29 April 2025

Grati-Tuesday 29th April 2025

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Welcome to the last post for April.

Hope everyone had a great ANZAC Day and long weekend.

With two long weekends in a row, I have managed to get quite a bit of sewing done and a finish a couple of requests!

Only a few messages today but understandable with two long weekends in a row. It was time for family and friends and not sitting at a computer!

 Grab a cuppa or cool drink, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude!

***

Dear Heather B (and family + Bentley!),

 

Thank you so very much for the laundry bag, I absolutely love it!

 

I’m currently deployed to Headquarters Middle East and I’m writing this back to you after a rather toasty day of typical 40+ degree weather here in the desert (well…Dubai outskirts at least). I’m one of the engineers out here managing a number of projects and having a heap of fun doing it! I’ve been here for just about 3 months now and it’s been a pretty hectic time but it’s been awesome getting to do my part for the country and the RAAF/ADF.

 

Back home I’m posted to RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria although I’m a Queenslander at heart after spending most of my life growing up in and around Noosa before uni down in Brisbane at UQ. A bit of a shame about your trip to Noosa that was put on hold because of TC Alfred, I hope you’ve managed to get up there for a few days since, it is a lovely part of the world. I’m hoping to get to Japan for a few weeks with my partner when I get back home which I absolutely cannot wait for, I’ve never been before and I’m already counting down the days.

 

You may be wondering where the inspiration for having a laundry bag with the mighty C-130J Hercules on it came from. Well, my partner is also in the RAAF and she actually flies the Herc based out of RAAF Richmond in Sydney. So every time I look at my laundry bag it reminds me of her back home getting to fly around and do lots of very cool things with a very cool aircraft (I may be biased).

 

I’ve attached my best attempt at a selfie with the laundry bag so you can put a face to a name. I really can’t thank you enough, receiving little things like these and messages like yours makes me realise how much of a privilege it is to be doing what I get to do for a country that I love.

 

I’d also like to thank you for the Tim Tams, as much as it would be a nice gesture to share them with my mates I’m definitely going to be keeping them to myself ;).

 

Sincerely,



 

***

Dear Christine C


Thank you very much for your wonderfully made quilt. Although I see it was posted in October last year it only arrived in my office in March, likely lost in fleet mail for the period so I'm thankful it did eventually arrive.  I've since posted from HMAS Arunta into a new role in Fleet Headquarters but during my time on board I thoroughly enjoyed watching the joy on people's faces as their distinctive soft packages arrived and people knew they'd received their quilt or laundry bag.


I've had my quilt laid out in my office and it's quickly become the talk of the building.  You've met my request exactly and I'm very happy to have this on display in my office and on my bed in my cabin when I go back to sea next.


Thank you also for your lovely letter. Its great to put a name and a person to a quilt.  I believe I may have briefly met you in Melbourne when the CWO showed you around the ship. She gave many tours during our port visit and I met many of them.  The CWO is a great supporter of Aussie Hero Quilts and I'm sure she'll join your ranks on her retirement from the Navy.


I'm orignally from outback NSW thought I've lived in Sydney/Newcastle since I joined the Navy in 2006.  I'm married with a 4 year old daughter and a second daughter due in April.  My wife is German so I can related to your exhaustive travels to Europe to visit family and friends and agree if you're traveling that far and spend that much money, you'd might as well make the most of it.  As a 37 year old, I've travelled a lot and love it through travelling with a 4 year old makes it so much harder!


I wouldn't say I'm from a military family either but my great grandfater fought at Gallipoli during WW1 and I was thankful to take his son (my grandfather) to the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign in Turkiye in 2015.  An even and an experience with my grandfather I'll never forget. My other grandfather served in Darwin during WW2, though he never spoke much of his time in the Army.


When I was young I'd march on ANZAC day wearing their medals on my right side either with scouts or with school, in a way I think their service inspired me to join the Navy.


