24 June 2022

Weekly Dispatch 24th June 2022

       Happy Friday!!!

Another week of Amazing Quilts and Laundry Bags being sent off to our ADF!!

I think we can all agree, a great display of skill, imagination and creativity in the following quilts and laundry bags. 

Please enjoy!!!

🌟 🌟 🌟

This year so far, we have sent off 428 quilts

and that has brought our total since we started to 14663.

We have also sent off 856 laundry bags, bringing our total since we started to over 30918 laundry bags.



Ann.S

Ann.S

Bev.C

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Chris.E

Judy.D Crests by Sue

Judy.D Crests by Sue

Kathy.W

Kathy.W

Mel.L

Sally.R

Sally.R

Sally.R

Sally.R

Toni.F

🌟 ðŸŒŸ ðŸŒŸ

 

That's it for this week!!!

21 June 2022

Grati -Tuesday 21st June 2022

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Hope everyone has had an awesome week!

 Although we probably can't beat Jan-Maree's last Thursday when 101 year old Vietnam Vet, PTE Bert Sutton received one of our beautiful quilts.  There is a link to the ABC News story below. Guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye and make your heart swell!

So grab a cuppa, sit back, relax and enjoy the gratitude letters below. 
....

Dear Cath H,

I am writing to thank you so, so much for the absolutely stunning quilt and laundry bag that I received today. When I opened your parcel, I was lost for words at your design and how perfect it was. Blue and purple are my two favourite colours (you must have just known!) and the golden retriever fabric is beautiful. Then, I opened your letter and felt quite emotional after reading it, especially hearing about your goldies, an insight into your life and the thought and effort you put into the design of my now two most prized possessions. Reading your letter felt like receiving a letter from an old friend and I really appreciated getting to know you. I am absolutely thrilled and think it was actually more exciting than opening a birthday or a Christmas present.

I hope you know how much your work with Aussie Hero Quilts is appreciated by personnel in the ADF. There is so much anticipation and excitement before we receive our delivery, and everyone is absolutely blown away when we open our package. It is people like you who make the sacrifice and service worth it, and I cannot thank you enough for what you do. We know that there is a considerable amount of thought, effort and attention to detail which goes into your creations, and I can assure you that the quilts are proudly on display on the beds (in Navy we call them racks) of all the
lucky recipients. I was so pleased when I was able to request a quilt and a bag, as I have been so envious of my friends and colleagues who had received one after deploying. I spent all day today showing everyone who walked into my cabin my new quilt and bag, and will continue to do so! The girl I share the cabin with received her quilt a few weeks ago, and it is absolutely stunning as well. With both our quilts out, I think we have by far the nicest cabin on the ship!

I asked for golden retrievers as my theme because they remind me of home and my family, as well as something that makes me really happy. My other choice was my football team, but they often make me more sad than happy! You are so right that this quilt feels like a warm hug from home, and it makes me so happy every time I look at it. I took so many photos so that I can still look at it, even when I am not in my cabin!
Thank you for saying yes to creating my quilt and laundry bag, I can't believe it worked out so perfect, with the arrival of the delayed fabric and my request. As I said earlier, you have chosen my two favourite colours, and I am in awe of your creativity to bring everything together to create something so beautiful. Thank you as well to Keryn M, I really loved the detail of the paw prints, the whole thing is just so cleverly thought out. Clean paw prints are much nicer than muddy paw prints! Our goldie certainly takes the opportunity to lie in every muddy puddle he can find, after he stands up, he looks like a top deck chocolate!! I was not expecting the personalised label, what an amazing extra touch, it will most certainly be a family heirloom.

Thank you again Cath for what you have created for me. I do not think it could be any more perfect that we both share a love of goldies and I was fortunate enough for you to make my quilt and laundry bag. Your gift is something that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and I feel so privileged to have received something that has been made with so much love and care. I know that the quilt will cheer me up when I have a bad day, remind me of home and make me feel special. I have also tucked your letter in my cabin drawer and will read it to make me smile. I will think of you on Anzac Day when I reflect on why I do what I do.

