IN the lead-up to ANZAC Day, the Port Adelaide Football Club has been contacted with another touching story regarding a supporter serving his country. 

Chief Petty Officer Frank Ritchie is a devoted Port Adelaide supporter and was the Whole Ship Coordinator on board the Australian Navy’s HMAS Newcastle. 

The Newcastle returned from its Middle East mission in December, after conducting counter piracy, counter narcotics and counter terrorism patrols.

While deployed, Frank was lucky enough to receive a Port Adelaide quilt, handmade by Rita Mee from the volunteer organisation Aussie Hero Quilts.

Ms Mee also organised to get players to sign it before sending it off to Frank on the Newcastle. 

In a letter to the Port Adelaide Football Club Ms Mee explained the history behind the quilt donations, which she said provided a bit of comfort to our deployed defence troops. 

“It originally started because an injured serviceman was evacuated to an American Hospital and at the time was the only patient who didn’t have a quilt on his bed so he was given an American one. 

“On hearing this, Jan Maree, the founder of AHQ decided that he needed an Australian themed quilt so set about organising one.”

Ms Mee said AHQ has since provided more than 8,000 quilts to ADF personnel along with nearly 16,000 individualised and distinguishable laundry bags. 

“Another reason for the quilts is that Jan Maree, along with many of the quilters, were appalled at the way in which the troops were not recognised for that they did for the country during the Vietnam War, so it was felt that we had to do something for the current service men and women to let them know they were appreciated and not forgotten,” she wrote. 

“We care about the people, not the politics or the mission. 

“Our quilts are not works of art, but works of the heart – with all quilts donated and made at the quilter’s expense.”

Frank requested a Port Adelaide quilt through an ADF chaplain, while others often request other sporting teams, film themes or ANZAC themed quilts. 

But he didn’t expect his quilt to be personally signed by Port Adelaide players, as he wrote in a reply email sent to Ms Mee, along with some photos of the quilts. 

“To be honest I am still in disbelief that you went to all that trouble for me to get the quilt signed,” he wrote. 

“Quite a number of the crew have received a quilt – let me assure you though, even though the ladies who did the other quilts did an amazing job, this quilt was a standout and will become a treasured possession.”

Frank was born in Adelaide but lives in Sydney and despite being a Gold Member since nearly the Power’s AFL inception, understandably, he rarely manages to get to many games. 

His Port Adelaide link doesn’t end there, with Frank telling Ms Mee that he is cousins with the mother of Power defender Jack Hombsch. 

The Port Adelaide Football Club has a long and proud history of players and staff serving in the ADF and will recognise some of them during Saturday night’s blockbuster ANZAC Round clash against Geelong.

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