Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on 10 May, 2015

There’s something incredibly special about the bond between and woman and her mother. She nurtures, wipes tears away, holds us up when we’re down, and makes us believe we can do anything we set out to do.

On Mother’s Day, we’ve asked some of our ’15 Women to Watch in 2015′ and the HerCanberra Team to share photos of their mums, and to tell us why she’s so amazing. Leave us a comment and tell us about your mum!

AMANDA WHITLEY

This is a photo of mum and I when I was a chubby little bubba back in 1973. She was such a groover (rocking those mustard pants!).

Because my Dad wasn’t really involved much when I was growing up (get the backstory here), my mum pretty much did the hard yards when it came to raising my sister and I. This will probably come as a surprise to her, but she showed me how balancing work and family was possible. She always had a part-time job, whether that was at the local corner store, the town library or driving the school bus, and my sister and I would often just hang out wherever she was. History is repeating itself with my two.

She’s generous, compassionate and loving and I’m so glad she’s my mum. Happy Mother’s Day, Ma!

JULIE OKELY

This is the only photo I have of my Mother, Jean Elizabeth. It makes me smile because of what I feel when I see this picture.

I see a resilient young woman that learnt to stand on her own two feet whilst defending a life against domestic violence.

I see a strong young mother that turned and moved far away to protect her young children.

I see a strength that we can all learn from.

I see my Mum who died before her time.

This is for the Mums in heaven, that influence their daughters, their sons and the future generations with seeds of love, hope and happy memories.

TARA CHEYNE

Mum throws herself into everything she does – from her career as an HR manager to maintaining a beautiful garden! After having secretarial jobs and then running a restaurant with my dad, mum entered university as a mature age student in her mid-30s – the same year I entered Year 1. After completing her Bachelor degree, she started work in Central Queensland and rose through the ranks, managing HR for some of the biggest open cut coal mines in the southern hemisphere. So, not only did she thrive in a tough regional environment, it was a male-dominated one and she did so while raising a daughter and completing an MBA.

One of my fond memories: In year 1 Friday afternoons were sport afternoons. I am not very good at sport at the best of times and my mum discovered I was spending every Friday afternoon in the school sick bay, but I wouldn’t tell her why. She volunteered to help and found that I was in a group that contained not just Year 1s, but 2 and 3 – and the boys in Year 3 were pelting basketballs at the younger girls hands and faces. I’m not sure what mum said to them but it never happened again! This example sums her well – supportive problem-solver whose family comes first!

Things have learnt from her: success is the combination of hard work and seizing opportunities; be generous with your time and skills, and give back to the community; believe in yourself!

BELINDA NEAME

I am super close to my Mum.  We just get each other. My Mum is a strong woman with very strong values and I carry those values with me constantly in life.  Tolerance, honesty, integrity, compassion and empathy. Mum has been a very successful business woman and the drive to challenge myself in business has clearly rubbed off on me!

Mum is my greatest teacher and my biggest supporter. She is always my sounding board and constant support. Poor Mum is also the mediator of Dad and I! It’s hilarious actually, Mum being in the middle of Dad and I has been going on since I was a little girl and it’s still going!  She has taught me to push myself out of my comfort zone. You win some and you lose some but in her very famous words ‘just get on with it’. I love her to the moon and back. Happy Mother’s Day Mum!

MEEGAN FITZHARRIS

My Mum wanted to make sure we grew up in a loving home with her and Dad. She raised my sister and I to take the opportunities that weren’t available to her. It was her compassion, organisation and work ethic that made our home so happy, safe and spick’n’span.

She had a successful career as a nurse and was always the one to keep things ticking over, allowing my sister and I to grow, explore and make mistakes. She shines in moments of crisis and she – and sometimes the rest of us – underappreciate her wisdom.  And I have to say she is a knockout ironer (Mum, you know what I mean). Thanks, with love Mum.

DR SUDHA RAO

To sum up my mum she is a ‘perfect mum in every way possible’. Even though we are many miles away and I miss her so much she is my best friend and a big kid herself – always laughing – and her grand-children are her world!

