State and territory winners 2011

At a morning tea ceremony in Canberra on Thursday, 31st March 2011, Bronwyn Roberson of Farrer was named the ACT Mother of the Year. She was presented with her award by Ms Joy Burch MLA, ACT Minister for Disability Housing and Community Services; Minister for Children and Young People; Minister for Multicultural Affairs; Minister for Women; Minister for Ageing.

For more than 20 years Bronwyn has dedicated her life to the care and protection of children. As a midwife Bronwyn saw first-hand the devastating effects drug and alcohol abuse, poverty, neglect and mental health issues had on newborn babies. Having had, at times, a difficult childhood herself, Bronwyn recognises the importance of breaking the cycle and providing a voice for children at risk who are unable to speak out for themselves. She currently works for ACT Health as a Child Protection Liaison Officer acting as a conduit between child protection workers, families and the health system. Bronwyn tirelessly advocates at work and in the community that the protection of children and young people is a responsibility shared by everyone. “Despite the appalling abuse and trying circumstances she encounters, Bronwyn quietly and cheerfully goes about making a difference to children’s lives every day,” says her friend Cheryl Gilroy who nominated her.

Married for 22 years to Peter, she has three biological children Hugh, 14, James, 17 and David, 20 whom she calls her “treasures.”

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Jan Kime of Childers was name the Queensland Mother of the Year at a special ceremony in Brisbane, proudly sponsored by the Queensland Government. She was and presented by Child Safety and Sport Minister Phil Reeves.

Jan has dedicated her life to caring for others and giving children the best start in life.  She started fostering 37 years ago when her own first child was a baby and has since had more than 100 children in her care. She currently has five children in her care. Jan says she was motivated to foster by a lady she knew as a young adult who also fostered and she says her passion is to see children reach their potential and to achieve the best they can in life. Jan has always been extremely active in the community having run group foster homes and playgroups and a daycare in the past.  She currently runs a mentoring program for the local primary school, a playgroup, daycare and teaches Sunday School.  She is an ‘adoptive mother’ to many women who seek her advice and support.

“My mum’s door is always open”, says her daughter Cynthia Cook who nominated her. “She is a positive and encouraging influence on everyone she meets and does all she can to help others with great care and joy.”

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On Monday, 4 April 2011 Amanda Forster of Failford was named the NSW Mother of the Year by the new Premier of NSW, The Hon Barry O’Farrell MP at a special ceremony in Sydney sponsored by the NSW Government. Premier O’Farrell paid tribute to the mother’s of NSW and commended Barnardos in recognising and acknowledging the important role mother’s play in nurturing children.

Amanda was just 17 when she met Paul, who had two boys, Matthew then seven, and James, who was five. Matthew had been diagnosed with leukaemia two years before and was in remission. Amanda and Paul married and Amanda cared for Matthew and James as she would her own. In 1996 they had a daughter Katie. Soon after, Matthew’s leukaemia relapsed. Over the next 15 years, Amanda nursed Matthew through chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. She spent many months at Westmead Children’s Hospital with Matthew, separated from Paul, James, Katie and their family home on the central coast. Paul suffered from severe depression as a result of his son’s condition and Amanda also nursed him through this. To add to the challenges the family faced, Matthew also had mental health issues, he was in and out of psychiatric treatment, and he got involved with a bad crowd. Sadly, Matthew passed away in August 2007.

“Amanda was thrown in the deep end and sacrificed so much for us at such a young age,” says James, her step-son who nominated her. “She’s never done anything for herself.”

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At a special ceremony hosted in Hobart on Wednesday, 6 April 2011, Dianne Sharp of Railton was named Tasmania’s Mother of the Year and was presented with her award by Senator for Tasmania, Catryna Bilyk

Dianne’s heart and home is always open to anyone in need. Ten months ago her 17-year-old stepson Jake’s friend, Joel, was having a hard time at home. Dianne took him in and made him feel like one of the family. “I was heading on a path of self-destruction and if it wasn’t for Dianne who knows where I would have ended up,” says Joel.

Dianne has also given him a job at her car detailing business and he’s studying a horticultural agriculture course at TAFE. Her children often bring their friends home and they may stay for a night or a weekend; they know the door is always open to them.

Thirty-two year old Dianne also has two sons, Bailey who is 11, and Jackson who is nine. She separated from her husband while she was pregnant with Jackson, and met her current partner, Simon, four years ago. He and his son, Jake, now live with Dianne. “Dianne might not be my real mum but I love her just the same,” says Joel.

