Wendy Dow grew up around Shepparton and now lives happily across the river in Mooroopna.
One thing about Wendy is that her house is always full—and so is her calendar.
After 35 years as a foster carer through Berry St, and supporting almost 300 foster children, there’s no shortage of invitations to events ending up in the ever-evolving Dow families mailbox—and certainly no shortage of excuses for cake, either, Wendy said.
“There’s always some fun times and events happening at our place because it's always a birthday, or something happening,” she said.
Wendy has four children of her own, all in their twenties to mid-fourties, as well as three permanent care children and one foster child at the moment.
Although it’s undoubtedly a busy life, she says it is a deeply fulfilling one.
“(Being a carer) is something I always wanted to do, even as a teenager. I liked looking after children, and it was always what I wanted to do when I got older,” Wendy said.
“When you’re starting off, it can be a bit daunting, but once you’re used to be, it’s very rewarding.”
When asked what the most rewarding thing about being a carer was, she said that it was the fact that she is able to provide for the children, and see the effects of that.
“That the kids feel safe, and happy, and comfortable,” she said.
“The safety issue is one we definitely emphasise. It's great to be able to offer some security for these children and some love and care.”
She said that the connection is also rewarding. Many children reach out after moving on and starting their own families, and they stay involved in that way.
“We've been invited to some of the 21st of the children that we have had in care, and some of them are actually had families of their own, so we've been able to offer a bit of support and been a bit of a backup for them, which has been good,” she said.
“It's great just to be able to see them happy and loved, and saying that the parents don't love them, but to be safe and secure and have a stable home, and to watch them develop their own personality and to guide them along in life.
“It's a very fulfilling life. And, I've always thought that it's my calling.
“I think everybody has something, and that's, I think, it is - yeah, that's mine.”
Foster care week runs from September 8 to September 14, to highlight the work done by foster carers, and to raise awareness about foster and care and carer shortages.
Although it has now passed, it’s important to spread the message all year long.
“It’s not difficult to become a carer,” Wendy said.
“You do the training through Berry St, and get various checks done, but no, it’s not difficult.
“You meet other carers, which is very important. It’s nice to bounce ideas off each other,” she said.
“The training is very important, too, although I don’t think anything prepares you for when you get that first child.”
Wendy said that there are currently not enough carers in Shepparton, with “numbers going down.”
“That’s due to lots of different reasons. People change, lifestyles change, families change, and that sort of thing. We haven’t got as many as we’d like, and we’d like to recruit more.
“Even if they can do some respite care, one weekend a month, or anything they can offer.
“There’s no discrimination, either. You can be married, single, have a family or no family.”
For more information about becoming a carer, visit tinyurl.com/berrystcare