Love,
....

Good Morning Lyn R,

Thank you for my quilt and laundry bag. They are incredible and brought the biggest smile to my face. They are a perfect memento of my time deployed.

 I hope to one day get to visit Tasmania and experience the beauty the state has to offer. I hope the winter doesn't hang around too long so you can get back up to your highland home. 

It is so incredible the work you do and I know myself and many other deployed members of the ADF appreciate these gifts as mementos. Thank you so much for all the time you dedicate to this wonderful organisation and making sure that other deployed members get the same experience I did when I received my gift. 

Kindest Regards
....

Good afternoon Pennie T 

 

The quilt is amaaaaaaaaaaaazing! I am now the envy of all “Healthies” on board as we have embarked a medical team on board for RIMPAC (worlds largest international maritime exercise held in Hawaii) and it has become a good conversation piece every time they visit my cabin. I LOVE the colour pattern with the combination of Nursing and COVID depictions.  Also how you’ve done the tropical floral background on the other side is truly spectacular. I will forever treasure what you’ve made for me. 

 

Again THANK YOU for dedicating your time and effort in making this special quilt and laundry bag for me and I will definitely treasure it for years to come.

 

(also from the same recipient)


Good Afternoon Ruth S

The laundry bag that you’ve made is far from okay – IT IS AMAAAZING! Thank you for dedicating your time and effort in making it for me. I love how you’ve incorporated my initials as well as included a “Health” theme to it. I will forever treasure what you’ve made. 
THANK YOU.

Kindest Regards, 

....

Hi Anne S, 
I received my lovely quilt. You have done a wonderful job and it is very appreciated. I think the quality of my quilt will have it last through a few generations of my own so again thank you and keep up the good work, I imagine all the other veterans who receive one will be very pleased with the workmanship. 

Kindest regards

....

Hi Jan-Maree (and Wendy V),
 
I would like to thank you, your organisation and Wendy V, the lovely lady who made the quilt for such a wonderful gift. It is hard to believe one person would put so much work into the sewing of a quilt to give away. I am honoured to receive it and will treasure it forever.

After my war service in New Guinea I worked on my fathers farm north of Numurkah. He was a WW1 veteran with health problems. Next I worked building houses for the men constructing irrigation channels for the Soldier Settlement scheme in this area before starting my own dairy farm.
I was drummer in the brass band from 1949-2014 drumming for many local Anzac and POW marches. Now at 101
I am happy to participate but on my mobility scooter.

Thank you for such a wonderful gift.
....

Here is the link to the news story that featured WW11 Veteran Bertram Sutton receiving an Aussie hero Quilt for his service.





....
Well, thats it for another week.

Thank you to all who have contributed your letters of gratitude and we can't wait to get some more to help spread the joy!!

Till next week....

20 June 2022

20 June 2022 Request List

Good morning all,

I am just back from a few days in Canberra and had a very productive time down there. I presented some personalised laundry bags to the latest Chaplaincy Course and they were very appreciative. One fellow in particular was very touched as the last time someone made something personal for him was when his grandmother was alive. He said please don’t underestimate how much this laundry bag meant to him.

PRINTED PATCHES AND BADGES

Last week I showed you a photo of the three service crests we can embroider to include in quilts. They are just some of the many badges we can embroider for use in the quilts and bags.   Today I thought I would show some of the patches that we print. If we cannot embroider a patch because we do not have it digitised, or perhaps it is a crest/badge that is not called for often enough to request it to be digitised. In these instances we can print them on fabric and send them to you to be included.  They will always be printed two to an A4 sheet as the printable fabric is expensive and I cannot afford to print one badge to a sheet so they will be about A5 in size.



10th Anniversary Dinner.

Five months to go to our Annual Thank You Weekend in Canberra and our 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at the Rex Hotel.  Have you bought your tickets for the events on the weekend? This is such a good opportunity to meet up with recipients who have received our quilts and bags and hear their stories. I will be working hard to get al many of them as I can along to the dinner and to the other events over the weekend.

