Anthony Albanese reveals why Mother's Day is the hardest day of the year for him to celebrate - as he shares rare photos of his late mum

By Alana Tindale For Daily Mail Australia 12:04 09 May 2021, updated 12:04 09 May 2021

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his mum
She was hospitalised on Mother's Day twenty years ago and never came home
Mr Albanese grew up as an only child with his single mother in social housing

Anthony Albanese has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his mother 20 years after she tragically died of a brain aneurysm.

The Labor leader grew up as an only child with his single mother Maryanne Ellery - who was on a disability pension - in social housing in Camperdown, Sydney.

Mr Albanese revealed how she was rushed to hospital on Mother's Day in 2002 after a brain aneurism before dying two weeks later.

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Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese (right) with mum Maryanne Ellery and son Nathan

Mr Albanese said Mother's day was 'difficult' for him because 20 years ago his mum Maryanne (pictured) went to hospital and didn't come back on the day

'Mother’s Day is such a special day, but for me and many others it's always a bit difficult. Mother's Day was the day my mum went to hospital and never came back,' Mr Albanese wrote on Twitter.

He said he had flown to Sydney from Canberra to take Ms Ellery and her sister Margaret to a Mother's Day lunch.

'When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn’t right. The front door had been left open.'

'After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurysm, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing.'

The Labor leader (right) grew up in social housing with his single mum (left) in Sydney

Mr Albanese (left) said Ms Ellery (right) had a brain aneurism on Mother's Day in 2002

Ms Ellery died on May 25 and in the twenty years since Mr Albanese said he has visited her cemetery every Mother's Day to 'remember how much she sacrificed' for him.

'Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that,' he wrote.

Mr Albanese has been the Leader of the Opposition since 2019, after the Labor government lost the election to the Liberal Party.

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The Labor leader recently suffered another loss, as his wife of 30 years Carmel Tebbutt left him on New Years Day in 2020.

Mr Albanese believed his Italian father Carlo Albanese was dead until he was 15-years-old, and only met him at age 46 in 2009, seven years after his mum died.

Carlo died in 2014.

Ms Ellery (pictured with Nathan) died on May 25 in 2002, two weeks after being hospitalised

Mr Albanese said his mother (pictured with her grandson Nathan) 'sacrificed' a lot for him

ANTHONY ALBANESE'S DEDICATION TO HIS MUM

Mother’s Day is such a special day, but for me and many others it's always a bit difficult. Mother's Day was the day my mum went to hospital and never came back.

I remember it was a Sunday in autumn of 2002. I had just flown back to Sydney from Canberra to take my mum Maryanne and her sister Margaret out for Mother’s Day lunch. When I got to her home in Camperdown, I knew something wasn’t right. The front door had been left open.

After decades of health problems, mum had a brain aneurism, and was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Mum would spend two weeks in hospital before finally passing. Over those two weeks, we said goodbye – twice. Both times she came through – she was a real fighter.

On the third time, she didn’t make it. Maryanne Albanese died on the 25th of May, 2002. Around every Mother’s Day, I visit the cemetery where mum is and I remember how much she sacrificed for me.

Mum had rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her joints and meant she couldn’t work. She lived on a disability pension. Life wasn’t easy, and her health made things even harder – but we got through because of her.

We lived in council housing, which gave us a sense of security and stability. It was our home. She taught me how to save – and how to spend wisely – because every dollar had to count. She also taught me the most important lesson of all: the importance of leaving no one behind.

Truth is, mum was left behind – by people who counted her out, and by governments who cut back support. The cutbacks that happened in mum’s lifetime meant she had to justify the support she was receiving. When health funding was cut, the quality of mum’s care was cut too.

And when they tried to sell our council house, it felt like our home was being taken from us.

I know the difference that governments can make on people’s lives because I lived it. Mum lived it. It’s what motivated me to get into politics. To help people. To make life better for people. To make sure no one is left behind.

Mum always gave me unconditional love. And I feel very privileged to have had that. Mums really are special. A happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there.