home today was “look at the new laundry bag I got” (this is his third). He tells me each time he gets one what an amazing cause Aussie Hero Quilts is. Not many people would think a laundry bag could mean so much, but to him, it’s a sign that his service is appreciated and that the work he is doing means something to someone one. 

I will tell you that every time he comes home from a trip the bags are full to the brim, maybe next time make a smaller one so he learns how to wash his own clothes instead of bring them back to me.

I read your information letter today, it was heartwarming and the work you and the volunteers do is amazing. 

Thank you,

You always have our support and respect,

The bag he is holding is his newest LB!

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Good Morning Ruth,

 

I just wanted to send you a big thank you for my laundry bag that arrived safe and sound. I received it last week after we returned from our most recent deployment in support of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.

 

I really appreciate the amount of effort and time you have put into making this bag and it will be a treasured item of mine for many years to come.

 

In your letter to me you said ‘I hope you like it’. I can assure you that I love it and it will used all of the time. In fact lots of my colleagues and subordinates have commented extremely favourably on the quality and detail.

 

Thank you again for not only making my laundry bag, but also being a part of an amazing group of people that make up Aussie Hero Quilts. I know my fellow servicemen and woman who receive laundry bags and quilts really appreciate the generosity of people like yourself in giving us something unique that will remain part of our careers as we move from posting to posting, often in new locations.

 

Many thanks again, Ruth.

 

Kind Regards,

 

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A thank you sent to someone who gave a donation for our recent Volunteers Gathering held on the Friday of the Thank You Weekend. 

Dear Damian

Hello my name is Ruth and I was one of the lucky ones who received your kind donation/gift of the Spotlight voucher.

I would like to say a huge thank you from not only myself but from all the AHQ volunteers.

I have been volunteering my time for the past 6 years. I love what I do and I really enjoy receiving letters and feedback from the recipients. To know that we have touched their hearts when sometimes they are away from their families and loved ones makes it even more special.

Thank you again this voucher will come in very handy moving forward as I continue enjoying my work knowing how special it is for you all.

Kind regards

Ruth S

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

Tuesday's would be so totally boring without them!

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