Western Australia Prime Minister Roger Cook has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his late mother.
Mr Cook took to social media on Thursday to announce the sudden loss of ‘amazing’ Lynnette Owen on Monday.
“She was a wonderful mother of seven children and a beloved grandmother,” he wrote.
‘Together with my father, to whom she was married for more than seventy years, she raised our family in a home full of love, respect and kindness.
‘I love you mom.’
Less than 24 hours after his mother’s death, he was back at work to welcome Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Perth.
Mr Cook also thanked the messages of love and support that people had shared with his family, especially for his father Hugh.
Western Australia Prime Minister Roger Cook (left) has announced the sudden death of his ‘amazing’ mother Lynnette Owen (right)
WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti paid special tribute to Ms Owen in Parliament and praised Mr Cook who returned to work less than 24 hours later.
Mr Cook previously promised he would personally welcome Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to Perth on Tuesday after meeting Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
“On behalf of the Parliament of Western Australia, I would like to express our condolences to the Prime Minister and Carly, the Prime Minister’s father Hugh, and the entire Cook family,” Ms Saffioti told the WA Parliament. The West reports
“I would also like to acknowledge on behalf of the State of Western Australia the incredible efforts made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday to deliver on his commitments on behalf of the State as part of Premier Li’s official visit to Western Australia while he was still in the midst of processing the issue. the loss of his mother.
“It was an incredible force and our thoughts remain with the Prime Minister at this time.”
In a show of support from Parliament, Opposition Leader Shane Love offered his condolences to the Cook family on behalf of the Liberal and National parties.
Roger Cook (pictured as a child) remembered his late mother as a ‘wonderful mother of seven children and a beloved grandmother’
He also thanked those who sent their condolences to the Cook family, especially his father Hugh Cook (pictured centre), who was married to Lynette (left) for 70 years.
Members of Parliament from both sides of the political chamber and the inter-state sector contacted the Prime Minister after the sad loss.
“Sincere condolences Roger, losing parents is very difficult, especially such a wonderful mother,” wrote Liberal MP David Honey.
Labor MP Christine Tonkin said Cook “carries with her all the love she raised you with.”
“My sincere condolences to your father, who must suffer deeply at her loss,” Mrs Tonkin added.
Former Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he hoped the Prime Minister could “find comfort with loved ones in your shared memories”.
“She must have been incredible – seven children and seventy years of marriage are a rare feat and a testament to a deep capacity for love,” Gunner wrote.