Thank you for your career of service in the health industry.  Nursing is sometimes a thankless job but I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it and that you went on to teach it. Retiring from nursing and continuing 'service' through Aussie Hero Quilts is admirable and much appreciated by the military personnel you provide to.  I can't emphasise enough how much these quilts/laundry bags are appreciated.


Your sincerely



***

Good evening,

Thank you so much to Ellen N and Susana for this beautiful quilt!

This is so amazing and so beautifully made. I will cherish it forever. Again, thank you so much!!

***

Good morning Ruth S

 

Just a quick note to say thank you so much for the gorgeous laundry bag you made for me for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025!

 

It’s absolutely beautiful and has already had a couple of excursions to downtown Vancouver, where I put it to use trekking my washing to the closest laundromat. I cannot tell you how handy the bag was, and I was so proud to carry it over my shoulder.

 

Next stop for both my bag and I is a trip to Papua New Guinea, so it is already doing some miles!

 

Thank you again, the bags were really well received by the whole team, it’s so touching to know someone is thinking of us and taking the time to create something that is so useful and beautiful!

 

Your time and work is very much appreciated.

 

Thanks

***
Good Morning Ruth S,

Thankyou for the new laundry bag, me and my family are very big lions fans and I love my new bag to celebrate the premiership. Thankyou for your hard work and I really appreciate it.  

Kind regards, 

***
Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.  Tuesdays would be so totally boring without them!

Cheers Bel P

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

28 April 2025

Request List 28 April 25

Hi All

As I sit here writing the request list I am watching the ANZAC telecasts on TV.  It has been really special to see so many of our ADF personnel involved in the marches and services all over Australia and overseas in special places like Turkiye and Villers Bretonneux.  I hope whatever you did for ANZAC Day you took at least a few minutes to pay tribute to the ones who did not come home, the ones still serving, and the ones quietly fighting wars no one else can see.

Lest We Forget.


PRIORITIES

As always, the requests are listed in priority order. The first 3 are for folk on deployment overseas so obviously we would like to get these requests completed. I am getting a little nervous for a few of them as their time is rapidly reducing.  Post can be so unreliable to some of our overseas locations so it can take a while to get parcels to them so the sooner they are in the mail the better.

Additionally, 4-7 inclusive are also priority for various reasons that I cannot publish here for privacy reasons but I can share with you when you take on their request.

Please let me know if you can help.

All other requests are listed in priority order.

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 26 May 25 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

Boxing and Yoga

M

Q

1

Fremantle Dockers

M

Q

2

Army Themed - Rising Sun etc
(We can send you a Rising Sun)

M

Q

3

Would love a quilt with a Lion on it and his middle name

M

B

4

Navy crest with service details,
Navy theme and colours,
Clearance Diving Branch Crest
Bases - HMAS's Leeuwin, Watson, Rushcutter, Penguin, Kuttabul & Waterhen
Ships - HMAS's Supply & Kimbla.

Can provide the RAN crest with details, the CD insignia, and ship's crests

M

Q

5

Sydney Invictus - Cycling  Road Race and Individual Time Trial
Athletics - 400m and 1500m
Rising Sun
Invictus 2018
Sydney
poppies
Aussie flag

F

Q

6

RAAF crest, with personal details and dates
Served 7 Jan 1991 - 22 Apr 2025
Roundel
OP SLIPPER 2009 (Kuwait & Afghanistan)
CAF Gold Commendation (2008)
Air Force colours
(We can provide the RAAF crest with the embroidered details)

M

Q

7

Welder,
Jim Beam,
Harley Davidson,
DDG ship theme

(can provide the RAN crest, HMAS Sydney crests and a Harley Davidson embroidery)

M

Q

8

Green, Blue,
One Piece theme, Anime - if you google there are some simple silhouettes for this theme.

M

Q

9

Warcraft 3 Frozen Throne Themed,
Black and Blue colours with character: Lich King Arthas
(images are available for printing)

M

Q

10

Warhammer 40k themed,
OR
gaming/pop culture themed

M

Q

11

Iron Man theme with nickname in bold writing

M

Q

12

80s/90s supercars, Bright colours

M

Q

13

Newcastle NSW Theme with Large Bundy Bear

M

Q

14

HMAS Sydney V themed quilt
(we can provide an image of the ship plus can also provide RAN and HMAS Sydney crests and the Sydney V logo )

M

Q

15

Red and Black Sydney V theme with nickname
(can provide image of ship and V logo plus the RAN crest and HMAS Sydney Crest.)

