Quilts for HMAS Sydney.....

The lovely crew from HMAS Sydney put up a great post with photos of some of the quilts they have received recently with a lovely message. 

"Thank you to Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags) for their wonderful delivery of quilts for the crew. We will cherish them always! It's such a privilege to know there's someone out there who has put in the effort and work to create these for us. Thank you to you all."

You can read the article written by their Public Affairs Officer on board. Click here to read the story.

Happy stitching everyone! Till next time keep spreading the word.

Jan-Maree xx

Grati-Tuesday 29th July 2025

              

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Welcome to the last blog for July.  

On the downward slope to the end of the year. I bet it will be no time at all and we are counting down till Jolly Old Santa visits!!

 

Another deluge of thank you's again this week from far and wide so grab a cuppa, sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude!

AHQ Thank You Dinner is only 88 sleeps! 

Don't forget to buy your tickets. 

***

Hi Bridget R

 

It was a lovely surprise to open my package and receive the beautifully laundry bag! The design was exactly what I was after – something bright and colourful to jazz up our dull accommodation.

I have also watched others on the deployment open their quilts and laundry bags over recent weeks and it certainly brings a healthy dose of morale to the contingent when they see their wonderful gifts. It really helps knowing that there are people at home thinking about us, and we are so grateful for the time and effort you put in.

 

I’d also like to thank you for all the years you have put in to nursing. I have worked with so many amazing nurses throughout my medical career and I definitely couldn’t do my job without their help and support. Please see attached photo off me with the laundry bag in our medical centre here.

  

Regards,

***

(This thank you is from the recipient who was the feature image from last weeks Grati-blog)

Good morning Lynn F and family

I received a quilt last week, and have been looking for a time without distraction where I can say thankyou (and this is it :)

I have used the time to think about what to say, etc, but I am still short on words. I still don't know. 

The quilt itself is beautiful. The pattern and placement are amazing. The hemming and attention to detail is perfect (thankyou). 

The embroidered Rising Sun (thankyou Joan B), which still evokes a sense of "must protect" in me, is sharp and precise. 

The quilting stitch (thankyou Philomena H) is super-impressive, and gets better the more I look at it.

I use it almost daily, thanks to the cold weather, and it will come with me when I travel. 

But it is more than the sum of its' parts. It is the intent.

I remember a quote from Maya Angelou that I read well over a decade ago, that:

"People will typically forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel".

I have always found this to be true. Both good and bad. People can use all the right words, but if their intent is selfish or hurtful, you will never forget. 

Thankfully, the opposite is also true, in that as long as your intentions are genuinely good and selfless, you can make a few mistakes along the way - as long as you keep fighting for the right thing and helping those around you.

This is the part that - for me - stands out with AHQ Volunteers. You have the unwavering, selfless intent, executed with precision and without expectation (other than showing a stranger that you care). 

This is what resonates with me. Throughout 24 years in the ADF, volunteer work, and raising kids, this is the kind of psychological compass we all should have, or at least try to incorporate in our values.

The unwavering, selfless intent from AHQ is, I think, what most people enter the ADF and emergency services with. For ADF personnel, I think this gets impacted by deployments and other experiences, diluting and confounding the core intent. But AHQ help remind people of it, by staying selfless and apolitical. 

Now that I have sat down to write, I am glad to have been able to identify and start to explain why I am so grateful.

Making a quilt can seem like a small gesture, but it is not. The intent and selfless effort behind it is enormous. 

It is everything.

Thankyou  

Sincerely.

PS: Fourteen hundred and fifty-five quilts?! What the heck?!!

Thankyou 

***

Dear Jenny N,

I am the fortunate recipient of your laundry bag. I am the Physical Training Instructor (PTI) here on HMAS Brisbane.

I wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for your incredibly kind words and for the thoughtful gift. It truly brightened my day and I am very humbled that you create this!

