Grati-Wednesday 1st July 2026

 

Happy Wednesday Friends!

A wonderful collection of gratitude letters. 

It is so nice to see so many gratitude letters coming our way. 

Grab a nice warm cuppa or cold drink (depending on where you live!), sit back and relax while you soak up some well-deserved gratitude

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Dear Kathy W,

Thank you so much for my wonderful quilt and lovely card, what a truly lovely parcel to receive.

As my 15 year career in the Navy draws to a close, your quilt will be a cherished keepsake I will take with me throughout my life. I can not thank you enough for the love and effort which has so clearly gone into crafting this quilt, I have stared at it endlessly since it arrived yesterday.

Lily has been with me for most of my career, having adopted her whilst I was posted to Darwin in 2013 undertaking border patrol activities. She has been a constant source of comfort through the trials and tribulations of service life. I have attached a photo to ease any concerns regarding colour choices - I could not have chosen better had I tried! I particularly love the pink embroidered crest. Lily is 13 years old now and still going strong.

Your card made me smile as I also hail from Adelaide, having grown up there and enlisting from the Defence Force Recruiting. My dad was in the Navy also, but once we were settled in SA, my dad would post interstate when required, whilst my mum, brother and I remained in Adelaide. Music was also a huge part of my childhood, having played flute and piano, and I was fortunate to receive a music scholarship for my high school years.

Words do not do justice to how appreciative I am for this quilt, I could not love it more if I tried. Thank you sincerely for your time and generosity, and I hope there are many more interesting travels on the horizon for you and your husband. Receiving this quilt has been the perfect finishing touch to my career. Thank you again, Kathy.

Warmest regards,

***

Good morning Aussie Hero Quilts Team,

On behalf of our members at HMAS Cairns and HMAS Penguin, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the incredible quilts and laundry bags created by your dedicated volunteers.

All members who have received them are genuinely blown away by the quality, attention to detail, and the thoughtful personalisation of each piece. It is clear that a tremendous amount of care and effort goes into your work. The personalised letters that accompanied each item were especially meaningful, with many of our members taking the time to send their thanks directly to your volunteers.

MGWU’s Commanding Officer, CMDR E, has also asked me to pass on his sincere appreciation for the outstanding support your organisation provides. Please also find attached a group photo from our unit’s participation in the Anzac Day march in Sydney this year – many of the members within the photo were recipients of your creations, and are very thankful for your hard work.

Once again, from our entire unit—thank you for everything your team does. Your efforts are truly valued and greatly appreciated by all our members.

Kind regards,

Maritime Geospatial Warfare Unit Group in Hyde Park, Sydney

***

Dear Rachel B,

Thank you so much for the beautiful laundry bag.

The bird print was a great choice as I often bird watch at home as we have a lovely family of blue wrens in the front garden.

I have been serving in the RAAF for nearly 10 years, and it even surprised me sometimes to realise I'm still enjoying it.

Every new aircraft brings unique challenges that keep the job fresh, so you don't tire of it.

I'm a Structural Technician, which means I look after the Structural components of the Aircraft, the frames (skeleton) and skin.

If there are dents, cracks, gouges or damage caused by- impact damage (hail, bird-strike), lightning or corrosion; the team and I will go assess and repair it.

I’ve had some awesome tasks that really pushed me and the team, things that have never been done in the country before. 

The feeling of accomplishment at the end, when the plane fly’s away wearing its new skin or patch makes it all worth it.

We have recently moved to Newcastle and I’m enjoying exploring the area, and hiking over the lookouts and beaches

The next hike will be the Fingal Island spit, that can only be done at low tide, to go and see the lighthouse and explore the island.

Just waiting for the weather to improve before we try it.

Thank you for sharing your story, your time and your skills with me.

I really appreciate this gift and I’ll take it on my travels with me.

 Sincerely,

***

Hi Pat G,

    Just received your quilt in the mail and I must say it looks fantastic. I will definitely treasure this for years to come. Our time here will come to an end in the next few months and have definitely enjoyed the experience. Thanks again for all that you do supporting the troops and it does mean a lot. I am greatly humbled by the support and generosity provided by the team.

Thank you

 

Regards, 

***

Good morning/afternoon Ruth S,

Just reaching out to say thank you so much for my laundry bag you made! It is perfect! We have just received the shipment you sent back in April for our quilts/laundry bags over in Egypt. 

Ive seen all of the other ones yourself and the team have made for the guys too and they're excellent! Its been good to see the Army members with me get their first ever one from your team too, they have all been stoked with it. Being Navy I've been exposed to the great work you all do for a long while, so keep it up. They're always much appreciated.

Have a great day.

Regards,

***

Dear Bridget R,

I hope this message finds you well.