Tickets available here from Trybooking. https://www.trybooking.com/events/798247/sessions

 

Here are the requests for this week.


PRIORITIES  

 

Requests nos 1,2,3,4 are the priorities this week.  These are all priority because they are on deployment overseas so we need to get their quilts and bags to them to brighten their day and their accommodation. If you can help out please email me.

 

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 26 July 2022  please, or earlier if you can manage this.  If you cannot make that date, please let me know. Do reach out if you have any timing issues and we’ll resolve one way or the other. In fact, if you are going to be late posting it please let me know BEFORE you post it.  Also, if this time frame is too tight for you, there are options, just email me to discuss, thank you.    

 

The rest of our Requests.

 

When selecting a request, remember, you do not have to include everything they have asked for. Footy quilts do not need to have the logo or even the team’s name. Using the team colours is all that is required. Simple is perfectly acceptable.  A number of these requests have given you favourite colours as well as footy teams or other hobbies and interests. It is fine to make a quilt using their favourite colours and include only one of their interests.  It is fine to keep it simple. 

 

If there is more than one request on this list that you would be happy to do I suggest that you send me a list of requests and tell me how many you want to be allocated….i.e. one of the following please….  There are always a few requests that everyone wants to do (and I can never pick them) so if the first one you ask for is taken then I can allocate another from your list if I have a list. 

 

Any queries you might have, please don’t hesitate to contact via the AHQ email as per usual with any queries and we will assist you from there.  We may not know the answer, but it will be our pleasure to research and get back to you.   

 

A reminder, when you are ready to post the quilt or laundry bag you’ve created, please use the PMKEYS number given you in any correspondence with the admin team.  This helps the volunteer admin team keep a track of what’s been sent etc.  The PMKEYS number is included in the address details we supply for your recipient e.g.  the 7-digit number in bold below. 

 

CPL Wanda Quilt 8765432 

TG 3456 

AFPO XX 

ADF 

Sydney NSW 2890

 

Also, please use the Aussie Heroes PO Box address on your parcel in the event the parcel is Returned to Sender -  the PO Box is a safe place in the event of  any mishaps with postage. 

 

Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags) 

PO Box 248,

Cherrybrook, NSW 2126 

 

Don’t forget to take a photo of your completed quilt or laundry bag to email to AHQ with the name and PMKEYS of the recipient and we can include in the Weekly Dispatches blog and add to the tally of quilts and laundry bags sent off to the troops.  I personally love viewing the photos of those projects dispatched – so inspiring. 

 

If you are using a AHQ supplied prepaid satchel please kindly use the AHQ address for the return address– also for your own packaging – if a parcel is Returned to Sender it is likely we can expedite its journey to the recipient from Sydney.

    

Please also please hold on to the Tracking number (the pink sticker that you should remove before posting – we’ve experienced mail delays lately (haven’t we all?) and having the Tracking number is very reassuring to keep an eye on the parcel’s progress in arriving at its destination. 

 

Don’t forget, if you look at today’s Request List and need help choosing, please feel free to get in touch to discuss, we will be ready to reply and offer guidance by email. Our goal is to help you find a request that you will be comfortable with doing. If you need a crest etc we may be able to post embroideries / printed fabric images or email some of these to you. 

 

Helpful info may be gleaned here  http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com/2019/07/information-post-for-those-that-sew-for.html    I look forward to seeing the photos of completed quilts and LBs when they are ready to post off. 

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE copy the ENTIRE line if you wish to nominate for a quilt or laundry bag.  

 

For example…. 

Marvel Theme. Ironman     M       LB      1 

 

This is really important to make sure that neither you nor I copy the wrong number which could lead to me giving you the wrong details for specific request.  If you find it hard to copy and paste, please copy the line out as above.  

 

Decoding The Columns 

 

The first column is the theme or preferences requested. 

 

The second column indicates the gender of the recipient. 

 

The third column is as follows. 

