Quilts of Valour Support Vasey RSL Care Residents

Early last year, Vasey RSL Care received a beautiful hand-crafted quilt, decorated with Australian images and insignia relating to the Australian Defence Forces, from the Patchworkers and Quilters Guild of Victoria to Vasey House residential aged care home in Bundoora.

Recently, Vasey RSL Care received five quilts from ‘Quilts of Valour Australia’, so that each of Vasey RSL Care's residential homes has one for use as a ‘Dignity Quilt’, draped over the body of a deceased person, providing respect and dignity as they leave us.

“This simple practice has transformed a procedure that was traditionally carried out with the utmost discretion,” says Anna Borkowska, Residential Manager at Vasey Brighton East (pictured, right with Wyn Roper). “It has allowed this part of the individual’s journey to take its proper place – family, friends and staff members can mark their passing with respect. It is very moving when other residents salute their friends who served our country during their lives.”

‘Quilts of Valour Australia’ was set up in 2012. A close relative of Helen Comport was injured in conflict in Afghanistan and evacuated to a German military hospital. There, he was presented with a quilt by the US ‘Quilts of Valor’ organisation, which makes and sends hand-made quilts to war zones, where they are used to ‘wrap the wounded in love, care and healing’. “He was in tears to think someone would be so generous and when he got home he said it would have meant so much more if an Australian had done it”, she says.

This inspired Helen to establish an Australian equivalent, which has donated more than 350 quilts, each one unique and taking many hours to make. Quilts are presented to ADF personnel injured or affected by war, and to the immediate family members of fallen service personnel, or sent to the military hospital in Germany or direct to war zones such as Afghanistan.

At Vasey RSL Care, the need for the quilts is different. President of Quilts of Valour Australia and a keen quilter, Wyn Roper said:

“I really liked the idea of making these quilts and we decided to make the quilt design distinctly Australian by using the ‘Chandlers’ Cottage Under the Australian Sun’ fabric. The design has the military emblems in the middle surrounded by nine patch blocks that represent crosses for the veterans who have died. The next round of shapes are called ‘Flying Geese’: they are triangles that represent the person flying free from their earthly body after they have died. The final round of Australian flowers represents the veteran’s connection with our wonderful country. The colour range of all fabrics is also typically Australian.”

Six members of the group made quilts for Vasey RSL Care – Wyn Roper, Sharon Siacci, Jennifer Ray, Bronwyn van’t Hof, Jo Botherway and Dorothy Meadows OAM.

CEO of Vasey RSL Care, Janna Voloshin comments: “Around three quarters of our residents have an ex-service background and the Dignity Quilts we have received have quickly become an important component in the care and respect shown to the members of our community. I know that many in the Vasey RSL Care community have suffered personal loss – they’ve lost mates, partners, their expectations for life have been upended and their lives permanently altered: many carry physical and mental scars throughout their lives. What ‘Quilts of Valour’ does is more than create beautiful quilts – they demonstrate in a wonderfully practical way, that those who serve our country are acknowledged and the sacrifices they have made are remembered.”

Find out more about Vasey RSL Care.