ASHLEIGH WENT

My beautiful mum Claire is amazing. Not only did she fly me to Singapore to spend a weekend with her recently when she knew I was feeling down, but she always listens to me patiently and without judgement. She always makes a point to tell me how proud she of me, and reminds me of what I deserve, especially when I’m settling for less. She made my childhood incredible and I’ll always be grateful for her endless love and support. Not to mention, her margaritas are legendary. What else could you ask for?!

HEIDI STRATFORD

I have chosen this picture as it represents the start of our life journey, I am so blessed to have had my Mum by my side for the last 42 years!

Life has so many ups and downs; my Mum has always supported me through the highs and the lows. Words can never express how grateful I am that she has been my number one champion.

My Mum is a very caring, nurturing person who now works in the aged care sector. My fondest memory is when I was about 12 or 13 being really sick and Mum coming home with Dolly magazines, books from the Library and a new tape to listen to.

I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her support, love and encouragement.

KYLIE TRAVERS

I was 15 when my mother died, aged 37, after battling cancer for a few years and I miss her terribly. Mum was a great example to me of the sort of woman I wanted to be. She was warm, friendly, funny, creative, generous and cared deeply for others.

She did everything she could to help other people and her skills at home amazed me. She could make a meal out of nothing or make us new clothes. She was very frugal and skilled having been raised in the country. She is what I view a genuine good, Christian woman should be – strong, talented, kind, loving and determined, it was like nothing could stop her.

I remember when she was passing away I asked her if she had any regrets or felt like she missed out because she didn’t get to travel or anything. She was married at 17 and had my brother soon after, followed by four more kids. She was a stay at home mum, and in my 15 year old mind, I thought she might feel that she didn’t get to live the life she wanted. She looked at me and said  all she wanted to be from when she was a little girl was a mother and her only regret was that she wouldn’t get to see us grow up. She’d lived a full and happy life and felt blessed. I hope to be like her.

TEGAN MCAULEY

At school, a lot of my friends referred to my mum as ‘the cool mum’. I always felt pretty proud about that – proud that she was MY cool mum.

Mum is an inspiration to me. She has spent a good part of her life devoted to raising three children. Before she had children, she lived in Egypt, and then Paris, the list goes on. She had some pretty crazy adventures, I’ve read the letters she wrote to her sister when she was twenty-something and jaunting across the globe…suffice to say, she definitely had some fun.

That is one thing I admire about mum – her sense of fun and adventure. Camping with her in Byron Bay one year, she didn’t think twice about stripping off and going for twilight skinny-dips and leaving me on the shore with her clothes, that’s just how she rolls. We spent a week camping at the Woodford Folk Festival recently, and by the end of the week she had a group of new friends, and had managed to attend yoga every morning while still kicking on late with me and my friends every night to experience as much live music as she could manage.

My mum makes me want to be more spontaneous and carefree.

Mum is never one to turn down an adventure. She has ridden her bike from Canberra to Melbourne twice for charity. (I can barely ride my bike the whole way around the lake!) Lucky for me, my childhood was full of adventures with my mum and I know we will continue to share many more. I am blessed to have such an inspiring woman as my mother and my best friend, and I only hope I am half the woman she is when I’m her age.

MICHELLE SWADLING

As a child, my Mum was always one of the “fun” mums – playing games with us, doing crafts and singing silly songs.  My sister and I could confide in her (so important during the teenage years!) and we have always had a close relationship.  In fact, the three of us have matching tattoos- three little stars to represent us.

Mum was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease over a decade ago.  At times it is really tough for her, however, she is a fighter and always has a smile.

She loves shopping, is the first one on the dancefloor and has the kindest heart.  She is an amazing grandmother to my two boys and inspires me with her strength and determination.

SOPHIA DICKINSON

My mum, Judy, is amazing because she’s always encouraged and supported my creative side. We share a passion for the arts. This is a photo of us after we saw ‘Strictly Ballroom’ in Sydney in 2014.

