Catching up with our travelling 15th Anniversary Laundry Bags :

Earlier this year I started posting pictures of our special 15th Anniversary laundry bags (all beautifully made by Rachel, using embroidery by Inge) on LinkedIn. It was my intention to also share the pictures and stories on Facebook and Instagram as well, but time got away from me so now I am determined to start to catch up with those that I have already posted. 

If you have attended one of our recent Annual Dinners you will know we have the best MC ever.  Her name is Pello and she is a RAAF reservist and a one of a kind. 

Pello has deployed to the Middle East, the second time as a stand up comedian with the Force Entertainment Team. 

Let's start off with someone many of you will know. 

Pello!!

Earlier this year Pello, like a number of veterans, volunteered with Operation Veteran Assist (OVA).  Whilst deployed she slept in a (rather palatial) tent with her Aussie Hero Quilt.  

Her quilt was not the only piece of Aussie Hero Quilts that she took with her. 

She also took a stash of laundry bags for other volunteers,

in addition to one of our 15th Anniversary laundry bags as well. 

Since the OVA deployment Pello has arranged a bunch of quilts for the veteran volunteers, 

as well as the veterans who were assisted by OVA. 

Pello also enabled us to arrange a quilt for a veteran involved in a serious truck accident and another involved in a deadly car crash. 

And then there is the lovely Vietnam Veteran who buys his morning coffee at the same café Pello frequents. 

Pello was also responsible for introducing Aussie Hero Quilts to Taryn, one of our three RAN veteran Paralympics competitors. 

Photos with these laundry bags are just the start of celebrating our 15th Anniversary. 

Put 17 October 2026 in your calendar because we will be celebrating our 15th Anniversary at our Annual Dinner in Canberra with the best MC and the most committed Aussie Hero Quilts ambassador.

And now for some more stories of our 15th Anniversary Bags. 

Up next is our mate Lammy... 

“I received a Aussie Heroes laundry bag, when I was deployed to Iraq in 2015.  The laundry bag made by Gail Mc of the Garage Girls (the West Pennant Hills crew) which was sent to me whilst deployed.  It started an ongoing relationship I have with some very special ladies and my laundry bag would also mirror my ADF career and life in general as the two were inextricably intwined.   

This story almost ends very quickly. On my way home, in my excitement to get on the freedom bird back to Australia, I had actually left my laundry bag behind in AMAB.  Bearing in mind I was only supposed to be deployed for 10 weeks… 7 months later (and 6 weeks before I was supposed to get married) I headed home…. Well, you can understand why I was trying to get home! It was only for the fact a mate of mine saw the laundry bag with the initials AL and saw inside was a Sydney Swans shirt, Parramatta Eels shirt and a pair of Wallabies rugby shorts, he knew there was only one person he knew who had that sado-masochistic following of sporting teams and soon the bag and the contents were on their way home.

After this close call, laundry bag “AL” came with me on three more deployments, countless exercises, courses, work trips, holidays, hospital trips and the birth of my two children.  That’s what my laundry bag means to me!”

Pictured LTCOL Andrew with his beloved laundry bag “AL”, the Swans shirt and the Parramatta Eels shirt… the Wallabies shorts went over the rainbow on Talisman Sabre 2017.

One from overseas:

After receiving a laundry bag in 2017 and a quilt and laundry bag in South Sudan in 2024, Brandon joined us at our Annual Dinner last year. He is now overseas again, this time carrying one of our 15th Anniversary laundry bags.

“On 13 February 2026, whilst deployed to the US-led Civil Military Coordination Centre - Gaza as the CDF LO, Colonel Brandon paid a visit to the ANZAC Memorial near Kibbutz Be’eri. This memorial and the surrounding forest were built to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps participation and sacrifices in the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917. 

The memorial was dedicated on 24 April 1968 by the Honorable Asher Joe, National President of the Australian ANZAC Memorial and Forest Committee. Patrons of the memorial include the Australian Prime Minister of the day, the Right Honorable J. G. Gorton and the New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honorable K. G. Holyoake. In February the surrounding fields are filled with carpets of red poppies.

Nearby at Re’im there is a large ceramic red poppy installation which features as a centre point of the Nova Festival Memorial park built to remember those young Israelis killed on 7th October 2023 when Hamas militants attacked from Gaza. There are 30,000 red ceramic anemones with a Star of David depicted in the centre to symbolize the blood spilt and the unity of society during one of Israel’s most challenging moments.”

Out of Africa 

Often Aussie Hero Quilts builds an ongoing relationship with recipients, like this one.

“Aussie Hero Quilts and Laundry Bags, led by Jan-Maree and her dedicated volunteers, have been a constant source of comfort and support throughout my deployments.

Since I first connected with them in 2013, their vibrant quilts and laundry bags have not only brightened my accommodation, boosted morale, and reminded me on each of my six operational tours, including my current deployment to Africa, that the generosity and care of home are never far away. The volunteers give so generously of themselves and their time and we are forever grateful to you all. Thank you.”

From two of our Paralympians:

I had to wait to share this photo but I wanted to wait until it could be a double celebration. Yes, it was celebrating our 15th Anniversary year with both Taryn Dickens and Dave Miln who are recipients of ours. But we were also celebrating the announcement that Taryn and Dave made it onto the Australian Paralympic Team. All their hard work, dedication, resilience and determination have paid off wonderfully!!! Congratulations Taryn and Dave!!! 

And one more from Africa:

“Hi Jan-Maree. 

I understand Dee already sent through some pics. Here are a few more. I’m currently deployed with Dee on Op ASLAN, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Here’s my story around the connection to Aussie Hero Quilts.

I deployed to Rifle Company Butterworth in 2018 and got my first laundry bag then, the one in the pics below. 

Since then, it’s accompanied me to Papua New Guinea on a humanitarian assistance mission in response to Covid-19 

(got another one),

to Japan on an exercise, 

and here in South Sudan where I received another one plus a quilt. 

In fact, I take it wherever and whenever I travel for Defence.

The latest one has a connected theme between Australia and PNG from where my father hailed and where I had uncles supported the Australians during World War II.

Very grateful for the support AHQ and its volunteers provide to our deployed personnel. And where I’ve spent three Christmases deployed overseas over the past 8 years.”

From South Sudan to Cricket matches, our 15th Anniversary Laundry Bags are getting around. From our newest Board Member, Air Commodore Grant Pinder…

“The annual Governor-General's cricket match against a visiting international Women's National Team, this year from India, was established in 2016 by the then Governor-General General The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, AC(MIL), CVO, MC and follows a similar format to the Prime Minister's XI match played annually between an Australian Men's Team and the visiting Men's National Team.

It has been the custom over the 10 years (bar the COVID-19 years) that an ADF female player is selected to be a member of the Governor-General's team as the Governor-General is also Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force. Participation by an ADF player in this match, is a true career highlight.

In his capacity as President of the ADF Cricket Association, Air Commodore Grant Pinder, is also privileged and honoured to attend these matches and cheer on the ADF player. In 2026, it was Corporal Francis Whittaker from the RAAF. Grant Pinder is also a Director on the AHQ Board since late last year and is honoured to join and, as a fellow veteran, support the great (and tireless) work being done by the quilters around the country.

During the cricket match played last month at North Sydney Oval, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn was effusive about this charity, and what it does for the broader Defence and veteran community, and also that she made mention of in a recent podcast and the great work being done by AHQ. A real supporter of this charity."

Well, I still have lots of photos and messages to share but this has caught us up with what has been shared in LinkedIn.  More to come I promise. 

Till next time... keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

JMxx