The Aussie Hero Quilts 15th Anniversary Dinner ... by LCDR Amy Beal Ret'd

I decided to do something a bit different this year and asked LCDR Amy Beal, Ret'd, our guest speaker, if she would consider writing a post I could share with you, describing her impressions of the evening.

Amy and her trusty support dog, Oran

Over to Amy.....

I’ll start by saying I’ve never been able to attend the annual Aussie Hero Quilts dinner. As a veteran, my service always had me away during the weekends activities. I now know what I’ve missed and it’s truly been unforgettable and will sit in my memory bank forever. I was not going to miss the 15^th Anniversary Dinner!

As my wife and I entered the Rex Hotel function room, we were met with smiling faces and laughter amongst the bright colours of quilts hanging along the walls and tables of silent auction items. We were extremely fortunate to sit at a table with JM, her Excellency the Governor General and amazing quilters! Located in the middle of the room, I felt the love and passion for the project started by JM 15 years ago, a project that brings love and support to so many ADF service men and women each and every year. In 15 years, over 18,000 quilts and 40,000 laundry bags have been distributed to Navy, Army and Airforce. Aussie Hero Quilts is definitely a force to be reckoned with!!  

Pello was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and looked very dapper in her custom Aussie Hero Quilts two-piece suit courtesy of a recent trip to Thailand! She welcomed everyone to the event and requested that everyone find their seats. This took a little bit of time as people were busy chatting, catching up with people they only see at the Annual Dinner and overall just already having a good time!

We were fortunate to hear from one of AHQs generous supporters, the CEO of Lockheed Martin, who himself has received a quilt and laundry bag during his service. He even pulled out his laundry bag from his suit jacket and openly admitted to the room that the laundry bag had never seen a dirty piece of clothing. He has kept it clean and folded up in a specific place in his office for xxx years. Close by, so when the need arises to remember his service, the AHQ laundry bag is there to bring memories.

Jan-Maree spoke about how this was her favourite weekend every year. Yes, it takes a lot of work but that she thoroughly enjoys catching up with people and bringing both recipients and AHQ volunteers together. She spoke of how many quilts and laundry bags had gone out during the year, and also mentioned the 165 random Laundry Bags that were quickly sent to a large ship prior to a sudden deployment. The ship requested 165 laundry bags, and funnily enough it was the exact amount that AHQ HQ had on hand at the time – truly meant to be!

 

Principal Chaplain Navy, Chaplain Jason Wright spoke briefly of his connection with AHQ as a recipient but also as an organiser of the request lists for ships he has been on. He spoke of strange requests but also the joy and comfort each AHQ package brings onboard when they arrive. He also spoke about how surprised his ship mates were when his quilt arrived.

Jason spoke about his quilt and how the sailors wondered what the chaplian had requested... and then his quilt arrived!  It was nothing like anyone, including Jason, could have imagined!

I was fortunate and very honoured to be asked by Jan-Maree earlier in the year to speak at the dinner. I am a veteran of the Royal Australian Navy of 15 years and have been incredibly fortunate to receive three quilts and laundry bags across three deployments to the Middle East. I spoke about the comfort and warmth that each one of these invaluable gifts from AHQ and its band of phenomenal volunteers. My quilts have got me through some of the toughest moments and days in both my career and my life. Post medical discharge from the Navy, they hold an even greater importance to me - a reminder of phenomenal memories, the people I had the honour of serving with and the wonderful places I’ve seen. All reminders of what a great country we live in. 

Jan-Maree took the mic and asked all quilters that had been involved in the “Acacia Quilt” to gather to the right of the stage. JM then explained to the room that AHQ asked the Governor General if she would like on a quilt as Commander in Chief.  Her Excellency thanked AHQ for the offer, but requested that a quilt be made to be placed on display at Government House in Canberra. Specifically depicting wattle, Australia’s floral emblem. When the quilt was presented everyone was overwhelmed with the outcome. It was simply stunning! The Governor-General’s crest in the middle, painstakingly hand painted and embroidered, surrounded but a multitude of different portrayals of wattle. Her Excellency was very impressed and taken aback and announced to the room that it would be hung in the Wattle Corridor at Government House. By the sounds of it, a very fitting location.

Her Excellency, the Governor-General of Australia, Ms Sam Mostyn AC then took the dais to say a few words and she explained to the room why wattle was important to the office of the Governor General. She also shared with us that at every engagement she always has an ode to the wattle somewhere on her clothing. That evening she had a beautiful wattle brooch that was gifted to her when she visited Mongolia during her first state visit. She spoke about the phenomenal work that Australian’s do for others in their time of need and that AHQ was no different, giving back to those service men and women who protect Australia, often hundreds of kilometres from home.

At the completion of all the amazing speeches, people had time to chat, catch up and make sure their bid on a huge array of silent auction items was the highest! But prior to that came the auction items. They ranged from phenomenal paintings, to four displayed quilts, parts of Supercars and by far the most prized item – a commissioning of a quilt of your chosen design. The auction was fast and furious, with Pello quickly telling the serving ADF members in the room to dig deep as the Chief of Personnel had just announced a 3% pay increase. I believe the Chief of Airforce took this as a personal challenge and was very adamant to secure some of the items (truth be told I can’t remember if he did secure any of them as my head was spinning from the bids flying across the room)! Cath H made sure everyone knew she was not to be outbid on the commissioned quilt – defiantly keeping her hand raised even when the bid sat with her. Not to be outdone, she was successful for the quilt, paying a very generous (and if I do say so myself, worthy) amount for it! Bravo Cath and all the other bidders across the evening.

At the end of the evening, Pello took great delight (I swear there was some jumping around somewhere there) announcing that the Annual Dinner had beaten its last fundraising record of $31,000 and during the evening over $41,000 had been raised to support AHQ to keep doing its magical work!

Plans are already afoot for next year’s Thank You Weekend which will include a visit to Government House! So please keep sewing! For serving members and veterans. I highly recommend buying a ticket for next year’s dinner, you will not regret it and to meet some of the amazing people who create the works of art of quilts that adorn our racks and laundry bags that cover messes and laundries was an absolute honour! I’ll definitely be back next year – I already have some bids in mind for some silent auction items and who knows, maybe I’ll give Cath H a run for her money hahaha.

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Thanks Amy! What a great write up.

And just so you know, the date for next year’s Thank You Weekend is 22-24 October 2027 with the dinner scheduled for 23 Oct 27.

Til next time keep spreading the word and happy stitching! 

Jan-Maree xx