Tuesday 26 March 2024

Grati-Tuesday 26 March 24

 

Happy Tuesday Friends!

A great mixture of messages and photos in today's blog. 

Hope everyone has a very safe and happy Easter long weekend.

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy some well deserved gratitude!

...

Hey Toni D,

First and foremost, thanks for the bag and the chocolates!

Absolutely love the bag and the choccies were all eaten by me as the rest of the senior sailors are on a health kick haha.

It was also nice to hear about your family, both being ex serving members I'm sure you have an inkling of what Navy life is like.

Myself and my wife have a 2 and a half year old boy, and a 3 year old doggo who manages to get her 45kg frame over the 6ft fence and out of the backyard every now and then.

Can't believe you've let your son go Army though! Could've had a naval engineering officer to round out the family! Haha.

Little about me, I'm a PO Electronics Technician but I have my transfer in to go to Maritime Cyber Warfare. I'm sick of going to sea and missing the family and so I got my Masters in Cybersecurity and now I'm following that path, but rest assured the laundry bag will go ashore with me! 

Thanks again for the bag, cracking job and it's already in use! (See picture)

Cheers


...

Good Morning,

I recently received a hero quilt and I would just like to say a massive thank you. Emma G was the maker and she has gone above and beyond to exceed all of my expectations with this amazing quilt. 


I really appreciate it and I will cherish this for years to come.

Thanks

...

Hi Jenni S, 


Recently my boss handed me a care package from you, and I have to be honest, it was one of the highlights of this Operation for me! Thank you so much for the personalised laundry bag and the treats, they really mean a lot and will definitely be used - I’m already tearing through the snacks! 

About me - I’ve been a soldier full-time for the last 4 years, enlisting straight out of high school and now living permanently in Townsville. I love my job, and the appreciation and care from people like yourself is really what motivates me to do what I do. 

Once again, thank you so much for your kindness Jenni - my gratitude is shared by everyone who receives one of your care packages. Take care and thank you once again. 

Warm regards, 

...

Hi Penny T,


 I have received your hand made quilt and laundry bag. It is absolutely amazing! Thank you so very much for the time, effort and contribution that you put into making it. I am certain to cherish both of these items with my family. 


Thank you also for enclosing a letter, it was great to read and gives us all something to talk about during long shift work hours. Yes, I do have two beautiful boys at home aged 5 and 18 months! They are gorgeous but I am biased haha. I also have my beautiful wife and our 11-year-old (still a pup to us) Border Collie-Retriever Leo at home doing a great job whilst I am away. The boys love watching Bluey the children's TV show. Although I actually love it also as it resonates with parents/Australians. The boys will love the laundry bag to store toys and such I am sure of it!

 

The quilt is amazing and such a great memento to the time I have spent here on this Operation and in the Air Force. You just can't buy anything quite like it if you tried. It is one of a kind and I appreciate it so much. Your creativity really stands out and so many people here have admired it. I was absolutely chuffed to get mail (I had no idea anything was coming, the mail system here is so slow due to customs) and I was walking around with a massive smile showing anyone who was available at the time. It now resides in my room as seen in the picture attached.

 

Thank you again for the amazing quilt and laundry bag. You all at Aussie Hero Quilts do a fantastic role supporting deployed members. I can honestly say it means so much to us who are away from family and our country to receive good will welfare packs and items from people in Australia who we will never meet.

 

Kindest regards,


...

Good Afternoon Emma G


   Thank so much for the laundry bag. I love it and is a nice reminder as you mentioned in the letter that people do care about the people deployed. 

   I, myself have been in the Navy for 13 years now and was the recipient of a laundry bag back in 2016 which was a pineapple design which gave me a nice chuckle. Unfortunately, I lost nearly everything I owned in a fire at the end of last year and that bag was one of the possessions I lost, so receiving a new one I do really appreciate it. 

  It is always nice to find a new skill that you enjoy especially one that is not related to work. Mine is an obsession with Espresso which was born during COVID and I still maintain. I just bought a professional Espresso machine for home to be able to improve my skills, so I hope that you do get your professional stitcher in the near future.