M

Q

16

HMAS Sydney V Theme  (We can provide the RAN and HMAS Sydney crests and the Sydney V logo)

M

Q

17

T1 esport team, South Korean electronic sports team.  Red and black.
(logos are very simple for applique - we can provide images )

M

Q

18

HMAS Sydney V Theme with DDG
(We can provide RAN and HMAS Sydney crests and the Sydney V logo)

M

Q

19

RAN crest,
Dive theme
Roosters NRL team
Nickname on the bottom
We can supply the RAN Crest

M

Q

20

Canberra raiders, RAEME Badge
(we can provide the RAEME badge)

M

Q

21

Anime themed (Berserk for reference)
Would like Surname included.
(Surname can be appliqued or we can provide as embroidery)

M

Q

22

Australian and Ukrainian flag colours/background with Infantry theme, RAR Skippy Badge and Ukrainian Coat of Arms.
(we can provide the Skippy Badge, flags and Coat of arms)

M

Q

23

Navy patrol boat themed, with rough ocean background  (we can provide the silhouette of a patrol boat for applique and an RAN crest)

M

Q

24

1990's Toyota Hilux theme

M

Q

25

Wolverine and the X-Men theme

M

Q

26

Cars the movie characters, Lightning McQueen and Strip Weathers

M

Q

27

Whisky Barrel design with the saying 'Every Second Saturday' included
(the saying could easily be appliqued or we can have it embroidered.)

M

Q

28

Popeye cartoon theme

M

Q

29

Royal Australian Navy Themed in navy blue.
We can provide the RAN crest

M

Q

30

Disney Cars

M

Q

31

Spongebob

M

Q

32

Oklahoma City Thunder (US National Basketball Team)

M

Q

33

Darth Vader (Star Wars)

M

Q

34

Rottweiler dogs and Police sirens

M

Q

35

Carlton Football Club and Canberra Raiders theme (colours, logos etc)

M

Q

36

Great Northern Beer

M

Q

37

Navy Crest with service details,
Navy themes and sports themed in red, white, blue, aqua + all bright colours
We can provide the RAN crest with service details

M

Q

38

Rising Sun, Green and Blue, Cape Solander crest, Harley Davidson motorcycles
(we can provide the Rising Sun and Crest and a Harley Davidson Embroidery)

M

Q

39

Black and Red with Crossed Swords

M

Q

40

Navy crest with job position under it,
Cape Solander crest,
Old warships,
Philadelphia Eagles (US NFL team),
McLaren F1
(we can provide the RAN crest with text under it, as well as the Cape Solander Crest)

M

Q

41

Blue -  worked on Blackhawks and Chinooks for the Army
Deployed to Afghanistan 2010, 2012 with the Chinooks.
I loved the Invictus Games Vancouver _ maple leaf?
We can provide the Rising Sun with deployment details as a patch.

M

Q

42

Star Wars (the Dark Side), Red & Black

M

Q

43

Brisbane Broncos (NRL)

M

Q

44

Star Wars (the Mandalorian)

M

Q

45

Rodeo (Busking Bulls & Broncos)

F

Q

46

Brisbane Broncos (NRL)

M

Q

47

Navy White Ensign
We can provide the Ensign and an RAN crest

M

Q

48

Egyptian Flag

M

Q

49

Trucks & 4WD

M

Q

50

Brisbane Broncos

F

B

51

North Queensland Cowboys

M

Q

52

Lilo & Stitch, Island Patterns (Fiji/Samoa), Flowers, Water

M

Q

53

Ships, Guns, Helicopters, money, Navy White Ensign, RAN crest
We can provide the RAN crest and Ensign