 

B=both quilt and laundry bag (feel free to nominate to JUST do the laundry bag if you wish) 

Q= just a quilt 

LB = just a laundry bag 

F= female 

M= male 

  

Please let the Admin crew know if you have any other questions....Just email friendsofahq@gmail.com  

Looking forward to seeing what you want to make this week. Happy stitching! 

 

Cheers, 

Jan-Maree

 

P.P.S.  Don't forget to check out AHQ on the Blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter 

 

Please note- Requests 1,2,3,4 are priority requests!!!!

Love to go hiking, trails, and being outdoors, Green and Blue colours to represent the Australian outback and oceans. OR if patterns are easier than images, then patterns in green and Blue . Full creative control is with you and your team.

M

B

1

Black, Army, Corps crest, poppies  (We can post you the Corps badge)

M

Q

2

Civil Engineering - dirt, machinery, Adventuring and Hiking.  I enjoy bushwalks and landscapes.
I am passionate about civil engineering, references to RAAF Airfield Engineering would be great.
I'd like the words ""OP ACCORDION 2022"" on it somewhere."

M

B

3

greens and cream with a Rising Sun and RAAOC badge please. We can supply the badges to include

M

Q

4

Australian flag, Coat of Arms, Rising Sun, Anything army themed.(we can supply the Rising Sun and Coat of Arms)

M

Q

5

Light blue. motorbikes, snowboarding, camping and/or fishing would be tops. I also follow Red Bull racing

M

Q

6

The Mandalorian (TV Series)

M

Q

7

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

M

Q

8

Donkey Kong or King Kong (gorilla in general)

M

Q

9

Fortnite (Game)

M

Q

11

40 Series landcruiser, Surfing, Travel

M

Q

12

Star wars

M

Q

13

Any or all of please….Blues, gold and creams, Dancing, Swimming, bush walking and Cycling
Reading, world travel and going to the beach, concerts"

F

Q

14

Blue, PC Gaming, movies, geeky projects; Scottish Terrier (Hugo)

M

Q

15

Would love a RAAF crest in the centre with a black border with Cam (any pattern) (We can supply the Crest

M

Q

16

Purple (he’s an engineer so loves “Engineering purple”), RAN Crest with personal details, Navy Ensign, Engineering Navy Propeller, loves running and working out at the gym  (We can supply badges and embroidery and also the Navy White Ensign and a silhouette of a propellor to use for applique)

M

Q

17

Rising Sun Badge
Royal Australian Engineer(RAE) Badge
Aussie Flag
Red Kangaroo (We can supply Rising Sun badge and  RAE badges)

M

Q

18

Engineer Colours which are red and royal blue, with Rising Sun Badge, Australian Army Apprentice Badge and RAE Engineer Badge.  (We can supply badges) Date of enlistment and dischage


M

Q

19

Australian Flag, some poppies, rising sun badge with personal details, RAE badge, AALC badge  (Lawyer) (We can supply Badges)

M

Q

20

RAAF Crest, RAAF 2 SQN, wedgetail aircraft,  sailing, farm life (goats, chickens, chopping wood) (we can send you both crests and a silhouette of the wedgetail for applique)

M

Q

21

colours of the ocean lovely calm blue to raging grey green

M

B

22

Army Rising Sun, RAAOC badge, Army Combat Badge, Poppies, ACT Brumbies, Canberra Raiders (we can supply military badges)

M

Q

23

Rising Sun, RAAOC badge, Poppies, Flowers, V8 Supercars, Mighty Car Mods logo (we can supply military badges and car mods logo)

F

Q

24

Rising Sun, Australian Army Catering Corps badge, RAAOC badge, Regt badge, the Anzac soldier resting on arms silhouette, Interfet badge, MFO badge (we can supply badges and a silhouette of the soldier to applique)