Thank you once again.
Kind Regards,

...

Dear Kathy W,

I hope this email finds you well. 

I nominated my husband, to receive one of the Aussie Hero Quilts back in December 2023, as part of their special offer to include past serving veterans. I wanted to do something nice for him, so jumped at the opportunity, and sent in the request. I am so thrilled with what you have created for him - thank you so very much!

The quilt arrived safely in the mail right before Damian left again for work (he works away 2/1) and did not get time to message you before he left, so has asked me to email you the following on his behalf:

Hi Kathy W,

Thank you so much for the quilt you have made especially for me. I really appreciate all the time and hard work that has gone into making it. It is a gift that I will treasure, and as a reminder of time served in the Navy. Thank you also, for the card you sent- I enjoyed hearing about you and your family.

I joined the Navy straight after I finished Year 12 in 1995, leaving home (a small country town in Victoria) for Recruit School.   I had postings in Sydney, Perth, Cairns and back to Perth, where I have remained since around 2003. I have seen and done many things and have some great memories of my time in the Navy. But best of all, were the friendships formed with fellow ship mates, some of which I am still in contact/friends with today. We all try to get together each Anzac Day, to march in the city parade, and then catch up afterwards for a beer or three. Our old Adelaide Crew is getting a little smaller though- having lost a old shipmate in 2020 after a long battle with a brain tumor, and another shipmate last October to kidney/liver failure. 

These days, I work in the Building and Construction industry and when I am home, I like to mow my lawns, work out in the garden, have a beer and in the wintertime, get a load of wood, have a bonfire and watch sport (particularly AFL and my beloved Essendon) 

I also have 2 children (son 16, daughter 12) who keep myself and my wife busy- especially when I am away for work.  

Once again, thank you so much Kathy for making the quilt for me. I absolutely love it. Thanks to all involved at Aussie Hero Quilts for all the work they have done, and continue to do, in making these quilts/laundry bags for our Defence Force members. 

Best Wishes
...

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

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

Monday 25 March 2024

Request List 25 March 2024

Hi All

A great range of requests on the list this week. My favourite is Oompla Loomplas and leprechauns  but we also have added HMAS Gascoyne to our list and I am pleased to say that we can provide their crest to go on their quilt and bag.   What will you choose this week??



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

PRIORITY REQUESTS

We have done really well with the priority requests in the last few weeks. Well done everyone.

This week the first THIRTEEN requests are all people overseas on deployment in most of the places we support. Let’s get these quilts and bags underway and put some smiles on faces that are a long way from home!

POST BY DATE

The post by date for all Requests on this list is 29 April 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 an 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, soldier silhouettes (shadow/black), RACT badge, Poppies, Australia Flag, Dark Forest Themed  (we can provide service badges)

M

Q

1

RAAF Crest with personal details and deployment details
Wedgetail airplane silhouette on a blue background with Scales of Justice and Map/Outline of Europe.
(we can supply the crest with text, Scales of Justice and Wedgetail silhouette)

F

Q

2

North Queensland Cowboys or Wallabies Rugby Union theme would be amazing.

M

Q

3

Rising Sun, Skippy Badge,
Modern silhouette of soldier over a camo Aussie flag, (mortars) around the outside
earthy camouflage colours.
Roman numeral VI for 6RAR
MFO badge with text.
(we can provide the Rising Sun, Skippy Badge, MFO badge with text)

M

Q

4

Multinational Forces & Observers Badge with text . Colours green, orange and white.
Badger (animal) to represent the Force Protection Branch
(we can supply MFO badge and image of badger holding MFO badge)

F

Q

5

Egyptian/middle eastern themed. Sausage Dogs/ German Shepherds. With text OP MAZURKA 57A 2024 (we can provide the text if needed)

M

Q

6

Australian Fauna and flora
Australian Flag
Royal Australian Air Force crest etc

M

B

7

Royal Australian Armoured Corps themed
(black and chrome, with plenty of tanks)
We can provide the RAA badge and also the silhouette of the tank

M

Q

8

Fav colour: Green
Hobbies: Hiking, trail running, scuba diving, sailing, snorkelling, guitar

M

B

9

Fav colours: lilac, green, aqua, pink. 
Hobbies: swimming, walking, line dancing, camping, hiking, friends & family, beach, photography, tennis, travel

F

B

10

Australian Flag, Syrian Flag, German Shepherd, Slouch Hat (Syrian flag is easy to applique)

M

B

11

AFL/Port Adelaide, water skiing /wakeboarding, exercise.