It was also wonderful to hear about the arrival of your granddaughter – what joyful news! And your family's dedication to service is truly inspiring. I am a big believer in the value of service before self and I am in the Navy to do what I was instilled to do though my own family military service history.

Hearing about your daughter being a primary school teacher has resonated with me. I'm actually hoping to pursue a career as a primary school teacher myself! It's a path I'm really passionate about, although I imagine I will stay in Navy for the foreseeable future to support my awe-inspiring and extraordinary Wife and two children.

Thank you again for everything – I hope you also know that what you and your colleagues do for us is very much appreciated.

Warmly,

***

Good morning Ellen N,

 

Thankyou SO much for the beautiful quilt, I absolutely love it! Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated, and the warmth and care you’ve taken is clear.

 

It was a lovely surprise to receive it yesterday. My family also wanted to extend their gratitude – it’s already become a hot commodity, with everyone wanting to use it. Luckily this Canberra winter is extra chilly, so there will be lots of opportunity.

 

You are so kind and generous to donate your time and skills, please know that your quilt will be treasured for years to come.

 

Warm regards,

  ***

Dear Bridget R, 

I want to thank you for the laundry bag. I absolutely love it. It is the best I have seen.

You must be very proud of your children they seem to both enjoy what they do.  I hope you enjoy having your husband at home, it can be alot to adjust to. 

A mini poodle and a lhasa apso sound like the ultimate pairing of mischief makers. 

Nursing would have been a very rewarding career to have had. 

A little about myself, I am 25 years old. I have been in 7 and a half years. I enlisted straight out of high school into the Army gap year program as a warehouse coordinator and have absolutely loved it.  I have moved around the country side and I find it very rewarding.

Thank you again for the laundry bag. It is fantastic and I absolutely love it.

I wish you all the best in your retirement with your hubby. Well deserved.

Kindest regards

  ***

Hello Ruth,

 

Thank you very much for the Suns Laundry Bag. It is awesome!! And the mini footy has been bouncing around the office most of last week.

 

A little bit about me, I joined from QLD in 2003 from a farming community 70km west of Toowoomba, I conducted my basic training in HMAS Cerberus in Victoria and then posted over to Fleet Base West in Rockingham. I have served on HMAS Westralia, HMAS Sirius (11yrs) which are both 40,000 ton fuel Tankers, and also on HMAS Albany which is a Armidale Class Patrol Boat out of Darwin. I have also had numerous shore postings based at HMAS Stirling. I currently live in Perth, with my wife and 2 Children (13 & 11) and seem to spend all my spare time ferrying them to Football, Netball and AFL Umpire training……. Wouldn’t have it any other way though!

The Aussie Hero Quilts are a great Idea, I have been in the Navy now for 22 years and have seen a fair few people with the bags, however have never been lucky enough to receive one.

 Hope this email finds you well, and again, Thank you very much for the bag, it will definitely be used!

 

Up the SUNS!!!

 ***

Good afternoon Cheryl, Wendy and Lisa R,

Thank you for the time and effort you put into my quilt and laundry bag, they are beautiful and absolutely remind me of my favourite things.

Thank you also for the stories and poems you shared, these were loved in my office and I thank you for the time you spent with sharing these.

A bit about me, I am from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. I grew up on a farm and ocean, so hence the themes of my bag and quilt. I joined the Navy in 2016 as a Maritime Warfare Officer, I attended the Australian Defence Force Academy for a Bachelor of Business before continuing my training. Since then I have served on HMA Ships Parramatta, Adelaide, Wollongong, Pirie, Sirius, Stalwart and now NUSHIP Eyre.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Navy and have had some amazing international opportunities, with my most exciting being last year going to a NATO exercise and riding in a helicopter over the Norwegian Fjords to the HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier where we were able to watch the launch and recovery of the F35 jets.

Thank you again for the gifts!

Kind regards,

***

Good afternoon Ellen N,

I’ve just returned to AMAB and was met with an awesome surprise — the quilt you made for me. I can’t thank you enough. It honestly brought me a lot of joy and a real sense of comfort. You’ve clearly put so much care and effort into it — it’s a true work of art.

