Eve Jeffery
Longtime homeless-child advocate Mo Hughes passed away last Friday.
Mo had been suffering from heart failure for several years and in recent times had become very ill.
Born Maureen Gwendoline Moseley in Newcastle on 17 February 1943, Mo, as she was fondly known by all, was well known in the area for her work with children and as the founder of KOTS (Kids Off The Streets).
The mother of Stewart and two sets of twins Catherine and Louise (deceased), and Maya and Nandy, Mo had a capacity to love many children.
It is said that she returned to Sydney within a year of arriving in the Byron Shire 25 years ago, and brought to the area 11 streets kids from the city to live with her and her youngest daughters in a one-bedroom cabin in Main Arm.
One of Mo’s last wishes was to see the river at Brunswick Heads; her daughter Catherine and son Stewart made the last farewell trip with her on Friday morning.
‘When we got home she was exhausted but had the biggest smile on her face,’ said daughter Catherine.
‘She had seen the river and she had seen her garden.’
Mo died soon after with her son and daughter by her side.
‘She has touched so many hearts and helped so many’, said Catherine. ‘Not only her family but throughout the entire community.’
Mo will be sadly missed by her children and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Torakina Park in Brunswick Heads on Thursday from 1pm.
idid the walk with mo and maya and nandy in 1992