By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
IT’S more than a quilt.
In one photo two young Australian veterans who served together in Afghanistan embrace each other, a multi-coloured quilt draped over their shoulders in a symbol of brotherhood.
One of the veterans pictured is Chris May from Berwick, while the quilt was donated by the Quilts of Valour Australia.
Chris is currently heading up the Young Veterans convoy, in which three ex-military Land Rovers have been driven from the Australian mainland’s southernmost point at Wilson’s Promontory over the High Country to Cooktown, the northernmost tip of Queensland, where the group is now.
Chris and his companions have taken quilts donated by the Quilts of Valour which they are passing on to other veterans throughout Australia’s east coast, as well as speaking to those affected by war.
Harkaway’s Helen Comport is one of the driving forces behind Quilt of Valour Australia and it was her idea for Chris and his team to take the quilts with them when they set off on their adventure.
Helen was at a Berwick Rotary presentation recently where Chris’ brother, Scott, also an Afghanistan veteran, spoke to guests about post-traumatic stress and his brother’s upcoming journey.
It was then that Helen saw an opportunity.
“I heard from his (Scott’s) talk that they were doing this journey to Victoria up to the top of Queensland,” she said.
“I asked if they’d like to take some quilts because they were going to be meeting up with young veterans who were struggling.
“I gave him a couple of big bags of quilts and then he said he could use more, so when I went up to Brisbane recently I took an extra suitcase.”
At the rotary presentation Helen presented quilts to Berwick RSL president Ray Heathcote, Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL president John Wells and the May brothers.
As Helen puts it, the quilts are a way for returned veterans to be reminded they’re not alone and that their service is enormously appreciated.
“My dream was that we could wrap all the veterans in our love for their sacrifice, no-one goes to war and escapes all the horror,” Helen said earlier this year.
“From the responses I’ve got, every veteran, it’s actually brought them to tears to think anyone would put hours and hours in to something so beautiful.”
Helen has her own reason for reaching out to veterans.
One of her four sons was also serving in Afghanistan when he was badly injured in conflict and airlifted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany – the largest military hospital outside the US.
While in hospital, her son made a discovery that would shape Helen’s life, kick-starting a passion that she has been heavily involved with ever since.
“When my son was in Germany, because he’s in this sterile ICU, he saw this coloured blanket or rug. He didn’t know what it was,” Helen, also a member of Berwick Inner Wheel, recalled.
“And he asked if he could have that on his bed. And they said, of course.”
The quilt Helen speaks of was delivered to her son through the Quilts of Valor association in America, which organises for the quilts to be sent to soldiers injured in war as a reminder that their service and bravery will never be forgotten.
Through consultation with the Victorian Quilters’ Guild and the Berwick RSL Sub-branch, Quilts of Valour Australia was born in 2012, created by Helen and aided by contributors throughout the country.
Three years since starting up the Australian group, the Quilts of Valour has given out more than 500 quilts around the country.
For more information on the Quilts of Valour Australia, contact Helen at qovoz@hotmail.com, or visit www.quiltsofvalour.com.au
To stay up to date with the Young Veterans convoy, visit www.facebook.com/YoungVeteransRSL