Reading your letter, it sounds like you live a life full of adventure, and your family — both past and present — sounds amazing. I really appreciated learning a bit about you, and it makes receiving the quilt feel all the more personal and meaningful.

Thank you again for your generosity and the time you’ve taken to support deployed members like me. It means more than you know.

Warm regards,

***

Afternoon Marilyn,

Thankyou for taking the time to make my laundry bag and writing the letter.

 

I myself do own a Nissan Skyline R33, and I'm sure your daughter loves her EVO as much as I love my cars. 

I have been in the ADF for 5 years this year, beforehand I did demolition and plumbing.

 

I have been to plenty of places - Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Jakarta, Singapore, Darwin, Cairns and India to name a few.

Currently based in Perth, and funnily enough I am from Belgrave South myself, so just around the corner from you, small world. My family still lives in Belgrave South and I come to visit at least once a year. I agree that it is a lovely and peaceful place and happy to have grown up there.

Once again thank you for taking the time to make the bag, it's much appreciated.

 

Kind regards

***

Hello Angela T,

 

I am a Petty Officer Aviation technician of 17 years’ service in the RAN based in Nowra. I’m grateful for the laundry bag and the letter which my wife was also pleased to read.

 

I have served multiple deployments throughout the Middle East and Asia. I’m currently preparing to deploy on HMAS Ballarat. My current role at the moment is as a maintenance manager/ maintenance planner for a Flight working on the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. This will be my first deployment since having my first child who is currently 7 months old. My wife is also a Navy veteran who served as a medic. We have just built our first family home in Vincentia NSW so we're pleased to see a fellow veteran family from the South Coast.

 

Thank you for your kind words and your family's service. My dobie bag (navy slang for laundry bag) will match the Marvel doona cover my wife insists I pack for the sea trip.

 

Kind regards

 *** 

Hey Bel P,

I love them, thank you so much.

Absolutely gorgeous.

***

Thank you very much and words cannot describe how happy she was to receive it. 

Quilt made by Bev & Geoff C, (Recipient on the right)

***

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

Cheers Bel P

💖💖💖💖💖💖

Request List 28 July 25

Hi all

Good morning,

Since early 2016 we have sent out a weekly email containing Jan-Maree's message to volunteers and the Request List.  But on and off  our volunteers tell us this email just doesn't arrive. Have you missed out on receiving your weekly Request List by email?  

This email is sent out on Monday mornings to those who've subscribed.  If you are a subscriber yet have not received the Request List email in your email inbox, please check  your "spam Folder".  If the email is not in the Spam folder, please email clarissaluxford at gmail.com and let me know. To increase the reliability of receiving the weekly email it is important to open the email each week. This teaches your email software that the AHQ emails are NOT spam. Let me know how you get on. 

If you wish a friend to receive the weekly email and join our happy band of volunteers, please email friendsofAHQ@gmail.com , thank you :) ~ x Clarissa

 

PRIORITIES

As always, the requests are listed in priority order. There has been a big changeover of staff on deployments so we have lots of new requests from places in the Middle East. The first 6 are for folk on deployment overseas so obviously we would like to get these requests completed. 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.

Numbers 7 and 8 are also priority for other reasons.

All the rest of our requests are listed in priority order. Please let me know if you can help.

