26 May 2023

Weekly Dispatch 26th May 2023

 Hello Friday!!!

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

I think we can all agree, a great display of quilts and laundry bags, yet again from our amazing volunteers....

Please enjoy!!!

🌟 🌟 🌟


This week we dispatched 33 Quilts which takes our yearly total to 321 and our grand total to 15,500!!

We dispatched 19 Laundry Bags which takes our yearly total to 471 and our grand total is 33,207!!

We also dispatched 1 Stay mats which takes our grand total to 34!!


Amy.K

Amy.K

Amy.K

Ann.S

Ann.S

Bev.U

Bindy.O Quilted by Philomena & Embroidery by Joan

Bobbie & Mystery BOMers, Embroidery by Joan 

Bobbie & Mystery BOMers, Embroidery by Joan, Quilted by Philomena

Bobbie.S & Mystery BOMers, Quilted by Alison, Badge by Kerryn

Bobbie.S & Mystery BOMers, Quilted by Alison

Bobbie.S & Mystery BOMers, Quilted by Philomena

Bobbie.S & Mystery BOMers, Quilted by Philomena

Emma.G

Illawarra Quilters, Embroidery by Joan

Illawarra Quilters, Embroidery by Joan

Illawarra Quilters

Jacqui.D

Jan-Maree

Janine.C

Jenni.S

Jenni.S

Bobbie S and the Mystery BOMers Quilted by Philomena

JM

Joy.H

Karen.F

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison, Embroidery by Joan

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison, Embroidery by Joan

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison, Embroidery by Joan

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison

Kerri.B, Quilted by Alison, Embroidery by Joan

Keryn.M

Liz.J

Liz.J

Lyn.R

Lyn.R

Lyn.R

Marilyn.S

Mel.L

Mel.L

Mel.L

Sally.R

Sheena.B

Sue.N

Susan.P

Toni.F

🧵🦘🇦🇺🪡

23 May 2023

Grati-Tuesday 23rd May 2023

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!


I always love hearing the back stories behind the requested themes of quilts. It really highlights the connection that someone will have with their quilt or laundry bag. 

There are a couple of letters below that explain that really well.

Grab a
 cuppa, s
it back and enjoy some well deserved gratitude!
...

Good Afternoon Sue N,

 

I would like to say a big thankyou for my beautiful quilt and the goodies I received today . The quilt is gorgeous and the little doggo you placed on the front is identical to my little baby at home.

It was meant to be! 


Thankyou for the time and care you have taken to make this quilt I appreciate it very much.

 

Best wishes for the future and I hope you are enjoying your time now  after a long period of lockdowns.

 

...

Good afternoon Deb K,

 

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for my lovely quilt and laundry bag. I was so happy to receive them, you have done an exceptional job on the design and colours. You are right, I do love the backing fabric. I think it suits me.

 

I do appreciate all the hard work and time that goes in to designing and sewing these quilts and laundry bags. Mine are now amongst my most treasured possessions from my military career.

 

I hope you are well and thank you again for your heartfelt contribution to Aussie Hero Quilts.

 

Regards

...

Good morning Janis K,

 

Thank you for the quilt that you made. I was very impressed at the final result and couldn’t believe you were able to get the logos of all my favourite teams on there. 

Sport makes up a large part of my identity and gives me something to follow along with, especially when away on deployments.

 

You asked if  I have been to New York (as that is part of the theme chosen)? Well I managed to get over there last year. One of my older brothers offered to pay for me to travel with him to New York and Quebec City last year.

I clearly could not say no to a free trip could I? Whilst the New York Knicks are my favourite team over there, it was their off season. But we did manage to get to watch a New York Yankees baseball game, which was really fun.

Initially, I just started following the Knicks back in the 90’s when my favourite basketball player was traded to them, and I’ve stuck with them since (which sometimes I regret, as they haven’t had success is over 50 years!).

 

You mentioned how hard the last few years have been and I can agree. I was posted to HMAS Stuart during that period and we were deployed overseas. It was a hard slog as we weren’t allowed to step off the ship at any of the foreign ports.

The hardest being when we arrived in Hawaii and could only look at the wharf. We all managed to keep our sanity but I felt sorry for the young sailors who had not been overseas before, whilst I’ve been really fortunate in my 20 years to visit many countries.

 

I grew up in Victoria. I currently live on the South East of Victoria in a small town, which is a nice little spot.

I live there with my Wife and my son, who is 13. We also have a 2 year old Groodle named Lenny.

I am currently in process of building a house in a seaside suburb. It’s a little town mostly used by retired people or city dwellers who have holiday homes down here. It’s nice and quiet, just how my wife wants it.