M

Q

12

Australian Flag  with Lebanese Cedar tree (like the one on their national flag) in middle Eastern colours/patterns and themes scattered with poppy flowers and text  " OP PALADIN Jan 2024 to Jan 2025".
(we can provide the text)

M

Q

13

Navy Crest with personal details - Navy or Beach Themed.  Has a yacht named  Tango and raced Ducati motorbikes
(we can provide an embroidered Navy Crest with details)

M

Q

14

Sydney Roosters NRL Team

M

Q

15

Purple, Western Bulldogs

M

Q

16

Blue, Sydney Roosters

M

Q

17

RAN crest, Marvel / DC, 4WD / Camping, Video games
(We can supply RAN crest)

M

Q

18

Red and Blue (Newcastle Knights)
Motorsports (F1)

M

Q

19

Outdoor, Adventure

M

Q

20

Red and Black
Starwars (Siths and Darthvader)

M

Q

21

4x4 Driving Theme

M

Q

22

Holden V8 Cars

M

Q

23

RAN crest HMAS Huon Crest, Maritime Mines, Navy (we can provide the crests)

M

Q

24

Submarines and Ice Hockey (we an send you some submarine fabric)

M

Q

25

RAN crest, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge Electrical,  Square Rigged sailing vessels, Sharks, Octopus, Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean
(we can provide the White ensign, ship crest and MT-E badge)

M

B

26

RAN crest, RAN Marine Technician Rate Badge - Diesel, Rock climbing, Light blue, Nick Name
(we can provide the White ensign and MT-D badge and nick name)

M

Q

27

RAN Clearance Diver Rate Badge, Flag Alpha, shark, dive helmet, Forest green, Deadpool, Batman, Spiderman, Anime (Jujitsu kaisen, Naruto, One piece, Demon slayer, Dragon ball z, Pokemon, One punch man), Jeremiah 29:11 (Bible prayer/verse)
(we can provide the CD rate badge, we can also embroider the bible verse, flag alpha is a very simple blue and white flag)

M

B

28

HMAS Gascoyne Ship Crest, RAN Naval Police Coxswain Patch, Anime themed (Demon Slayer, Naruto)
(we can provide the ships crest, Coxswain patch and NPC patch)

M

B

29

RAN crest, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, MTD Badge,  Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean, Western Star Trucks, Sydney Swans, Aquaman, King Neptune
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crest and MT-D badge)

M

B

30

Brisbane Broncos themed

M

Q

31

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, Australian Flag, South Australian Flag, Sextant, Nautical Compass
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crest and flags)

M

B

32

HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, RAN Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Crest, Kraken, Sea Mines, Ocean, Sextant,  Transformers G1 cartoon, English Bulldog (white coat with lots of brown patches and spots named Pickles)
(we can provide the ship & MWCD crests)

M

B

33

Hunting/Camping/Fishing theme in Olive Green/Tan/Camo colours

M

Q

34

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Perth & HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crests, Nickname
Killer whale &/or Emperor Penguin, Sonar, Ocean, Nickname 'Laz', Boxing/Muay Thai, Singapore artwork/culture, Pineapple
(we can provide the White ensign, ships crests and nick name as text)

M

Q

35

Fish/sharks/ocean/waves theme in blue/green colours

M

Q

36

RAN White Ensign, HMAS Gascoyne Ships Crest, Mine Warfare Crest, Australian Flag, Sextant, Nautical Compass

M

Q

37

Penrith Panthers theme in Black

M

Q

38

Cowboys theme in any colours

M

Q

39

Space theme in blue/red and black colours

F

Q

40

Hawaiian/hula girls theme in blue colours

M

Q

41

Cycling, Swimming & Running. Blue & red are favourite colours.