POST BY DATE

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

Blue/green/white Rising Sun with text, RACT Badge Australian, Ukrainian flags NATO Flags (We can provide a lovely photo with all flags) Ukrainian Coat of Arms (trident), Photo of two bulldogs (can provide badges, Coat of arms and dog pics)	F	Q	1
Army themed Rising Sun, Super Heroes, Surfing (we can provide a Rising Sun)	M	Q	2
Half and half - Hot Wheels theme with XXXX written on it. The other half Disney Princess theme (eg Belle from beauty and the beast) with XXXX on it. A union Jack and AUS Flag	M	Q	3
RAAF Roundel, RAAF Ensign, NATO Insignia, Baghdad city skyline silhouette; sandy coloured sky, Red Roo, Snow gums / Snowy Mountains skyline / Australian bush river (we can provide the Roundel, Ensign and NATO insigina)	M	B	5
Australian National Flag with Red Poppy flowers along the bottom  edge of the flag on both sides if possible please	M	LB	6
Shades of pink and black Sydney Swans AFL, Dancing, Family (we have a photo)	F	Q	8
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	9
Carlton Football Club and Canberra Raiders theme	M	Q	10
Wolverine and the X-Men theme	M	Q	11
1990's Toyota Hiliux theme	M	Q	12
Oklahoma City Thunder (US National Basketball Team)	M	Q	13
Rottweiler dogs and Police sirens	M	Q	14
Black and Red with Crossed Swords	M	Q	15
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	16
Trucks & 4WD	M	Q	17
Brisbane Broncos	F	Q	18
North Queensland Cowboys	M	Q	19
Ships, Guns, Helicopters, money, Navy White Ensign, RAN crest We can provide the RAN crest and Ensign	M	Q	20
Navy theme, blue with ships and images from Invictus games (we can provide the images and the Navy crest)	M	Q	21
Dark Blue RAN themed ( Guns or ships ) with White Ensign We can provide the RAN crest and white ensign	M	Q	22
Jabba the Hutt (Star Wars)	M	Q	23
Demon Slayer	M	Q	24
Gold/Purple, sunset, FFH silhouette, FFH 156 in text (FFH 156 easily appliqued and we can provide the HMAS Toowoomba crest)	M	LB	25
Joker and Bane themed	M	LB	26
Warhammer 40K Black Templar Space Marine Black and White theme	M	LB	27
Blue, White and grey. Initials 'XXX' on the front. 'Boats AB' written underneath the initials. A white monster drink. A scuba diver. A RHIB boat - (We can provide an RAN crest and can have the initial and text embroiderd for you)	M	LB	28
South Sydney Rabbitohs and Queensland Reds	M	Q	29
Garfield theme	M	Q	30
Slush Puppy theme	M	B	31
cartoon Dinosaur theme	M	Q	32
Roger Ramjet on a dark Navy Blue Background. (can send a picture for inspiration)	M	Q	33
Plants and forest	F	Q	34
Australian Shepherd dogs/puppies. Merle coloured dogs preferred (Green/Blue)	F	B	35
Light green with capybaras	M	Q	36
St Georges Illawarra Dragons	M	LB	37
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marines	M	Q	38
Poseidon defending a sail ship from a kraken	M	Q	39
Moby Dick,Blue Finn Tuna	M	Q	40
Diablo 4	M	LB	41
Magic the gathering mana symbols - very easy to applique	M	Q	42
Ancient Greek ships sailing across the waters with Poseidon	M	B	43
Bear in the big blue house TV show	M	Q	44
Thomas the Tank Engine	M	Q	45
Star wars, Navy theme, colourful, vintage, Floral please. (We can provide the Navy crest)	F	Q	46
Rising Sun, AAPRS Badge, Neutral colours (beige, white, and Army greens) Australian Army theme, enjoys writing (We can provide the Rising Sun and AAPRS Badge)	F	B	47
Initials on quilt, photgraphy, outdoors, camping, beach, NO PINK	F	Q	48
RAN crest, Navy photographer, seascape/sunset theme (We can provide the RAN crest)	F	Q	49
Track and Field related, Army green/Gold colours	M	Q	50
