Tiperia Afamiliona, 45, had only been away from her three children in her native country Samoa for two days but her daughter was already crying.

"As I cry and write this, you've only been [away] for 2 days and I miss you so much already, although I hope you're enjoying yourself," she posted.

"I love & miss youuuu so much :( it's a quiet house without you yelling at us all the time lol but miss you! xoxoxx #HappyMothersDay"

On Tuesday, Gabrielle was crying for her mother again. This time in far more horrific circumstances.

She sobbed as she sat at the back of Campbelltown Local Court watching her father face charges of attempting to murder her mother.

Mrs Afamiliona was allegedly hacked to within an inch of her life by husband, Atinae Afamiliona, during a late-night argument on the side of a road in Sydney's south-west.

Mr Afamiliona was allegedly driving his ute along Raby Road at Raby at about 10.30pm on Monday when the heated argument began.

The pair stopped the car at St Andrews and kept fighting.

He allegedly grabbed a machete from under the driver's seat and used it to severe her little fingers, two of her toes and deglove her left hand.

He then dropped his injured wife off at Campbelltown Hospital's emergency ward and drove home, parking his blood-spattered ute in the driveway.

He was arrested there less than half an hour later.

The family are active church-goers and the children have previously been recognised for their academic achievements at local schools and for their selection in elite rugby league teams.

On Tuesday, Mr Afamiliona also cried in the dock of Campbelltown Local Court as he looked at more than a dozen family members, including his children, who had come to support him.

Mr Afamiliona's Legal Aid solicitor didn't apply for bail and it was formally refused.

His daughter asked for an AVO to be altered to allow the children to contact their father.

Outside court, she sobbed as she said she was on her way to visit her mother. A family member said Mr Afamiliona was "a good man".

In another social media post recently, the couple's daughter spoke about her belief in forgiveness.

"Greatest thing I've learnt is to forgive... it may be the hardest thing to do but to forgive and run to God I've found true happiness," she posted.

Her mother remained in a serious but stable condition in Liverpool Hospital on Tuesday.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

In an emergency, call 000.