“Partners of Vietnam Australia” Quilt by Albany Ladies Veterans and Partners

The Partners of Veterans Association was first formed in 1999 and by 2003 every state had a branch including Albany. Feeling the need for support the women found solace in each other’s company and joined the movement to create quilts across the country. Here is their story in their own words.
“PVA Albany National Quilt Project / SURVIVORS
Like a quilt, we came together as fragments. Some knew others, some knew no-one. The common thread was our troubled veterans. The VVCS counsellor would guide us through emotions of loss, anger, grief, bewilderment, fear and at last to understanding, peace, love, unity.
The doorway to trust is dark and unknown. But it must be transited quickly. Honesty of thoughts, plumbed emotions, experiences shared – this is the only path to understanding.
And we wanted that. We wanted to understand so much.
We wanted to understand those beautiful young men who when they’re country called, strode away brave and confident, who came back altered and internalized, their inner beings exposed to unspeakable horrors of war, who were shocked on their return to the wide brown land of peace, to find themselves rejected.
We will learn to accept that we can never quite have those young men back. They will still be beautiful but hunted now and never the same. It sometimes seems they are as far away as the land where their innocence died. What is this anxiety, this anger and depression, this exhausted face after a night of dreaming battle? It seems their greatest comfort and happiest moments are reserved for their mates.
Now at last, after further and interminable doubt, avenues of support have opened for them.
But we are tired too and often lonely. What about us?
So here we are in our own minefield, treading carefully. How much should we reveal? Could we trust? Were we being fair? Our love was often sorely tested. What about us?
Trust came and this time it was about us.
We learned we could bare our emotions. Isn’t it strange how often all heads nod as someone speaks, how much we share? But isn’t that why we’re here? Someone weeps softly and we all know, all reach out.the care and understanding is warm and profound.
We can trust! We can talk and others know. Now we can move on. Time to work on strategies.
We learned to care for ourselves: that we too suffer with PTSD in our own way. There had been many difficult years, some good ones too, but as our warriors aged, they became more vulnerable. Now however we were given some concept of our own efforts, how weary we were, how little energy we were sparing for ourselves.
We decided to please ourselves sometimes, meaning to give others pleasure!
We had our pamper weekend and it was fun! We were VVCS girlies off the leash. We were named Very, Very, Cute Sheilas – by a waiter no less!
We are no longer in counselling, although we still meet regularly. That is our counselling. We understand each other. We have come to know each other’s partners. We share a special knowledge of our men’s loss, which is our loss too. We love each other, we love our veterans. We have a unity of purpose, a united affection. Our greatest desire is peace. Hey there world learn from us: Love – Peace – Unity”
Written by a veteran’s wife from Albany VVCS group to accompany our group quilt named ‘SURVIVORS’
Sandra Shakespeare DENMARK 3rd May 2005