For a very special Mothers Day feature of Women In Style we sat down with local Mother and Daughter duo, Lori and Jade Mackay at their cattle property to discuss what they have taught each others about being mothers.
Jade & Lori, tell us a little about yourselves?
Jade: As a child, I was raised on a cattle property 20km South East of Goondiwindi. My parents ran our family farm and have trained Cutting Horses for as long as I can remember. On both sides, my parents have a strong background in horses so riding was not a choice, it was simply the family business. As kids, my brother and I rode and did chores everyday before and after school. I went away to school and university which led me to a career in Marketing. I’ve been very lucky, my work afforded me some great adventures working for major brands whilst living and working in Sydney, Boston, London, Toronto and Melbourne. Nowadays, I call Goondiwindi home again with my husband, Jack and 18 month old son, Tom.
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Lori: I moved from California to Australia with my family when I was 12 years old. My father, Greg Lougher was a renowned horse trainer and horseman in the US. He saw an opportunity to introduce and promote Western riding and Quarter Horses to the Australian market in the late 60’s. My life has been enriched through horses - horses led me to moving to Australia, which is the best thing that has ever happened to me. They also led me to meeting my husband and it’s the common interest I share with my children and grandchildren. All of the best things have happened in my life because of horses.
As both of you are mothers and working women, how do you manage to balance your career and family life?
Jade: If I’m honest, I’m not sure we have quite nailed that. I think if you enjoy what you do, it doesn’t have to feel like work. I’m also fortunate enough to work for myself nowadays which means I can create a schedule that suits our family life. I’m finding routine and allocating my time is important. Tom and I spend Thursday’s at the farm with Mum riding his pony, Max. We live in town so it’s important to me that we spend time on the farm regularly. Having Tom has forced me to prioritise and to accept you can have it all, but you just can’t have it all at once.
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Lori: For me, I like to keep busy and I’m thoroughly enjoying being a grandmother. I try to look after each grandchild one day a week and the rest of the time, I'm involved in running our horse operation and regular competition. I’m an avid gardener and love my home - my husband and I try to give ourselves one day off which is typically Sunday’s. I cook a nice lunch and generally we enjoy this outside on our verandah overlooking the river.
What have you learnt about style from each other?
Jade: Mum has always marched to the beat of her own drum. She’s creative and has a flair for putting things together and looking great. She did a trip to South America a few years ago and got some great pieces. She doesn’t second guess her style and just owns it. She’s also great at dressing for her shape and has an active lifestyle so her shape hasn’t changed a great deal. I’ve always been the more conservative dresser and over the years, I’ve learned to take a few more risks. I also buy fewer, better pieces.
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Lori: From extensive travel and living overseas, Jade has acquired great style shown in her confidence and smile when she enters a room. Good clothing, great cuts and fabrics and an individual piece of jewellery, are the cornerstone of her wardrobe.
What life lessons have you taught each other? Particularly about being a mother.
Jade: Mum leads by example. She’s also got a life of her own and didn’t lose sight of that when we were kids. Somehow she made it all work and I’d like to think that made for good kids. Our parents have been incredibly supportive and generous over the years but if we wanted something, the onus was on us to drive it and work for it. I think that did us a lot of favours later in life and has opened a lot of doors over the years. We have been the masters of our own destiny and Mum has been one of my biggest supporters along the way. Mum always says; ‘Life is what you make it’, and she’s right.
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Lori: We're incredibly lucky fortunate to live in rural Australia. I also know how fortunate I am to have my daughter, and her family, live in nearby Goondiwindi. It's wonderful now to watch both my children become parents and have their own families. It's all part of the journey in life and how lucky we are.