I wanted to sincerely thank you for the beautiful quilt you made for me through Aussie Quilt Heroes. I received it several months ago, but because of the nature of what we do, this is the first real opportunity I’ve had to properly express my gratitude. Please know your thoughtful gift meant a great deal, and it turned out even better than I could have imagined—especially with all the lovely native birds.

I’m now in North Queensland with my family and have been here for many years, although I grew up in the Hills District. I still visit whenever I can, with Mum and my sister still in the area, so your quilt carries an extra sense of connection to home.

You truly have a gift with your sewing. Your work brings warmth, comfort, and a sense of home to those of us who seem to spend so much time away, and that is something very special.

Thank you again for thinking of me and for your generosity.

Warm regards,

***

Dear Beverly U,

I hope this email finds you well.

I have chosen to email you, as our mail service here is a little unreliable at the moment. I have been the very grateful recipient of one of your wonderful Bluey-themed deployment blankets. Thank you so much. It was a tremendous comfort to receive while being away from home.

My daughter is a huge Bluey fan, so having this small reminder of home has brought a smile to my face and helped me feel that little bit closer to my family.

Thank you also for your letter and for sharing a little about yourself. I am currently deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt and, like your brothers, I serve in the Air Force.

Please know that the work you do does not go unnoticed. All of the lads here have been incredibly grateful and happy to receive your quilts. You describe them as a small token, but to each of us they carry immense value and meaning. They provide comfort, encouragement, and a reminder that people back home are thinking of us.

From all of us here in the Sinai Peninsula, thank you for being such a wonderful example of the kindness, generosity, and community spirit that make Australia truly unique and special.

Kind regards,

 

***

Dear Jan-Maree,

 

I wanted to reach out to say thank you for the beautiful laundry bag I received. Also, thank you for the letter explaining AHQ’s mission – I was amazed by the huge numbers of quilts and laundry bags that you have collectively made over the last 15 years.

 

My laundry bag was made by a group from the Normanhurst Mixed Probus Club, and accompanied by a wonderful letter explaining how they came to make quilts and bags for AHQ. The ladies at Normanhurst (Doris, Barbara, Sylvia, Judy, Marilyn, Rhonnie, Lola, Anne, Fay, Jenny, Liz and Anne) said that they really enjoy making the laundry bags and it’s a real team effort, with involvement in cutting, ironing, sewing and refreshments!

 

A little about me – I’m a father of two in my late 30’s and have been a member of the Navy for 22 years. I’ve been fortunate to have been deployed on many exercises and operations over the years both domestically and abroad and have travelled extensively with the Navy. I am currently posted to HMAS Supply and we are at sea and just starting our deployment. For many on the ship, it will be their first deployment overseas which is exciting. For the ship, it’s been a long time coming too with extensive maintenance over the years and huge amounts of effort to get to this point.

 

Again, thank you so much for the laundry bag, it’s a wonderful gesture from the wonderful organisation you lead!

Best Regards,

***

Good evening Hilary T,

I’ve just received a beautiful blue patchwork laundry bag from you, all the way in the Middle East! Thank you so much. My colleagues and I have been comparing designs and choices, and I must say I’m particularly proud of my Laundry Bag.

You sound like you and your family have had an amazing life both within and outside of defence. I also understand the sacrifices that come from being in a defence family. I have two Army parents, turned Diplomats and spent my childhood flitting around the world every two or three years. We were posted to Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and the United Kingdom to name a few. I joined the RAAF three years ago much to my parents amusement and haven’t looked back since. 

I am currently posted alongside my partner who is also in the RAAF. I think the lifetime of family postings have prepared me well for defence life and time away from loved ones. 

Thank you again for the wonderful laundry bag, I am already making good use of it!

Kind regards, 

***

Good Morning Beverly F,

 

I have just received the quilt and laundry bag that you made, as well as your letter.

 

I just wanted to reach out to say thank you, I love them! I appreciate hearing about yourself and your family too. I certainly try to make the most of every day, I have been studying Para medicine full time as well as surfing and hiking and playing football. I am off to Kokoda in a few weeks in PNG to do some trekking too. I am very grateful to live in Australia and I hope to explore it more.

 

Again, I appreciate your time, effort and thoughtfulness in your design as well as the time to write to me. 

***

Good evening Clarissa L,

 

I am writing to you as I received my laundry bag today and I am beyond grateful for all of your time and work that has gone into it. So much so, that I am on duty tonight and already using it. I read your letter and appreciated all of your kind words and an insight into your life over in Sydney. My family are all from the east coast and some in Sydney so a lot of what you said resonates with me. Your garden and hobbies have inspired me to start up gardening now that we are back from deployment (and have a lot more free time haha).

 

Thank you again for the lovely bag, it will be very loved.

 

Kind regards,

***

Cheers Catherine D

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

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