M

Q

25

Pop culture, blue, black and green

M

Q

26

SCI-FI  FANTASY  STARWARS, LORD OF THE RINGS GARDENING  ICE SKATING  BLUE  GREEN

F

Q

27

RED  BLUE  MOUNTAIN BIKES  SURFING  HOME DIY RENOS

M

Q

28

BLUE  BEACH SURFING  ROWING  CARLTON FC SKIING  GOLF

M

Q

29

DARKER COLOURS  4WD   SCUBA DIVING  GWS GIANTS

M

Q

30

Red blue cars and motorbikes

M

Q

31

Note the years this recipient served.
WRAAC F3/481 April 1955- April 1958
NZWRAC 1972-1976     (we can provide an embroidered patch with these details on it)
Playing the piano in various bands
Excellent sports woman including
 the following sports:
Tennis
Running/ Athletics
Sailing
Softball
Basketball

F

Q

32

BLACK SILVER  MUSIC IRON MAIDEN  METALLICA

M

Q

33

BLACK, BLUE, NAVY BLUE, ANGELS AND DEMONS with the letter V on it please

M

B

34

RAN crest, Submariner's dolphins badge with  "CHIEF OF THE BOAT" underneath it.  Submarines. BLACK YELLOW We can provide the RAN crest and Submariner's dolphins)

M

Q

35

DIRT BIKES (KTM)  Submariner's Dolphins with badge with "CHIEF OF THE BOAT" underneath it.   ORANGE  BLACK (we can provide the submariners dolphin)

M

B

36

CRICKET, RUGBY, COLLINGWOOD, ST GEORGE, Submariners Dolphins (We can provide the submariners dolphins)

M

B

37

Canberra Raiders and Carlton Blues

M

Q

38

RAN crest, HMAS Choules crest, Blue and White, Nautical/Nature Theme (we will provide you the crests)

M

LB

39

RAN crest, HMAS Choules crest, White ensign, Nautical Theme (we will provide you the crests)

M

B

40

Red and Black, Team: Essendon

M

Q

41

QLD Maroons

M

B

42

marvel , star wars, jets, anchor , red or blue . Thank you

M

Q

43

star wars

M

Q

44

Regt Badge and Rising Sun, Flowers poppies and Roses, Helicopters
AFL Football, Horses, Maltese/Shitzu Dog (white), Australian Bush (We can provide the Rising Sun and Regt Badges)

M

Q

45

retro

M

Q

46

Army, Rising Sun badge Medical corps badge (RAAMC Badge), text "RSM", Sydney Swans, Softball, Basketball, Poppies (we can provide the badges)

F

Q

47

star wars

M

Q

48

RAN crest, St George football or NSW State or Origin (we will provide you the RAN crest)

F

B

49

RAN crest and Choules crest, Nautical, Blue, white, green (we will provide you the crests)

M

Q

50

Rising Sun, Nursing Officer in RAANC and Midwife, Yoga teacher. I love Kombi Vans (I have a blue and white 1976 Kombi) and the beach. Also distance running (We can provide RAANC and rising Sun badges)

F

Q

51

Super Saiyan Goku (From Dragon Ball Z)

M

B

52

Navy Blue and Sky blue  (RAAF Colours) RAAF crest (We can provide this)
Deployed to Rwanda & East Timor
Served 1971 - 2019 49 years

M

Q

53

Toy Story Theme

M

Q

54

Tie dyed patterns (Blue), Surfing vibes

M

Q

55

Orange and White with Nature mountains or rainforest theme

M

B

56

Akatsuki Clan (From Naruto)

M

Q

57

Navy Blue, Ships, sports 

M

Q

58

blue, cycling, the beach

F

B

59

Ship's crest / Motoring + Cars (we can provide ship's crest)

M

B

60

Liverpool Football Club

M

B

61

Black, Gold, Purple and Blue/Japanese Animation

M

B

62

Brisbane Bronco's

M

Q

63

Everton Football Club, Blue

M

Q

64

Deck of cards theme. two Kings etc colours red,blue white.

