Grati-Wednesday 4th November 2026

 

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Wow, November already! Christmas is just around the corner....

Please enjoy another wonderful collection of gratitude letters and images. 

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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Hi Jenny,

 

Just a quick note to say thanks for the laundry bag!

We have had a busy year conducting many exercises across S.E. Asia.

Your support to those of us deployed is really appreciated.

Hope all is well at home.

Kind Regards,

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Good Morning, Joy H,

Thank you, thank you, thank you, it made me so happy when I saw that quilt! It is beautiful and has so many details which I love, the blue and gold macaw, her name is Blu, F-35s, Paramatta eels, and the excellent smiley faced bomb in the middle, I will cherish it.

Thank you to you and your family for doing such a generous gift for a person you don't know, I is a great thing, and I love it.

I hope you and your family are well and have an amazing Christmas. 

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Dear Bennie C,

I just wanted to take a moment to personally thank you for the absolutely wonderful Navy Christmas themed laundry bag you created for Aussie Hero Quilts. I was lucky enough to obtain it at the annual volunteers’ dinner last night, and I couldn’t be more delighted.

Your craftsmanship and the festive design are truly special. It’s clear how much care and effort you put into your work, and I feel very grateful to now own one of your creations. It’s not only practical but also such a cheerful reminder of the spirit of giving and support that Aussie Hero Quilts embodies.

I also want to thank you for sharing the story of your family. Hearing about your son and daughter-in-law serving in the Army, and the connection to your friend in the RAAF, gave an even deeper meaning to your beautiful work. It was touching to learn about the bonds your family has with the ADF and the pride and service that runs through it. It makes your contribution to the Aussie Hero Quilts community all the more inspiring.

I thought I would share a little of our own family’s service as well. My grandparents both served during the Second World War, and my wife’s father served in Malaysia and Borneo. My wife herself is still serving in the Army after an incredible 39 years of dedication. After 35 years in the Navy, I will be retiring this year after a career that has taken me everywhere. Our oldest son has just joined the RAAF, continuing the proud tradition of service in our family. It’s a legacy that brings us great pride and makes contributions like yours even more meaningful.

Thank you again for sharing your talent, your story, and for everything you and the other AHQ voluneteers do for the community. The annual AHQ dinner last night was a great success.

Kind Regards

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Len Smith is a long-time supporter of AHQ and over several years has generously donated many beautiful works of arts for fundraising at the thankyou weekend.

This year’s event was special for Len because he was presented with a personalised Aussie Hero quilt acknowledging his service, various assignments, art, academic achievements and family reflections.

Len Smith’s quilt was presented its maker, volunteer Marianne R, in the presence of Len’s wife Rita and Marianne’s husband Les.

The quilt featured photos on fabric of Len’s time in the Army, images from various tours of duty, his art plus family photos of his parents, all surrounded by abstract poppies - one of Len’s favourite fine art subjects.

Presented in the foyer of the Canberra Rex Hotel, AHQ volunteers nearby took a keen interest in the quilt as Len was admiring it, adding to the excitement of the occasion.

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G’day,

 

I have received this lovely laundry bag from Cath H. Thank you and the team for the amazing work. 

 

Sincerely

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Good Afternoon Ruth S,

I'm the lucky recipient of your laundry bag! I can't express how pleased 1 am with it.

I had to take it home from the ship to show my wife and two kids. It's exactly what I was hoping for. I have written a bit about myself below, which hopefully explains why I wanted certain things on there. Its too nice to use as a laundry bag so Im keeping it as my Christmas stocking. (As a family tradition we lay it out on Christmas eve for Santa to fill with presents). 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 for the 'XO' position (executive officer) of a Mine hunter coastal. There is 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 the Navy and 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. Which is understandably very competitive. Anyway, we came to Sydney in Jan 25 and we are here until July 27. Although my wife doesn't want to go back and wants me to transfer permanently.

I have spent my career on destroyers in the UK and Middle East. On Offshore patrol vessels round the UK, escorting ships and conducting fishery protection boardings. And on Minehunters in the UK and Middle East. The RN is a quite a bit more demanding compared to the RAN in terms of what it asks from you and the sacrifices your family have to make, with all the time away. Also, the RAN has a much better work life balance, which is probably one of the reasons my wife prefers it here.

I have been with my wife since we were 16/17 and she has supported me the whole way through my naval career. She is a marketing manager for an events company but is going to re-train as a midwife, so will be starting university again 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 4. He is very funny and confident but like my daughter, mom is definitely the favourite. Although he is coming round to me now that I have been at home a bit more, since being in Australia.

I grew up in Yorkshire, in the north of England before moving to Newcastle upon Tyne to study at university. Since joining the Navy we moved to Portsmouth on the south coast before the RN moved us to Scotland. 

1 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. Although missing birthdays, weddings, funerals, first days at school and Christmas can be tough.

Anyway that's a lot of info from me, I just wanted to say how grateful 1 am for the personalised laundry bag. We don't have anything like this back in the UK. Please note that the care and time you took to make my laundry bag is genuinely very appreciated.

Kind Regards

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Good Evening Bridget R, 

I’ve been fortunate enough to receive one of your laundry bags.

The laundry bag has been a fantastic addition to my daily routine. It might seem like a small thing, but little comforts like this make life at sea that much easier.

I’ve served in the Royal Australian Navy for 11 years, and this is my sixth deployment. I recently got married, although, unfortunately, I’ve spent more time deployed than at home with my wife during our marriage. We also have a beautiful little boy waiting for me back home, who I miss more than words can describe.

Balancing service to our country with being a husband and father has been one of the greatest challenges of my life. Being away from my family is never easy, but serving this great nation has always been my calling, and it’s a privilege I’m incredibly proud of.

I simply wanted to reach out and say thank you. Your laundry bag has made its way across the world and become part of my routine here aboard HMAS Choules. It’s a small gesture that makes a genuine difference, and I really appreciate it.

Thank you for supporting those of us who are fortunate enough to serve.

*** 

Dear Ellen N, 

Thank you so much for the beautiful laundry bag you sent my husband. I could see the thought and care you put into making it. He has used it on a trip already and we now use it regularly when visiting family in Sydney as well.

Thank you for the sacrifice and service to Australia which you and your family have given. As all serving members are aware, it is the whole family who carried to load. 

My husband is also from a proud Defence tradition. He has been in the Navy for 12 years and just transferred to the Airforce this last year. Before that he too was a Navy Brat.  His Dad has been in the Navy for 47 years and counting. 

Thank you again for your beautiful gift. 

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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