On the second Sunday of May, Australia celebrates Mother's Day, where love spreads in every corner. At the Chung Wah Community Care (CWCC) community hub, we witness the greatness of motherhood, embracing their roles wholeheartedly without regret.
Mrs Tan Qi from CWCC Balcatta Community Hub has led an extraordinary life for over eighty years, assuming various roles: a general's daughter, a hero's descendant, a guzheng teacher, and a folk music star. Yet, the role she treasures most is being a mother to her three children. In Hong Kong, despite financial constraints, she strived to send her children to the best private schools; at the peak of her entertainment career, she left everything behind to move to Australia to treat her children's asthma. Ms Tan, who initially struggled with English in Perth, admitted, "My children were my motivation through tough times."
Hard work, dedication, and sacrifice are common themes in countless mothers' stories. These efforts are not obligations, yet these mothers bear them willingly for the sake of love. Ms Ly Nghien from Vietnam, who raised five children and five grandchildren by herself, fled her homeland during the war era, navigating half the globe to reach Australia. With no acquaintances in a foreign land and the need to be a strong pillar for her children, her hardships were immense. Reflecting on her past, Ms Ly remarks lightly, "I am just an ordinary mother, nothing extraordinary. There are many mothers like me." Her resilience and determination are truly inspiring.
As Ms Ly rightly pointed out, great mothers are everywhere, but their hard work and sacrifices should never be taken for granted. To show our appreciation, the CWCC community hub organized a heartfelt Mother's Day celebration. Staff and seniors came together to craft handmade bracelets, symbolizing maternal gentleness with paper flowers and resilience with ribbons. This was a tribute to mothers and a reminder to everyone to cherish, appreciate, and express love for the mothers in their lives.
Ms Huang from Taiwan shared that Mother's Day is a must-celebrate occasion in her family, typically involving her two daughters and their children visiting for dinner. Reflecting on her parenting journey, Ms Huang recalled managing her children's daily needs single-handedly, from school runs to extracurricular activities, driving over 30,000 kilometres a year. Today, she feels deeply gratified as her efforts have been rewarded: her children are healthy and prosperous in their careers, and her family enjoys close bonds and regular reunions. "As a mother, I am fortunate. My children always make me feel that all the sacrifices were worth it," she said.
Motherhood is not a woman's obligatory duty but a selfless choice founded on profound love. Bearing the responsibilities and promises to a family makes it all the more precious. CWCC hopes everyone will cherish this hard-earned affection for all mothers everywhere, ensuring love continues to flow within families forever. Let us all be reminded of the immeasurable value of maternal love and the sacrifices that come with it.
