By Sheree Hoddinett
Mother’s Day (May 14), a day where we celebrate all the mums, mums-to-be, step mums, bonus mums, fur-mums and anyone else who steps up to fill the all-important role. For me, becoming a mum for the first time nearly 10 years ago, was the biggest and most important thing I have ever done in my life. It’s a position I have excelled at, failed at and above all else, one I’m still learning about every single day.
The definition of a mother is wide and varied but two different ones I found include:
A woman in relation to her child or children.
Bring up (a child) with care and affection.
We may all do things differently, but the end goal is always the same, to look after the children.
I reached out to the Bribie community to ask if there were any amazing mums out there and the response was much bigger than I thought it would be. Thank you so much to everyone who reached out or who had a story to share. Here are just some of the many stories I received from the local community.
Marie Buck, also known as Miss Marie.
I am a mummy of three little girls (Amber 5, Hazel 3 and Holly 2) and run both Island Dance and JKA Karate on Bribie. Like many mums out there, we all wear many hats and often juggle two, three or more at once and sometimes life feels like a circus act. However, no matter what hat we wear, our motherhood hat remains our crown. I would love to do a shout out to all the dance and/or karate mums out there who…
hustle their troops to and from dance, karate, soccer, band, school, swimming and the many activities they run to and from.
who juggle dinners and meals in between carpools and matching lost jazz shoes.
who pull off a last-minute bun or ponytail for their dancers whilst finding that missing pair of stockings or socks.
who teach as a mummy, whilst juggling their own kiddiewinks and have to swap the hat of mum to teacher.
We want them to know we see them; we appreciate them and thank them for being super mums who let their child experience the magic and joy of dance.
Cherie Lovett
My beautiful mum’s name was Christine Lovett. She had four children - myself, my two sisters and my brother. She gave everything for us, we didn't have much money growing up and that meant if she had to go without food to feed us, she would. As I got older I realised how much she loved us and how much she would do for us. She passed at the age of 54 back in 2017, due to Melanoma. I miss her so much and I'd do anything to see her again. I became a first-time mum back in 2022 to a beautiful boy and if I turn out anything like my mum, I would have succeeded as an amazing mum! Every day since my son was born, we are visited from a beautiful black and white butterfly and I believe that is my mum coming to check on us.
Karen Wragg
I was born in Camden in Sydney where I went to primary and high school. When I was four, my mother wanted a divorce and my father was so upset that he burnt the house down. However, I moved in with dad who taught me a lot and is one of the smartest and greatest men that I know. He taught me to fish, do house duties, how to use tools, he taught me to work hard and that nothing is free or easy. He taught me to not worry about getting my hands dirty. I moved from Sydney 19 years ago for a great job that gave me the confidence that I needed as an advertising executive and selling advertising for an accommodation magazine. Then I worked up to “The Pubs and Clubs” magazine on the Gold Coast. I eventually had enough of the parties and full-on lifestyle and decided to move in with my dad again, this time on beautiful Bribie Island.
I had my first epilepsy ‘grand mal’ seizure at 26 when my son was just 19 months old. During these episodes I have no idea what I'm doing and no memory of it afterwards, which is probably a good thing when you think about it. However, it is very traumatic for anyone who is around me at the time.
My life with my kids, 14-year-old Brock and eight-year-old Kayla, is so much better now and you only have to look at photos to see how close we are and how relaxed we all are now. I love my job at the Bribie Island Golf Club and every day I meet up with new friends getting to know the customers I serve. I have also found a new hobby in golf, which I have just started to learn about and absolutely love it. The friendships at the club have made such a big difference. So I'll see you on the 19th hole. Say hello.
Kim Anne Hughes
My single mum daughter is amazing. Times are tough and there is lots of tears and frustration, but she is killing it as a fantastic parent and role model. She has lived in this area for five years, so between her and myself we take the kids everywhere they need to be - jobs, school, trade school, footy, footy practice, orthodontist, doctors etc etc etc. She is financially struggling but does her best. This world is/has become a harsh hard place to live and we are trying to teach them the right way, wrong from right, good from evil and all the lessons we think they need to know.
Kerryn Raymond Watts
My mum is 92 and is the youngest of four. Her father was at Gallipoli and in France and Belgium during World War I. She is a mother to five children, grandmother to 13 and a great-grandmother to eight with more on the way. She moved to Bribie Island in 1999. She is an amazing watercolour artist and has spent time at the arts centre as a member of a few groups, as well as volunteering on the front desk and in the kitchen on market days. She also ran a few classes as a tutor. One of her paintings is in the time capsule at the arts centre.
Melissa Phillips
My wonderful mum lives on Bribie Island (Woorim) and has six daughters. She is a saint for putting up with all of us and has an interesting life to tell. She grew up in Victoria with four other siblings (two older brothers and two younger sisters). Their dad went missing when she was seven-years-old (it was in the newspaper). She tells a story of how he promised to bring home ice cream and never returned. They lived on dripping on toast and tomatoes. She was dux of year 9 but had to leave school to help support the family, being the eldest female. Mum was actually planning on being a nun and went on a missionary to Papua New Guinea and stayed with cannibals. Her mother and sister then moved to the Gold Coast when she was in her early 20's and that’s where she met my dad. Unfortunately, her mum became ill with cancer and died shortly after their wedding, not long before their first child was born (me).
Mum and dad went on to have five more daughters, with no mother by her side or understanding of what a father should be. She has been the pillar/rock of our family through so much over the years and still has such a positive attitude towards life and would do anything for anyone!! I never realised how much her phone rang each day until I sat with her once. Each daughter would ring (including me) with some issue or concern and mum would give just as much time and care to each of us.
There is so much more to tell with what she has given to communities over the years, being netball coach for all of my teen life, taxi driver to many, mum to lost teens and a loving wife to my dad for more than 50 years. Mum wouldn't be used to being in the limelight, she's always the silent achiever. On Mother’s Day this year, she gave birth to her first born 50 years ago – me!! (Happy Birthday Melissa)
Happy Mother’s Day!
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