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Dianne Brown of Preston was named Victoria’s Mother of the Year at a special ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday, 7 April 2011.  She was presented with her award by Senator Jacinta Collins, Victorian Senator and Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations who praised Dianne for her “positive outlook and selfless, gutsy attitude.”

Ten years ago, Dianne took in three sisters whose mum was in and out of rehab for drug addiction. It was an informal arrangement with the mother of the girls, who didn’t want them to be separated, and Dianne didn’t receive any government assistance. Dianne now has three children of her own, Quinn, three, Tilly, five, and Edan, eight. Two of the sisters, who are now 17 and 24, have lived with Dianne on and off for ten years, both recently returning to live with her permanently.

“Dianne loved us as her own and taught us what life was really supposed to be like,” says Melanie, one of the sisters, who nominated her. “She saved us from the horrible life we knew and guided us into the people we are today.”

Several years ago, one of Dianne friends lost his wife and Dianne stepped in and looked after his children whenever needed and helped him in many other ways.  “Not once has Dianne asked for anything in return except that one day we show the same kindness she has shown to us to someone less fortunate,” adds Melanie.

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At a special ceremony in Adelaide on Monday, 11 April 2011, Jan Stevens of Echunga was named the South Australian Mother of the Year and presented with her award by the Hon. Carmel Zollo, representing the South Australian Premier, Mike Rann.

Jan has been a foster carer for the past 10 years and currently has three children under 10 in her care. She also has four biological children – Tom, 16, Donna, 23, Ben, 26, and Leonie, 30. On top of this, Jan works three days a week as a social worker helping many different people with their problems such as young mums and troubled teenagers.

Her husband works in Perth and is often away leaving Jan to manage the household on her own. Jan says her motivation to foster is being able to make a difference to children’s lives by making their life more positive and successful.

“On top of everything that she does she still takes me out shopping and lets me have friends over whenever I want,” says her son Tom, who nominated her. “She is the best mum I could ever ask for and she always makes sure my siblings and I are safe and healthy. She always reminds us how much she loves us too.”

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On Wednesday, 13th April 2011 Amanda Draper of Dalyellup was named Western Australia’s Mother of the Year at a morning tea ceremony in Perth. Amanda was presented with her award by Minister Robyn McSweeney, Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors & Volunteering; Women’s Interests; Youth.

Amanda is a single mum with six happy children, aged, three, six, six, seven, 10 and 11 - four are her biological children and two she has fostered. Her six-year-old son James was nearly stillborn having been deprived of oxygen at birth for over four minutes. He was then diagnosed with a global developmental delay and other associated problems. Through her dedication and after many hours of therapy, James is now leading as close to a normal life as possible.

Amanda’s youngest child, who she fostered, also has special needs that required constant attention for the first two years of his life because of life threatening breathing. Her biggest challenge was yet to come, when her then 10-year-old son was diagnosed with an aggressive, advanced stage cancer - Burkitt's Lymphoma.  Amanda struggled, but managed to balance the love and needs of all six children during Andrew's six month stay in hospital for high dose intensive chemotheraphy treatment.

“My mum is fully great, the best mother ever,” says Andrew who nominated her along with his brother Matthew.

Amanda is also a university lecturer, teaches Year 12 maths and is doing a PhD on the difficulties that mothers face at university trying to juggle their many roles.

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Rebecca Healy of Tennant Creek was named the Northern Territory's Mother of the Year on Friday, 15th April 2011 at a special ceremony in Darwin proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government. Rebecca was presented with her award by the Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, the Honourable Delia Lawrie, representing the Honourable Kon Vatskalis, Minister for Health, Minister for Children and Families, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources.

At just 25, Rebecca has turned her life around to become an inspirational mother to not only her own two children but also to many in her remote community. After leaving home at 12, Rebecca lived in refuges for seven years and was taken in by friends. At 19, she decided to clean up her act. She bought her first house, lost 50 kilos and decided she was going to lead by example. Now, a single mum to her two boys Blake, three, and Chase, four, she also cares for her 16-year-old sister full-time and is an emergency foster parent.

Rebecca is a passionate advocate for the local youth and is regarded as a role model in her local community. She works as an indigenous economic development officer, and participates voluntarily on a range of community committees, including the Barkly Youth Service Providers Network, which she formed.

“Rebecca is a dynamo with a clear mission for community service, along with a devotion to her own family, who somehow manages to still find the energy to encourage development of those less fortunate than herself,” says her friend Jessica Arnold who nominated her.

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