Liberal opposition leader Sussan Ley pays tribute to late mother
Federal opposition leader Sussan Ley has paid tribute to her mother, Angela Braybrooks, who died during the early hours of Saturday.
"My family and I feel this loss deeply," Ms Ley said in a statement.
Ms Braybrooks's death comes just days after Ms Ley was appointed leader of the Liberal Party following a tight partyroom ballot on Tuesday.
The former deputy leader defeated conservative rival Angus Taylor, receiving 29 votes to his 25.
Ms Ley said her mother played a role in her recent success within the Liberal Party.
"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," she said.
Ms Ley said it was a "gift of fate" that they were able to spend Mother's Day together before she ventured to Canberra.
"On Monday night in Canberra, our parish priest organised a FaceTime call, telling Angela she had to 'hang on' to see one more special moment in her daughter's life," she said.
"If she could do that, he promised her, 'We'll have champagne tomorrow'."
After her victory, Ms Ley drove back to Albury, along the New South Wales-Victoria border, to be by her mother's bedside.
"Whilst mum was no longer verbal, she watched every moment of my press conference," she said.
"As I walked back into her room that afternoon, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was a moment I will treasure, forever."
Ms Ley has thanked the community for their support and kind words.
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