 

Once again, I’d like to thank you for the amazing quilt. You have done an amazing job and the whole Aussie hero quilt organisation does great things for the ADF family as a whole.

My son has already stolen the quilt and has been using it to keep warm as it’s gotten colder down here. So I think I’ve lost it! Haha.

 

Best wishes to you and your family. Keep warm this winter, it’s starting to get cold

(The requested theme bought to life)

...

Dear Jan-Maree B and Aussie Hero Quilts

 

It is with a happy heart I thank you for your letter and beautiful quilt (made by Lynn F using blocks made by Dorothy C, Quilted by Philomena and embroidery by Kerri B) we recently received honouring our wonderful mother. 

Certainly there are many words and sentiments that could be used to describe how we feel - we are amazed and humbled with the tribute. From our family we thank you for your time and wishes, for something to treasure and remember.  A truly wonderful initiative by all involved.

 

Yours sincerely

...

Good morning Su J,

 

It is with great pleasure that I send this email. I have just picked up the post from the base and unwrapped it as soon as I could. I am beyond blown away by how this has turned out and it is very obvious the effort you went to, to make it special for me.

 

A little about me, I joined the RAN in 2016 from Tasmania. I have been serving as a Combat Systems Operator since then. I specialise in aircraft control, so when I am posted to the ship I am the voice and controller of the air assets we have assigned to us. This includes our helicopters and our RAAF P-8A as well as others. I have loved every minute of this job, the highlight has been being a part of the Commissioning crew of HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41). We then spent 6 months off the coast of the USA conducting trials. This allowed me to travel the USA. Another was the deployment you sent me this quilt for. I have made life long friends and wouldn’t trade any of it. I have been posted to ex HMAS Darwin, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Hobart. I have spent the past six years with a ship and now I am in the role of instructing the new aircraft controllers.

 

The reason for the sharks, 4X and the Labrador specific requests:

 

The highlight of the deployment was having the opportunity to swim with 15 + whale sharks in a town called Oslob off the coast of Cebu, Philippines. Hence, the sharks. I have also had a huge love for the ocean.

The reason for the 4X – great times are had during at the end of deployments when you are surrounded by the people you just spent 6 months with non stop, you laugh (cry a little) as you sip on your favourite drink. Mine, is 4X.

I have a three year old chocolate Labrador named ‘Zeus’. You can guess how much I missed him and how much he missed me when I was away. Having this on the quilt will now allow me to look, and remember the joy he has bought into my life.

 

Thank you so so much for this amazing gift.

Thank you again,

 

Kind regards,

...
If anyone is in the Young area over the next weekend, please pop in to their annual quilt show organised by the local Lions Club. 
There will be a tribute to the service men and woman on show!!!!
Venue: Young Town Hall, Boorowa street Young. 
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th from 9am till 4 pm both days. 
$5.00 entry fee children free. 
...

Until next week keep your letters, emails and photos coming in.  

Tuesday's would be so totally boring without them!
💟💟💟💟💟💟💟

22 May 2023

22 May 2023 Request List

Good morning,

Requests from Op Kudu (training Ukraine soldiers in Europe), the Sinai and HMAS Sydney as well as others on the list this week. Lots of interesting themes being requested too.   The Op Kudu logo is requested a bit this week.  If you are not sure what is being asked for please just ask me and I will help you out.       


Now, here is the request list for this week. Happy hunting. I hope you can find something that tickles your fancy.

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 26 June 2023 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.    

Request Information

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 but please include at least 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


Rising Sun with Rank, name and PMkeys number
RACMP Badge
Multination Force & Observers Patch with Op MAZURKA, Rotation 56B
A map of MFO AO please (attached as an idea)
Military Police Dog Handler (picture attached)
Boxing Kangaroo
Australian Flag,
South Sydney Rabbitohs and Fremantle Dockers supporter
(we can provide the Rising Sun, the RACMP badge, the MFO badge, map of the MFO area,

F

Q

1

Quilt - Rising Sun (with personal details underneath)- AALC badge (Legal Corps) Skippy Badge
I would like something fun and interesting.  (Will share with daughters when home)
Something that captures my time in each region of the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Iraq) Connection to the ANZACs (but not the focus of the Quilt). 
Would like wife and daughters names as text.
(we can supply the badges and names as embroidered pieces)

M

Q

2

Rising Sun and army themed please.

M

LB

3

Cross fit - any colours

M

Q

4

Cooking, Camping, ANZAC/Blue

F

Q

5

Blue, Fishing, Soccer, Dog (greyhound called Archie).Theme - tropics

M

Q

6

Blue/Grey. Hiking, camping and mountain biking. loves lightning and thunderstorms.

