Whether it’s a breakfast of slightly charred pancakes, a cup of coffee made with love, or a gourmet picnic with the kids at the beach, every mum has her own traditions on this special occasion. For the six mothers from rural Australia who shared their Mother’s Day experiences with The Weekly, Mother’s Day is a time of bringing the family together, sharing love, and reminiscing about those who are no longer with us.

A branch of the American tree, Mother’s Day Australia began in 1910, with special church services and commemorations of mothers who had died. By 1924, Australians had adopted the idea of a day for honouring mothers and mother figures, including grandmothers, aunties, sisters and close friends.

Mother’s Day Australia: Celebrating Mum in Style

Like many other countries, it’s customary for Australians to show their appreciation of their mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day, such as organising walks or runs to raise money for breast cancer awareness; visiting botanical gardens or zoos; serving up family meals; reciting Mother’s Day poems; or celebrating at the local park or beach. But it’s important to remember that this isn’t a public holiday in Australia and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours.

When it comes to buying gifts, a quarter of Gen X and 38% of Baby Boomer mums will ask their partner or children to foot the bill for their celebrations on Mother’s Day this year. Meanwhile, a fifth of Gen Z and 54% of Millennial mums will choose to purchase their own gift for Mom.