LETTERS OF LOVE
MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL HOMES
Three women share heartfelt letters to their mums.
Lyn Bowtell
Multi-golden Guitar-winning alternative/pop country singer–songwriter (Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart)
Dear Mum,
Over the years you have not only been my mum but my best friend, my accountant, my psychologist and my mentor.
You’re a passionate but practical woman, who knows the value of hard work and is often guilty of giving too much. I moved away from Queensland 21 years ago, so I am incredibly grateful for our Zoom chats, and that at 77 you’re not afraid of technology!
I find myself sounding just like you at times, cursing at my accounting software or talking to my canine mates in the same tone of voice you use. I’ve even started to see the same wrinkles from smiling, around my eyes and in the corners of my mouth. We share a love of animals, music and cooking, and I’m so grateful for the way you have always supported my choices in life – even when you knew I’d regret them.
We all miss Dad, but oh how much you’ve achieved these past 15 years on your own! It has been inspiring. I was overjoyed to see you receive the recognition you deserved last year when you were awarded an Order of Australia Medal for your tireless work for Landcare and the environment.
I’m hoping to grow into a tenacious force of nature like you are and that your sensible financial management might blossom in me too, although much like sewing I’ve never really taken to it. Most of all, I want to make you proud, the way you continue to make our family proud.
You’re always our rock and our benchmark. I love you Mum. Your daughter,
Lynette Jean
Stephanie Alexander AO
Owner–chef, author, food educator and founder of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
Dear Mum,
The older I get the more aware I am of how you influenced my life.
The positive modelling I received as one of four children, who all sat around the family table with you, Dad and Grandpa has made me convinced that this is the best way to create food lovers for life. Not only were you a curious and creative cook but you subtly opened my sensibilities as well as my tastebuds.
In a family with little spare cash you still embroidered tablemats, selected pretty bowls and platters to put the food on, made your own dinner rolls and topped them with poppy seeds or sesame seeds. We always had cloth napkins, never paper. We always had butter on a butter dish, never a plastic box on our table, and you always told us the stories that went with the dishes.
We also learnt about caring for the ducks, and how to pick fruit. I suspect we could have been more helpful in the digging and turning the compost, but we knew it was happening.
You also invited others to share our table often and made simple meals into celebrations.
I suspect you were not really surprised that I opened a restaurant, nor that I started to write about the stories behind my dishes.
Sadly, you were not there to see me take my next big step to create the experiment that has become the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. Thousands of Australian children are now learning about growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh food in the most enjoyable way – a hands-on program that is rapidly spreading through our schools and early learning centres.
I still think of you every day and I know that all that I learnt from you is still being passed on to others. Thanks Mum,
Stephanie >
“Most of all, I want to make you proud, the way you continue to make our family proud.”
Lyn Bowtell, singer-songwriter
Felicity Urquhart
Multi-golden Guitar Award-winning country singer–songwriter, television presenter (Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart)
Dear Mum,
I was going to write you a heartfelt letter to show my gratitude and love for the life you’ve given me, and after running over the same themes, I stopped to think what would Mum really like …?
So it came to me.
You’ve always connected with the sound of my voice (as you’ve heard it the longest and loudest of anyone) … some of those times I’m not so proud of (sorry).
Your sunshine has been my light. You sang to me from the moment I entered the world and you haven’t stopped. I’m glad you let your voice out and I don’t care if it’s in tune or not!!
Thank you for your joy, laughter and sunshine.
I love you eternally. This is your song.
Mother
Mother in the mirror mother in the ageing face mother is the sunshine keeper of the goodness safe
Mother of the family mother of the truth in the dark mother is the safety handing out the help when it’s hard
It’s golden and it’s pure like a fortress so secure through the ages till kingdom come there is nothing like a mother’s love
Mother in the garden mother digging out the thorns mother of the cradle sacred in the birth we’re joined
Mother on the horseback mother in a holy place mother lifts the burden stronger than a man can take
It’s golden and it’s pure like a fortress so secure through the ages till kingdom come there is nothing like a mother’s love
Mother in the drought mother in the flooding rain mother fix the broken the hungry and the losers’ pain
Mother in the moment mother in the memory mother in the language teaching there’s more we can be
It’s golden and it’s pure like a fortress so secure through the ages till kingdom come there is nothing like a mother’s love and I thank you for all you’ve done
Love you forever, Fliss