Grati-Wednesday 1st Apr 2026

 

Happy Wednesday Friends!

April already!!!! Do we all have our easter eggs ready??

Presentations are always a very special way to capture the emotions surrounding the gift of a quilt. We have a couple in this week's Grati blog. 

There are, as always, some awesome letters which definitely pull at the heart strings.

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

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Hello Bev and Geoff C,

 

I have been away from my ship for five weeks and returning today found a parcel waiting for me.  Opening it was a huge delight as it was a wonderful and special quilt, made just for me.

 

I have served in the ADF for 24 years and have a couple left before I retire. Last year was one of the hardest I’ve done as I was away from my family for over 9 months. Not only away from them but at sea on HMAS Hobart and now HMAS Brisbane. Unwrapping your quilt was therefore a very special moment and the quilt itself will be used and cherished for many more years. I’m sure it will become a family item which I can pass to my kids long after I have finished service this wonderful nation.

 

Blessings be on you both for this selfless act of generosity and I thank you for your gift.

 

Respectfully,

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Hi Ellen N,

 

I hope this email finds you well. I am just writing to let you know I recently received my quilt and bag. They are both lovely and much appreciated. Good luck on your travels and I hope you catch some fish soon!

 

Kind regards,

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Hi Ruth S,

I wanted to let you know that the hand made laundry bag you crafted arrived and I really appreciate all of the patterned design and craftsmanship that has gone into it. I really liked the variety of native birds, and it is something personal to me that I will surely cherish for many years to come.

I am also very grateful for all the great work that you and other Aussie hero’s team do for our wider defence serving community. 

Thanks once again for the beautiful gift that you've given me and wishing you and your wonderful family a brightly coloured bird filled future.

Warm regards,

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Good Afternoon Ann S,

I'm the lucky recipient of your quilt! I can't express how pleased I am with it. I had to take it home from the ship to show my wife and two kids. Its exactly what I was hoping for. I have written a bit about myself below, which hopefully explains why I wanted certain things on there.

I am an exchange officer from the Royal Navy. I'm over in Sydney with my family for 2.5 years as part of an exchange.There will be an RAN sailor back in the UK, 'my oppo' (or opposite number) doing the same thing but on a UK ship.

After 11 years service in the RN my wife and kids were fed up with being moved all over the UK and leaving friends, family, schools and jobs. So, I applied for the exchange position and luckily, I got it.  

I have been with my wife since we were 16/17 and she has supported me the whole way through my naval career. Like your Grandad we used to write each love letters when I was away at sea. She is a marketing manager for an events company but is going to re-train as a midwife once we return to the UK. She is learning to surf in Australia which is something she has always wanted to do.

My daughter is 10 years old. She loves dancing and is very sociable and able to hold her own in conversations with peers and adults. I think she is really resilient because of all the time I have done away.  We started taekwondo when we came to Australia and we have just got our yellow belts together. It's really nice to train together and for her to learn how to protect herself.

My son is 3. He is very funny and confident. 

I have been lucky enough to travel to a lot of places with the RN; Ireland, France, Norway, Portugal, Gibraltar, Florida, Cuba, the Falklands, Malta, Greece, Bahrain, Oman, Dubai, the Seychelles... to name a few. And now its brought my family to Australia so I can't complain.

When I read your letter I had a case of déjà vu when you mentioned the tomatoes on toast you mom made for your dad. It was like I had read it before. Maybe I read about another veteran doing the same thing. Maybe the military advised them it would help.

Its was nice to learn about your family and your connection to the forces. I just wanted to say how grateful I am for the quilt. We don't have anything like this back in the UK. 

Please note that the care and time you took to make my quilt is genuinely very appreciated.

Kind Regards

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Hi Karen R,

Had my day made today when I received your incredible creation today, complete with Gandalf and his pipe, Mount Doom, and the shards of Narsil!

I just wanted to express my absolute gratitude and thanks for this incredible gift, and to pass on my appreciation to all the team at Aussie Hero Quilts. It is incredible what Jan-Maree B and everyone involved have been able to do, and continue to do, for the ADF.

When you go down to the laundry room on board the ship, it’s a rare sight to see a bag that isn’t an Aussie Hero Quilts creation. And likewise for quilts across most of our beds. My own bed is furnished with a quilt I got while in South Sudan on operations a few years ago, and remains a treasured possession.

I haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Hobbiton in NZ, but it’s absolutely on the list – and I’m hoping to do so later this year with my partner. Like you, I grew up reading Tolkien (among my earliest memories are being read The Hobbit aloud on grandpa’s lap) and then watching the films. And I can’t not continue to go back to them at regular intervals.

I even recently furnished my arm with a tattoo of Anduril and Tolkien’s monograph – much to the disapproval of mum.

Thank you again for the laundry bag. It’ll accompany us as we head back to sea in a few weeks, commencing what will be a busy year of operations at home and abroad.

Kind regards,

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Good morning Pennie T,

I've just received the quilt you made. It's breath taking. It's honestly one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. You nailed it! The details are amazing. 
Thank you so much! 

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Recently Pello presented a quilt to one of the Operation Veteran Assist volunteers.  Looks like it was well received. The quilt was a  joint effort between Emma-Lee and Marianne.

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Good morning Bev C,

Thank you so much for my quilt! I am from HMAS Yarra and we have just received our quilts. I have laid it out on my bed in my mess and it has really brightened the place up. I love the patches of beach, dogs and ice cream. The back of the quilt is so bright and colourful. I showed everyone and they all said it was very me so you and your husband did such a great job. We deploy for a couple of months starting next month and the quilts make the mess that much more homely. I love the little note about the stitching pattern called bayside and I really think that suits the theme too. My mum loves to quilt and she has frequently bought us along to your shop many times when I was living at home.

Thank you again for taking the time to quilt my quilt and I really do appreciate it. We all do. Thank you!

Kind regards,

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Hellloooo Bel P,

I received my laundry bag and absolutely love it!! It is everything and more than what I could have asked for and yes I need sunnies to look at it but I wouldn’t change a thing!

Wow it looks like you are keeping very busy with these bags and I hope your sewing room gets the revamp soon.

I am just plodding along and getting on with the job at the moment, I do love working in the events space though it’s a lot of fun and being back in the west we are doing more and more now.

Kind regards

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My husband and I (Heather B) both served in the RAAF in the 80’s and 90’s. Occasionally I am able to arrange a quilt for someone that my husband and I either served with or perhaps someone who was such an icon that we know the name, even if we never actually met them. Jumbo is one of those icons.

 

Aussie Hero Quilt presentation to Jumbo Jordan by John H

“Back in October 2025, I was contacted by Jan-Maree, the CEO of Aussie Hero Quilts, after posting pics of Jumbo Jordan.

Jan-Maree offered to have a quilt made for Jumbo, and with liaison with Jumbo’s wife, the wheels were put in motion.

Today, the presentation was made to Jumbo. I wasn’t able to be there, but I’d like to do a big shoutout to Aussie Hero Quilts for the work and effort that goes into these presentations.”

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Cheers Catherine D

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