M

Q

7

Rising Sun,
Skippy Badge 
"7RAR"
"Recon"
"Operation Highroad"
a map of Afghanistan please
(WE can supply the badges and text)

M

Q

8

RAN Crest,
RAN chaplains crest,
Op Lilia - Solomon Islands flag,
coffee,
black vespa.
(We can supply the crests - flag can be appliqued)

M

Q

9

RAN crest, horses, chooks, has a garden, Assistance dog, white labrador called Sandy,

F

Q

10

Scooby Doo in mint and blue or old school cartoon network collage

F

Q

11

Lavender Purple, Baby Pink or Mint Green
OP KUDU II Patch
Text: OP KUDU 2023
Golden Retriever, Cats (Black & or Grey Tabby) (we can provide the Op Kudu Patch with text)

F

Q

12

Sunflowers, Ocean, Camping, Cycling, rainbows and fitness

F

Q

13

New Zealand & Australian flags, Country Music, Cowboy, Farming and Hunting. Lean Towards Green and Orange colors where possible

M

Q

14

Call of Duty Zombies, Black & Gold decals/highlights (small panel with name)

M

B

15

Star Wars (Empire), Black/Gold/Red

M

Q

16

Elmo Sesame Street

M

Q

17

Green/Blue - Dogs, Ships & Submarines

F

Q

18

Holden Commodore, Summernats Burnout Competition, Essendon AFL, Melbourne Storm NRL - Red/Black/Purple

M

Q

19

Grogu (from Star Wars Mandalorian) & Eveelutions (from Pokemon)  (Pennie has provided an embroidery of Grogu)

M

Q

20

Dungeons & Dragons (game), Jedi Academy, Warhammer 40000

M

B

21

Formula 1, Ferrari, Red/black colours

M

Q

22

Blue/green, Dogs, Toy Story, Trippy patterns

F

Q

23

Star Wars , NFL (USA National Football League)

M

Q

24

Jujutsu Kaisen (Japanese animated series), Purple and Green

M

Q

25

Beagles, Desert Eagles, Explosions

M

B

26

Toy Story, Harry Potter, Brisbane Broncos, Rainbows, XXXX Gold

F

Q

27

Cocktails, text  ''Phins up'', pastel colours, Justin Bieber

F

B

28

The Office (US), Bobs Burgers, tie-dye

M

B

29

NSW Blues logo and Melbourne Storm Logo, Turtle and Frangipani, purple

F

Q

30

Green/Black, North QLD Cowboys (rugby league team), Lord of the Rings

M

B

31

Peaky Blinders (TV series), Star Wars, Nautical American traditional style pictures, would like my first name on it please

F

Q

32

Avatar the last air bender & dungens and dragon. Colourful.

F

B

33

Akatsuki Red Clouds (Anime symbol)

M

Q

34

Turtles, Canberra Raiders

M

Q

35

Australian Fauna/Flora, Goanna

M

Q

36

Pooh Bear and Stitch with the background baby pink

F

B

37

Manchester City (UK soccer team) blue jersey with number 9 and surname HAALAND appliqued.

M

Q

38

Dora the Explorer

M

Q

39

Motorbikes, skateboards, waterfalls, space themed

F

Q

40

Newcastle Knights, Beach, Tooheys New,  Cricket and Boxing. Please include RAN Communications Rate Badge.
(we can provide image of Rate badge)

M

B

41

Norse Mythology

M

Q

42

Colorado Avalanche - United States Ice Hockey Team

M

Q

43

Ocean theme: Whales Sharks,turtles, fish, Fishing Trawlers.

M

Q

44

Better Beer brand. Colours blue and grey

M

B

45

Harry Potter,  Greek Mythology, Books/Reading, White patch for name

M

LB

46

The Twilight Saga - featuring the guys mostly (or a weird off brand version) with nickname embroidered.

F

LB

47

Dark Green, scenic landscapes eg. Forests, mountains, alaskan landscapes.

F

Q

48

Winnie the pooh and friends themed with first name initial and full surname in black. Main colour background white.

F

Q

49

Baby blue quilt, Manchester City (UK Soccer team) "Superbia in proelia" if possible
 
Laundry Bag - Baby blue with Manchester City and "nickname"

M

B

50

Star Wars Mandalorian theme with red with "This is the way"

Laundry bag- Baby Yoda "grogu" from the Mandalorian cleaning laundry                                                      

M

Q

51

Sailor Jerry Tattoos                                                                        

M

Q

52

Red, white and blue, labradors, poppies and inspirational quotes.

