WOMEN IN SUPER AND THE MOTHER'S DAY CLASSIC

Mavis Robertson, Former National Chair of Women in Super founded the Mother’s Day Classic with her friend Louise Davidson, who had lost her mother to breast cancer. The idea came when Mavis saw a breast cancer walk whilst overseas in 1998. She returned to Australia and announced to co-founder Louise that the Women in Super network should consider launching a fun run/walk to raise money for breast cancer.

At the time, industry superannuation funds, especially those with large female memberships, were seeing that breast cancer featured strongly in the highest group of diseases for accessing death and disability benefits. Mavis galvanised the WIS network with the simple logic: there was no point in advocating for women’s retirement outcomes if they were dying prematurely from breast cancer. Women in Super determined that breast cancer research would be of the greatest assistance for their fund members.

Our greatest creation

The Mother’s Day Classic is now Australia’s largest walk-run to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The next Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic will be held on Sunday 14 May 2023 in all capital cities and many local areas across Australia. 

Women in Super sees its organisation of the Mother’s Day Classic, together with its work in promoting better retirement prospects for women, as an important investment in the future health of Australian women, so they can enjoy a happy and healthy retirement.

The Women in Super Mother's Day Classic gives you the chance to make a real difference to the lives of those diagnosed with breast cancer. Since the event began in 1998, five year survival rates for women diagnosed with breast cancer have been increasing, and now stand at 91% of those diagnosed.

The Mavis Mile – commemorating our founder

Mavis Robertson was the founder of Women in Super and the Mother’s Day Classic. To commemorate and celebrate her incredible contribution to the super industry the Mavis Mile was introduced. Since 2015, Mavis's inspired 'motivational messages' are placed along the last stretch of the Mother's Day Classic course.

Get involved!

There are so many ways that you can get involved and show your support for this great cause. Check out your options below:

• Participate in the event
• Volunteer on the day or as part of an Organising Committee
• Get your friends, family and colleagues involved by setting up a team
• Have your company sponsor the event
• Fundraise and raise money towards breast cancer research
• Make a donation to support reasearch into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer 

Mother's Day Classic