REBECCA CARPENTER

For me, Mother’s Day is mostly about the two most important women in my life – my mother and my grandmother. (It’s now also about my two gorgeous daughters, but they’re still too little to get into the spirit of the day yet!).

What has my mother taught me? Lots of things! But most importantly that it’s possible to successfully parent four children whilst still having an amazing career. She also taught me that hard work is important and valuable.

JOANNA ALLEBONE

A lot of women say that their mum is the biggest influence and role model in their lives, which is undoubtedly true for me. Mum has shaped my values, beliefs, and attitude towards life.

But one of the things that is extra special about my relationship with mum, is that I consider her a friend, as well as a parent.

When I was a teenager, mum was always the one that my friends and I would go to if we got into trouble, or if something went wrong. We knew we could trust her.

She never freaked out when I dyed my hair green, or wanted to play in a punk rock band, or when I told her I wanted to drop out of school in year 10.

Instead, her approach was always to talk it through with me, support me to make the best possible decision, and of course, allow me to make my own mistakes.

Mum is a fiercely independent, intelligent, caring, vibrant, and classy woman. She’s a talented golfer, regularly giving the men a run for their money up at Royal Canberra!

Challenging boys at their own game is something I’ve definitely inherited from mum, and my late grandma, who used to surf a long board at a time when women were not at all encouraged to participate in such activities!

One of the many important lessons I’ve learnt from mum is about mental and physical resilience. She’s taught me how to look after myself, as well as others around me, and how to work through some really tough times.

Happy Mother’s Day mum, I love you with all my heart!

HAYLEY O’NEILL

Everybody needs that one person in your life that supports you behind every decision you make – for me that person is my Mum. Mum may not have agreed with all of those decisions made but she definitely has supported me to follow my dreams so much so that she has given up countless days to drive me up to Sydney when I have classes or photo shoots so that I don’t have to drive home exhausted and by myself.

ALEX TOLMIE

I think my Mum, Kathryn, is amazing because she became a single mother of three when she was still in her thirties, plus she ran a successful gourmet catering business. She has always been a model of tenacity, following your dreams and being true to yourself. Now that I’m a mother myself I’m always looking to Mum for guidance and she’s endlessly supportive. I love my Mum! Happy Mother’s Day okaachan!

ALISON SENTI

This is Mum and I about 30 years ago at the start of the Canberra Times fun run. Mum (and Dad) have always been great role models for my brother, sister and I in terms of healthy lifestyles and the importance of having your own interests regardless of how busy family life is. Mum was – and still is – the ultimate supermum: she worked, raised three kids (one with a disability) and was still representing the ACT in athletics into her 30s. Check out Mum’s running kit – Leo Sayer would be dead jealous of that perm and pastel workout gear! Love ya Mum x

EMMA GREY

My parents married in 1954 and wanted to start a family right away. Nineteen years later I finally showed up, followed by my sister, Sarah, sixteen months after that. Needless to say, we felt very loved. Mum stayed home with us all through primary school, then worked again until her mid-70s not because she had to, but because she loved it.

Even as age starts to catch up with her, her sense of humour is intact and we share a keen sense of the ridiculous. Whenever something goes wrong in our lives, or when something goes right, mum and dad are the first people we call. They’re our role models, our cheerleaders and our best friends. Love you, Mum. xxx

EMMA & CARLA PAPAS

Our mum Wendy is seriously the most amazing mum in the world! She is so generous to everyone she meets, kind, compassionate and extremely creative. Plus, she’s our biggest supporter (along with Dad!). She’s taught us to always be honest, patient and believe in ourselves. we have a lifetime of fond memories with our mum and every week we create new ones. We love her sooooo much!

KRISTEN HENRY

As a woman in my thirties, Santa still manages to find me every year without fail, I’m sure Mum tips him off. There’s always a home cooked meal waiting for me when I visit and a teary Mum waving from the driveway every time I leave. When it’s pay day eve and I buzz with what to do with three random ingredients, she always has a recipe. I can’t remember a time when she didn’t turn up for Netball on Saturday, she’s the most reliable C going around. No-one hugs me as tight as my Mum.