Mum in a million

Maria Portelli

Tate Papworth

A Caroline Springs teenager has nominated her “hero mum” for an award as her special way of saying thanks a million.

Ivanka Portelli’s mum, Maria, is a frontline health care worker at a local respiratory clinic and has been working long days for the past four months protecting the community.

Ivanka, 13, recently nominated her for “The Thanks A Million Campaign” to honour and celebrate her heroism.

“Mum’s commitment as a nurse during this pandemic has been truly heroic,” she said.

“During this time that mum has been working at the COVID-19 respiratory clinic, I have looked up to her as a role model and somebody who I want to aspire to be, a person who makes heroic sacrifices and works to protect and keep members within the community safe.

“The efforts of my mum and our frontline healthcare workers means we all live in a happy, healthy society.”

Ivanka said the past three months have been extremely hard on Maria, but she would wake up early each and every morning and go off to work with a positive mindset.

After long days Maria would then come home to be a loving mum toIvanka and her brother, Luke, 11, as well be a wife to her husband, Sam.

Tate Papworth