M

Q

42

Something Climbing Related (carabiners, ropes, quickdraws) with surname
(we can supply surname as text if required)

M

Q

43

Warhammer 40K

M

Q

44

Smiling shark, octopi and pineapple

M

Q

45

Dewalt Power Tools - Black & Yellow

M

Q

46

NRL Sharks theme

M

Q

47

Stars & Moon

F

Q

48

Newcastle Knights

M

Q

49

Marine Technician Propeller / Disney Princesses
(we can provide an image of the propeller)

M

Q

50

Sydney Roosters NRL Team / Chameleons

M

Q

51

USA NBA Basketball Team: Houston Rockets

M

B

52

World Map

M

Q

53

Bulldogs (NRL) OR Cars

M

Q

54

Boatswain Rate badge with crown

M

Q

55

Gym weights / Trident / Koala / Green colour

M

Q

56

Surfing / Cycling / Diving (We can provide a dive helmet)

M

Q

57

Anything Diver related & Koala (We can provide a dive helmet)

M

Q

58

Rising Sun with text, Infantry /Skippy Badge themed - Dark earthy, green, black tones
(we can supply the Rising Sun and Skippy Badge)

M

Q

59

Small Rising Sun with first name only. Beach, camping, reading, Belgian Malinois. Blue and Yellow. (we can supply the rising sun with name)

F

B

60

Star Wars Themed

M

Q

61

Boatswain Mate Themed
(we can supply the BM badge)
(Boatswains in the Navy specialise in small arms and close-range weapons, handling and  driving small boats, anchor work, berthing and towing and general maintenance of the ship).

M

LB

62

Kite Surfing Theme

M

LB

63

Power Puff Girls

F

LB

64

RAAF crest with text
Australian outback country themed, ie. gum trees, aussie stockman, camping style
(we can provide the crest with text)

M

Q

65

Sunflower Theme

M

Q

66

Pink and Rainbow Theme

M

Q

67

RAAF crest  E-7A Wedgetail Themed (We can provide the RAAF crest and the aircraft silhouette)

M

B

68

Dinosaur Theme

M

B

69

Cartoon (Tom and Jerry)

M

Q

70

blackhawk, chinook, iroquois

F

Q

71

Red/Blue. Hobbies are baseball and fishing.

M

LB

72

Blue/Grey - Halo (video game)

M

LB

73

Nissan GQ Patrols (4WD vehicle)

M

LB

74

Black/Orange - Rowing

M

LB

75

RAAF Chaplain's crest
Roundel
Solomon Islands Flag
Children's names
Adelaide Crows
Running
fav colour is green

M

Q

76

Black/Orange/Red - Dragon Ball Z / Power rangers 

M

LB

77

Black/Purple - Black Panther

M

LB

78

Red/White - KFC theme

M

LB

79

Orange/Black/White - Pokemon Charizard

M

LB

80

Native Australian plants & flowers! Eucalyptus, banksias etc

F

LB

81

Green/White - Plants/flowers,

F

LB

82

Red/Blue - Old sailing ships/ navy ships

M

LB

83

Navy Blue/ Red - Bluey theme

F

LB

84

Navy Blue - TV / televisions theme

M

LB

85

Beers, boilermaking and themed after The Swinging Pig pub

M

LB

86

Dinosaur theme

M

LB

87

Red/Black. I'm really into Disney Pixar's Cars, especially Lightning McQueen! (he's awesome!) I also like Fortnite and Star Wars!

M

LB

88

Black/Red. I'm really into Disney Pixar's Cars, especially Tow Mater! (he's awesome!) I also love Jetski's and NRL! Up the KNIGHTS!

M

LB

89

Green - Leprechaun, Oompa Loompas, My Little Pony

M

LB

90