M

B

54

Invictus Games theme, red and white, Canadian, winter, snow flakes

F

Q

55

RAN crest,
Navy Physical Training Instructor badge,
HMAS Darwin,
White Ensign,
Views of Sydney harbour, ocean, dolphin, sunrise
(we can provide the RAN crest, the PTI badge, white ensign flag and ship crest)

F

Q

56

Navy theme, blue with ships and images from Invictus games
(we can provide the images and the Navy crest)

M

Q

57

blue, green and earth tones.
Themes include mountains to sea,
Indigenous designs,
my totem which is the kangaroo,
family
a black Labrador. 
Hobbies include snowboarding, outdoors

F

Q

58

Dark Blue RAN themed ( Guns or ships ) with White Ensign
We can provide the RAN crest and white ensign

M

Q

59

Arsenal Football Club themed

M

LB

60

Batman

F

Q

61

Mechanics/Tools

M

Q

62

Pokemon

F

Q

63

Heavy Machinery

M

Q

64

Jabba the Hutt (Star Wars)

M

Q

65

Yoda (Star Wars)

M

LB

66

Spiderman Themed

M

Q

67

RAN Australian White Ensign - we can send you an RAN crest and white ensign

M

Q

68

Navy Themed - RAN crest, and HMAS Bathurst crest 
We can provide the two crests

M

B

69

Photography, cameras, video camera, in red and black colour theme.

M

LB

70

Navy Themed - RAN crest, and HMAS Bathurst crest 
We can provide the two crests

M

Q

71

Pirates of the Caribbean

M

B

72

Navy Themed - RAN crest, and HMAS Bathurst crest 
We can provide the two crests"

M

B

73

Sailing

M

Q

74

Fish

M

Q

75

Demon Slayer

M

B

76

Horses & Green

F

Q

77

Gonzo from Muppets

M

LB

78

"Navy Themed - RAN crest, and HMAS Bathurst crest 
We can provide the two crests"

M

B

79

Charlie XCX Brat Theme (music band). (Bright fluoro green with the words "brat" in thick black letters across the quilt in landscape.)

M

Q

80

Weightlifting, pastel yellow, green, blue, purple, pink and orange colour palette
(image available for weightlifting)

F

LB

81

Oceans, Campfire, Sunset colours, "FFH 156" and "Clubs" Text.
(text easily appliqued)

M

LB

82

Expansive forests, waterfalls, mountain ranges

M

LB

83

Spring flowers, pastel colours green, blue, yellow, pink

F

LB

84

Scuba/Ships diver theme,  FFH silhouette, "FFH 156" in text, Purple and Yellow colours
(FFH 156 easily appliqued. We can provide a Dive helmet and RAN crest and possibly a dive crest)

M

LB

85

Gold/Purple, sunset, FFH silhouette, FFH 156 in text
(FFH 156 easily appliqued and we can provide the Toowoomba crest)

M

LB

86

Wolf, wolf paw prints,  Moon, stars

M

LB

87

Blue, Rugby union, Golf, Joshua 1:9 (Bible Verse) (We can have the bible verse embroidered)

M

LB

88

Green, Tan and brown colours. Shrek and friends

M

LB

89

Star wars theme, Blue Theme

M

LB

90

Greyhound with pastel theme colours

F

LB

91

Minecraft with jack black, green and blue theme

M

LB

92

Capybaras on a light blue background

M

LB

93

Monkeys, black and gold theme

M

LB

94

Chess, Boxing gloves and Money, Black and white checkers theme, "CHECK MATE" written on front - we can have text embroidered

M

LB

95

Simple Ocean Theme blues, greens, turquoise  Turtles, whale sharks, jungle palm leaves, frangipani

F

LB

96

Green / Tan colours. Lots of capybaras and sloths on it.

M

LB

97

Blue and Orange colours/Ocean and Sunset theme. Kiwi bird and kangaroo on an FFH silhouette. (We can provide a silhouette to work from)

M

LB

98

Blue/Black Space ships and Dinosaurs

M

LB

99

German Shepherd / Kelpie Print - Black background - Intials XXX

F

LB

100