RAAF Personnel Capability Officer/ Public Affairs Officer, ADF Tri service theme (working in Joint environment) (we can provide the Tri Service badge and RAAF crest - a Personnel Capability Office is an Admin officer and an Public Affairs Officer is like a journalist)	M	B	51
1JPAU themed quilt with 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit 2002-2025 along the bottom. Joint/tri-service  colours: pale blue, red, and dark blue with the 1JPAU diamond (can provide images and the 1JPAU crest and Public Affairs Office crest).	F	Q	52
Army themed, Rising Sun, Army drones (black hornet, shadow, intergrator) with 1JPAU embroidered (see picture for drone image)	M	B	53
Olive green, oatmeal, neutrals. Theme - Blue Staffies (dogs) with text "Can I pat that dog" We can provide the text as an embroidered patch	M	B	54
Star Wars Anakin Skywalker	M	LB	55
Los Angeles Clippers NBA team	M	LB	56
Cronulla Sharks NRL team	M	LB	57
Minecraft Themed with Minecraft rowboats on the ocean. With a text box with "Ships Spy"	M	LB	58
Maplestory (Video Game in 2003) themed	M	LB	59
One Piece anime themed	M	LB	60
Wants to share with his daughter when he gets home. pink/purple, Dragons for him Unicorns, mermaids, fairies for her and anything shiny/sparkly WILL BE POSTED TO THE USA SO POSTAGE WILL BE REIMBUSED.	M	Q	61
American bull dogs and ship cannons with black, white and red colour	M	LB	62
Black with the S symbol from Slipknot (band) (S symbol easily appliqued)	M	LB	63
Liverpool FC  theme	M	LB	64
Old School runescape (old computer game) (image available)	M	LB	65
KFC logo with 'LGK' instead of KFC in the logo - white/red background.	M	LB	66
Sailor Jerry Tattoos with a red and white colour scheme.	M	LB	67
Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins theme with nickname	M	LB	68
Rick and Morty running from aliens while drooling	M	LB	69
Traditional Japanese Building with Cherry Blossums	M	LB	70
Green with crossed lightning bolts and a missile theme	M	LB	71
Southampton FC Badge and theme	M	LB	72
Miami Vice themed. 80's, palm tree, sunset vibe. Purple, Pink, Orange, White	M	LB	73
NAVY themed with "White NAVY ensign" and "Collins Class Submarine" (submarine panel available if needed and we can provide the RAN crest)	M	B	74
Air Force white and blue, karate, ocean, military dog, F-35 plane  (we can provide the RAAF crest)	F	B	75
Golden retriever dogs, Nottingham Forest Soccer team logo, EA-18G Growler, Northern Territory (Notthingham Forest Logo available)	M	B	76
Airforce themed in earth tones please  (We can provide the RAAF crest)	M	B	77
Rising Sun, AAPRS badge, Runescape bald character, sihouette of Australian animals (We can provide the Rising Sun and AAPRS Badge)	M	B	78
Spiderman on a white background	F	LB	79
Green hills, blue sky  with a cloud or two, angus cows grazing with surname in running writing	F	LB	80
Old School runescape (image available).	M	LB	81
Scotland Theme with job role	M	LB	82
Light Purple with wombats and flowers	F	LB	83
Sunflowers, Pink	F	LB	84
70's décor style, Mystery Machine van from Scooby Doo, Mushrooms, orange & green (image of Mystery Machine available)	M	LB	85
Red with cats and cookies	M	LB	86
Fremantle AFL football club.	M	LB	87
Brisbane lions football club with premiership cup 2024	M	LB	88
Essendon AFL logo, colour blue bag	M	LB	89
Dolphins and pretty sailboats, light pink, light purple, and light blue	F	LB	90
Richmond Tigers themed with a pirate ship	M	LB	91
Iced coffee with light beige brown	F	LB	92
Brisbane Bronco's themed Bag	M	LB	93
Saint Kilda AFL Theme	M	LB	94
West Coast Eagles AFL Team	M	LB	95
Penrith Panthers (NRL Team)	M	LB	96
Wests Tigers theme	M	LB	97
Winnie the Pooh Theme	F	LB	98
Would like the text "YOU BE FREE"	M	LB	99
Navy theme with sextants and ships and a golden retriever dog. We can supply the RAN crest and an HMAS Warramunga crest	M	LB	100