Carrie Bickmore shares touching tribute to her mother as she retires

Carrie Bickmore has shared a sweet tribute to her mother on the day of her retirement. 

In an Instagram post on Sunday, the former star of The Project spoke fondly of her mum, Jennie Bickmore-Brand, who was a a lecturer at Curtin University, Perth. 

The mother and daughter posed side by side in photos shared to the social media platform, cuddling up close, with the family resemblance evident. 

‘My amazing mama has just retired (I think she’ll back) after 50 years contribution to education,’ Carrie, 42, wrote. 

‘Mum you are a trailblazer, an inspiration, a shining star. You did it all while raising kids, living and loving hard and all with a soft touch and huge smile. 

She concluded: ‘Enjoy the next chapter… whatever it may hold ‘.

It comes after the television and radio host split with her partner Chris Walker in January. 

She has since ‘grown close’ to her Hit FM co-host Tommy Little, 38, who is also single following his breakup with girlfriend Natalie Kyriacou in 2021.

Tommy rushed to the mother-of-three’s side in January when she confirmed her split, leading insiders to speculate their friendship could evolve into something more.

In recent months Tommy has shared several gushing tributes to Carrie on Instagram, and in one post called her the ‘best in the business’ who ‘lifts up everyone around her and makes them look good’.

Ahead of her last day on The Project last November, Tommy also treated the blonde bombshell to a private helicopter ride across Melbourne.

‘My amazing mama has just retired (I think she’ll back) after 50 years contribution to education,’ Carrie, 42, wrote. ‘Mum you are a trailblazer, an inspiration, a shining star. You did it all while raising kids, living and loving hard and all with a soft touch and huge smile’

He is often seen close to her at glitzy events, including the 2022 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) last October, where he didn’t leave her side even as guests got up from their tables and mingled with others.

The duo are regularly seen posing for cosy selfies on social media, which has prompted curious fans to question whether romance is on the cards. 

Their professional relationship began in 2016 when Tommy joined Carrie on the panel of The Project.

A year later, the pair began co-hosting Hit Network’s Melbourne drive show in 2017, and immediately gained a cult following thanks to their entertaining and organic banter.

Carrie announced her split from her longtime partner Chris in January this year via Instagram, saying the pair are focused on co-parenting their three children, Ollie, 15, Evie, seven, and Adelaide, four.

The news came just one month after Carrie hosted her last episode of Channel 10’s The Project after stepping down because she wanted to spend more evenings at home with her family.

 It comes after Carrie split with her partner Chris Walker in January. She has since ‘grown close’ to her Hit FM co-host Tommy Little (left)