Mother’s Day A LIFETIME OF LOVE
They are words of love from one generation to another. To mark Mother’s Day, five prominent Australian women have shared moving letters to their grandchildren, in which they impart everything they want them to know about life, love, their past and their wishes for the future YVONNE TOZZI
Yvonne Tozzi was 42 when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2003. She’s now 19 years in remission, but battling cancer and facing your own mortality changes one forever. The mother to Australian models Cheyenne and Tahyna, and Oma to their children, shares the wisdom learnt on that journey with Dahlia, Echo, Oisin and Tadhg. To my Klein Kindertjes (little children),
Oh, what a journey you have in store, the rollercoaster of life ... it’s gonna get a bit crazy at times and super bumpy.
It’s OK to be scared, but trust that in all it’s going to be magical, and there will be moments of so much joy that you will feel you are the only one in the whole world who knows the intoxicating jubilation of being alive. These are the things I want you to remember and take with you forever in your heart.
Be kind, compassionate, caring and never compromise with love.
Your heart will be broken many times and you will break hearts but that is part of the journey. Love hard and love deep.
Be strong, resourceful and respectful – earn respect. Respect isn’t a given, you have to earn those stripes, so work hard for it.
Do not intentionally hurt others as you don’t know their journey or their story. People everywhere have their own battles so don’t take it personally.
Be the teacher of your ability, your talent, and be generous with your time. For time is just a moment of your life’s journey.
Have fun. Laugh, sing, dance, run, skip and be silly. Remember that birthday cake is meant for eating as well as getting your face smooshed into.
Those clothes are meant to create a character so have fun. Don’t take yourself seriously as life is serious enough.
Do not care what other people think of you. They are only on your life’s journey for a minute and you can push them off your journey at any and every moment.
Make yourself proud because that is the reflection of you every time you look in the mirror.
Create memories of joy and have the insight of making memories for others. A smile goes a long way.
And know in your hearts that I will be that shadow following you everywhere you go. Watching, loving, dancing, skipping and running with you until you will be writing words of life and laughter to your own children and grandchildren.
I love you with so much appreciation, for all you have given me on my life’s journey.
Thank you. Love your Oma X
BRONWYN BISHOP
Bronwyn Bishop was a federal member of parliament for more than 30 years but over all her years in parliament, family has always been instrumental. With two daughters, Angela and Sally, the 79-year-old says granddaughter Amelia is one of her most treasured joys.
Darling Amelia,
You are the most wonderful happening to come into my life. The thought of becoming a grandmother was a bit daunting, but your arrival was a burst of great joy for me, your Mummy and Daddy and all our extended family.
You were a beautiful baby girl who had to undergo surgery when you were only two days old to open a valve in your heart to make it work. This was a tense time, but the successful surgery meant that you could come home in a few days and grow into the gorgeous teenager you are today.
I was so proud of you when you were eight years old. You stood and addressed 600 people telling them about the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead where you had your operation and appealed for generous support for the Centre, which they gave. Mummy still works hard to raise funds for this wonderful centre so other babies can get the help they need.
As you started preschool and then kindergarten at the school where Mummy and Auntie Sal went, in your little red shoes, I started to wonder where your life would head. Your ability in mathematics soon emerged, as did your love of music and drama and later a love of books and reading. One of my favourite books is the one you wrote, Friendship And Magic, a book of 18,000 words.
All of these things make me very proud of you as does your sincere belief that people are intrinsically good. Your heart is generous and your ability to argue for individuality is strong and passionate.
Now you are 14, I can see traits of both Mummy and Daddy reflected in your personality. I know Daddy would have been so proud of you, just as Mummy is. You certainly have inherited your mother’s trait of wanting to help people and I love having you with me as a collector for the Salvos’ Red Shield Appeal.
Your great-grandmother, who was an opera singer, would have been overjoyed to hear your lovely singing voice which has earned you a choir pocket for your blazer.
I grew up learning about the achievements of my ancestors, who are also yours. I hope you will take pleasure in finding out about the contribution your extended family has made. They were an inspiration to me and I hope you will be inspired by them too. Some of their history goes back to the early 14th century.
Through your life there are bound to be challenges just as there have been for me but the love and support of your family will always be there to back you up as it has for me. You have an inner strength which I love and admire which will help you to always believe in yourself and what you can do.
Our country is a wonderful country where you can, as long as you really set your mind to it, achieve anything. Many times people told me what I wanted to achieve was too difficult or impossible but I knew it was possible and kept going.
I love you Amelia. I am a very proud grandmother who will always be here for you.
Much love, Bibi
Our country is a wonderful country where you can, as long as you really set your mind to it, achieve anything