15/06/2026
At our June meeting Angela Clarke spoke to members on her involvement and support of Aussie Hero Quilts (and Laundry Bags). Below is the fabulous presentation that Angela gave to the members in attendance at the meeting.
"Aussie Hero Quilts was founded by Jan-Maree Ball in 2011, a RAAF and RAN veteran. She had heard a story of an Australian soldier who was serving in Afghanistan being injured in a Blackhawk crash. He was flown to Germany to an American facility for treatment. Here he was given a quilt by an American organisation as he was the only patient without a quilt. Jan-Maree was grateful of the American generosity but ashamed there was not an Australian quilt for him.
Jan-Maree put her quilting group to work in October 2011 and in November she sent off 24 quilts to Afghanistan for Distribution to Aussie Service Personnel as a gesture of gratitude for the Service men & women. As these quilts were distributed their comrades wanted one too.
Today a list of requests are sent out by email every Tuesday to participating volunteers around Australia, there usually being 100 request in each list. Volunteers then choose 1or 2 requests they would like to make in response to colours, hobbies and other favourite things mentioned in the requests, or what they have in their stash. The volunteers also make laundry bags to send to Service personnel so that they can identify their individual laundry.
I was delighted to became aware of Aussie Hero Quilts 2 years ago as I had inundated family members with my quilting efforts. In that time I have made 8 quilts which have been sent to different parts of the world, including Ukraine, United Kingdom, around Australia, and 1 laundry bag.
To date - 17,864 quilts and 38,780 laundry bags have been made and distributed to Service personnel . This is a phenomenal effort by the volunteers which include women, and some men, from around Australia. There are some who embroider badges and emblems to be included in quilts.
Once a request has been accepted, we are provided with names and addresses and often a mailing bag and given 5-6 weeks to complete the project . We are encouraged to include a personal letter with each quilt and laundry bag. The quilts are requested to be 42 inches wide and 70 inches long. This is so they fit Service bunks, and also that they are lightweight and easy to transport between deployments.
Aussie Hero Quilts Mission - That nobody who serves Australia feels unsupported or believes that their service is not valued, recognised or appreciated.
Vision - To proactively care for those who serve Australia, regardless of politics or mission, through a team of volunteers creating quilts and laundry bags to show appreciation for service and sacrifice.