F

B

53

Rising Sun with rank, name and PMKeYs number
Australian Flag
OP Slipper 2012
RACMP Badge
Poppies
Any colours
(we can supply the Rising Sun and text)

F

Q

54

OP KUDU Symbol with  'OP KUDU II' written, Australian and Ukraine flag, English Landsacpe, horse and cart
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

F

Q

55

Text: OP KUDU II 2023
Medical Corp Badge (RAAMC), KUDU Symbol, Ukraine & Australian Flags
Interests/Hobbies: Army Medic, Sunsets and Landscapes, ukulele/ guitar
(We can provide the RAAMC and  OP Kudu patches with text)

F

Q

56

Green Camouflage (Army) with some Navy Blue
Skippy Badge & John Deere logo (if possible)
Hunting, Farming and the Army
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

57

Round OP KUDU Symbol in the centre with Ukrainian flag as the back ground (blue and yellow half/half background)
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

58

Blue / Green
OP KUDU patch
Scuba Diving and camping
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

59

Poppies, 'OP KUDU 2023' with silhouetted Soldiers on top of poppies, Aussie and Ukrainian Flags, Large Staffy Dog at the bottom
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

F

Q

60

OP KUDU Symbol on a black background
(We can provide OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

61

Veterans Motorcycle Australia Logo on a plain Black background (image of logo available)
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

62

Border Collies (Wheaten and Blue Merle - breed of border collies)
Sunsets / Sunrises
Crossfit / fitness,
OP KUDU 2023 Patch
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

F

Q

63

Text: OPERATION KUDU ROTATION II – DINGO FOUR SPEAR
KUDU LOGO, Ukraine Flag, and Australian Flag, Dingo 4 Spear Logo
(we can supply OP Kudu patches and images of other logos)

M

Q

64

Round OP KUDU Symbol in the centre with Ukrainian flag as the back ground (blue and yellow half/half background)
(We can provide the OP Kudu patches)

M

Q

65

RAN crest
Weapons Electrical Engineer badge
AASM, Iraq and Border Protection medals.
Op Catalyst and Relex II  
HMAS Parramatta, and Ballarat
Aegis Badge
Wife, two boys (tweens)  AFL hawthorn supporter and enjoys beach fishing, camping, and LEGO star wars.
(We can provide the RAN crest, Weapons Electrical Engineer badge, the ribbons for the medals, and the operation text embroidered and ships' crests and the AEGIS Badge printed)
AASM, Iraq and Border Protection medals.

M

B

66

Arabic/Any type floral patterns in dark blue, light blue and white colour scheme

M

LB

67

Different shades of pink/patterns/white/pastels, cute and girly and fun, if you could embroider/applique my full name with 'Nap Queen' down below

F

Q

68

Quilt The Muppets. With the quote "Shut up Ya Muppets"

Bag - Kermit the frog with the quote "Shut Up Ya Muppet"    

M

B

69

Dark green with yellow ducks over it

M

Q

70

Camping theme, with 4wds on it. Anything to do with landcruisers and patrols and dirtbikes. Would also like some country singers on it like Luke Combs, Lee kernaghan.  Could I have my Service number and nick name included please. 
(Nickname and service number can be embroidered)                                                                                                     

M

Q

71

Camping theme with the bush and beach on it, with 4wds on it. Anything to do with landcruisers and patrols and dirtbikes. Would like NIckname  on the bag.

M

LB

72

Map of  Australia with a Camping & Caravanning theme.
Please use Bright Colours
"XXXXXX Family on Tour".
Please also add colourful hibiscus flowers, and the following "Ohana - family names " around each edge of the quilt please.

M

Q

73

Queensland Maroons Rugby League  with surname in gold

M

B

74

Night Sky theme with Crescent moon and/or Mountains and Waterfall Theme

M

B

75

A high wheel bicycle, coffee and a country theme would be amazing please. I would be grateful for anything really, if you have something in mind that you've always wanted to try/create I'd love to see it. Thankyou.

F

LB

76

Quilt: English Staffy theme please. RAN Crest on the bottom of the quilt, with my Service Number and nickname on it. (we can supply the crest with text)

M

Q

77

Green, Blue, Purple (Pastel colours preferred). Snowflakes and a snowy mountain theme with skiing. Seals and Pengiuns also incorporated.

F

Q

78

Pastels Green, Blue, Purple  Could I please have giraffes, some stars, and dogs (golden retrievers!).

F

LB

79

Monster Trucks and/or Hot Wheels Cars (male colours)

M

Q

80

Star Wars the clone wars (Cartoon TV Show)

M

Q

81