Sussan Ley’s mother has died days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal party.
Ley paid tribute to her mother in a statement on her Facebook page on Saturday.
“In the very early hours of this morning, my mother, Angela Braybrooks, passed away here in Albury,” she said.
“My family and I feel this loss deeply.
“We express our deep appreciation to the staff at Riverwood Aged Care facility for the quality care provided to Angela. In her final moments, she was comfortable and at peace.”
Ley’s mother had been moved to end-of-life care and Ley had returned to Albury to spend time with her after winning the Liberal leadership ballot on Tuesday.
Ley paid tribute on Saturday to her mother’s work as a mental health nurse who helped many people throughout her life.
“She taught me the values of resilience, self-reliance and persistence,” she said.
“Growing up in wartime Britain, Angela could never have dreamed that her daughter would become Australia’s first female leader of the opposition, but because of her, that happened this week.
“Like so many of her generation, she weathered uncertain times with strength and determination. I have taken inspiration from her every single day of my life and I always will.”
Ley said it had been a “gift of fate” that she had been able to spend one last Mother’s Day with her mum last Sunday.
“On Tuesday, hours after I was afforded the enormous privilege by my Liberal colleagues of leading our party, I drove back down the Hume Highway to be at her bedside,” she said.
“Whilst mum was no longer verbal, she watched every moment of my press conference. As I walked back into her room that afternoon, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was a moment I will treasure, forever.
“Thank you to the many Australians who have expressed their sympathies to me and my family. We look forward to celebrating Angela’s life, the extraordinary person she was, and all she achieved.”
