Newsletter October 2015

During the last year Quilts of Valour Australia has grown and spread into more Australian States.

We now welcome our co-ordinator in Brisbane. Barbara works with veterans as an Occupational Therapist and sees firsthand the results of war service. We also welcome Stan and Sue, our co-ordinators in New South Wales. Stan is a Vietnam veteran who has experienced the rejection shown towards our soldiers when they came home from Vietnam. As we gradually award quilts many Vietnam veterans say it is the first time anyone has said thank you for their Service, Sacrifice and Valour. Their pain and hurt has most often not been acknowledged. Louise Mooney in Tasmania has been sewing and awarding quilts in Tasmania.

QOVA now has DGR status

What does this mean? DGR stands for Deductible Gift Recipient. Our organisation is incorporated in Victoria and Australia wide. It is also registered with ACNC (Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission) as a public benevolent institution. Now we have DGR endorsement by the Australian Taxation Office. Our receipt books are stamped with our name, logo, ABN and a sentence stating that we have DGR status. This means that we can give an official receipt for any donation of $2.00 or more. The gift donation receipt can be used to prove a tax deductible contribution when a person completed the yearly taxation return. This DGR status is another step in the journey of QOVA complying with all relevant government regulations. Our organisation can now be viewed on the ACNC web site clearly showing that we are completely transparent and comply with all government regulations. Many thanks to Helen for a huge amount of work! Wyn Roper.

Our team in Victoria has also been growing

We welcome all our supporters and contributors. Approximately 500 quilts have been awarded to date. This has included, Defence Personal, wounded whilst deployed since the start of 2012, immediate families for fallen soldiers and veterans affected by war from all conflicts involving Australians. We were very happy to send a quilt to Gallipoli to symbolically wrap all WW1 veterans in the love of Australians.

In April Quilts of Valour Australia had a stand at the Australasian Quilting Convention at the Royal Melbourne Exhibition centre. The response from visitors to the convention was extremely supportive. We also learnt of veterans in need of a quilt.

In July I spoke at the Scquilters’ (Southern Cross Quilters) retreat in Canberra We were offered a lot of support as well as donations of fabric and money. I am sure all the quilters present have taken home our message all around Australia which will help spread the warmth and care to veterans and soldiers all over Australia.

Every Wednesday at lunchtimes we have been teaching students from Beaconhills College in Berwick the art of patchwork and quilting. The class has been very popular and students have been enthusiastic. They entered their first quilting efforts in the Expo at Jeff’s shed in July and were awarded encouragement awards. The students are now piecing together blocks to make a quilt to award to a veteran at the College Remembrance Day service in November.

Early in September Wyn and her husband travelled to Albury to award a quilt to John Lyddiard, a Vietnam veteran. She also gave John a quilt for his son Michael and his two sons. Michael was seriously wounded in Afghanistan. John and his wife Nancy will take these quilts up to Northern Queensland later in the year.

Recently I awarded quilts following a talk given by a young veteran and RSL members at a Berwick Rotary meeting.

4 young veterans will be driving their 4 wheel drive from Victoria to the northern tip of Queensland. They commence their journey this week. They will be talking with school groups and others. They will also be connecting with other young veterans who are suffering from PTSD. We are sending quilts with them to award to those most in need of our help. Unfortunately we have not yet grown enough to reach all veterans touched by war.

Many quilts have been awarded around Australia this year

Our Next Quilt-In

Saturday 24th October, 10am – 3pm

Harkaway Hall, King Rd. Harkaway 3806

Great company, door prizes, morning and afternoon tea refreshments provided

The Harkaway Hall committee has again generously offered the Hall free of charge. People with varied experience are most welcome. Tasks/projects can be selected as you arrive. All skill levels are welcome. Heating, cooling and large trestle tables are available. We will have two irons, cutting boards and cutters. If you have a basic sewing kit, please bring it with you. You are very welcome to bring sewing machines. These will be tagged for you on the day. If you can come for the whole time could you please bring your lunch.

Visit our Stand at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Fair

7th – 11th October, 9am – 4.30pm

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank

Quilts of Valour will have a stand at the Brisbane Craft and Quilt fair. Please come and visit us.

Dinner in November

It is an honour for Wyn and me to be invited to attend the remembrance dinner to be held at the Australian War memorial in Canberra on 10th November 2015. This dinner is held by Families of the Fallen (Afghanistan), in conjunction with the Walking Wounded Board. The evening will honour the memories of Australia’s 41 brave young men who died whilst serving our nation.

Thank you so much to everyone involved in ‘Quilts of Valour Australia Inc. for helping to honour the Service, Sacrifice and Valour of all soldiers/veterans who have put their lives on the line for our country.