M

B

65

Black with dark grey  it, the letters S-H in the center

M

Q

66

Camping, outdoors themed, Green / Blue

M

Q

67

South Sydney Rabbitohs

M

Q

68

RAN ensign, white and blue please (We can provide the RAN ensign)

M

Q

69

Star Wars or Planet of the Apes please, Dark Blue, Black, Dark Green

M

B

70

Crests of the following - HMAS DECHAINEUX, HMAS COLLINS, HMAS RANKIN, HMAS RANKIN, HMAS WALLER, HMAS SHEEAN, HMAS FARNCOMB
RAN Crest with the following underneath plus personal details COMAUSSUB, 
Submariner's dolphins skull and crossbones

M

Q

71

RUGBY,  BLUE , YELLOW,  WHITE

F

Q

72

RAN crest, Royal Australian Navy Amphibious Squadron Insignia (example found at: https://www.navy.gov.au/history/tradition/origin-ran-squadron-and-national-insignia)

M

B

73

RAN crest, White ensign (we can supply the RAN crest and the ensign)

M

B

74

Tartan Patchwork, Nautical, no crest please

F

Q

75

Red and Black, Anime - Itachi (From Naruto).

 

 

76

RAN crest,  Naval theme, Tobruk & MANOORA, then replenishment on Success. 4WDing & camping, NSW blues, st George Illawarra

Manoora already printed.

M

B

77

RAAF crest, Text "Timor 99/2000, Iraq 2006, 2012/13 Lebanon,  2017 Middle East/Afghan",
Loves his dogs (Koolies - Sav and Mia)  and motor bikes (we can provide the crest and text)

M

Q

78

Turquoise and navy (colour)

F

B

79

French Bulldogs

M

B

80

RAAF Crest, West Coast Eagles

F

Q

81

Brisbane Broncos theme, Aussie Hero Quilts Logo

M

Q

82

HMAS Choules Crest-  Ship Theme

M

B

83

Navy Blue and White, RAN Crest, Initials   

M

Q

84

Pokemon, red and white

M

B

85

Anything Fishing, boating, Paramatta EELS.

M

Q

86

Slipknot (The band), Black

M

Q

87

Manly Sea Eagles, Ships Crest

M

Q

88

NSW Blues theme

M

B

89

Daughter's name, for a young child to grow into - Baby Pink, Elephant Themed

F

Q

90

Batman

M

Q

91

Melbourne Storm theme

M

B

92

black

F

B

93

Blue, turquoise, black, moon / stars,  butterflys, waves, mandalas.

F

Q

94

Ocean theme, Whales, Dolphins, Waves

F

Q

95

Traditional Japanese Style Samurai, Crashing Waves, Mt Fuji

M

B

96

Black and Gray - tattoo theme/ traditional Japanese/ Old School/ Mandala

M

B

97

HMAS Choules Crest,  RAN Crest, Rising Sun, RACT crest, army colours, with littke vikings

F

Q

98

Chelsea Football Club, Blue

M

B

99

Green, Dinosaurs.

F

B

100

Carlton Football club (AFL) "BLUE BAGGERS"

M

Q

101

RAAF Crest, RAAF roundel, Op Slipper
Loves Havanese dogs, owns two black and white ones, is going to be a dog groomer
Aircraft, 4WD
Op Slipper
HONOURS AND AWARDS,
DLSM***
AASMICAT
AFGCAMMED
CAFCOM
ADM
We can provide RAAF crest and embroidered text.

M

Q

102

Blue and purple, Multimedia art journalling, reading, walking or gym glasses
music, musicals, walking
Bordoodle – Indianna Bones (Indi). Border Collie x Poodle

F

Q

103

Yellow and Orange, Watching AFL, Pet  Groodle

F

Q

104

Soothing colours.   Likes Bollywood Dance, Acting,  listening Bollywood music, country songs, Gym, meditation, cooking

?

Q

105

Greens, Blues, Yellows, Oranges anything bright.
Beach Camping and Travelling and gin :)
Indigenous Issues due to my Indigenous heritage.

F

Q

106

BLUE, MUSIC, STAR WARS, MOTO GP

M

Q

107

Can I please have a disco themed quilt and a dog themed LB

M

Q

108

Rising Sun with personal details, RAAC badge, 2/14th  LIGHT HORSE,

M

Q

110

 Till next time… happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx