When Dean, his wife Margaret and their two children made the sea change from Melbourne to Portland on Victoria’s south-east coast 18 months ago, it presented the couple with an opportunity to realise their dream of becoming foster carers.
“Fostering was something Margaret and I had always talked about doing – even before we married 10 years ago,” recalls Dean.
Leaving behind busy lifestyles, the couple now run Portland Bay Lodge, which specialises in marine, coastal and Indigenous education (Margaret also works as an osteopath). Set on four hectares, the lodge is located directly opposite the heritage-listed Convincing Grounds - the site of Victoria’s first recorded Indigenous massacre. Now a space of healing, the lodge hosts school camps, and official gatherings of the Gunditj Mirring traditional owners, Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation and the Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service. Aboriginal Victoria also holds Indigenous family gatherings there.
Therefore, it was almost serendipitous that the couple’s first full-time foster child was an Indigenous nine-year-old boy, Alex*. Despite being non-Indigenous carers, because of their work with the lodge, Dean and Margaret are deeply linked to, and respectful of the local Aboriginal culture.
Dean says they are committed to providing opportunities for Alex to connect with and strengthen his culture.
“It’s not something we force on him, but we do explain what it means to be Indigenous.”
Having previously spent some respite stays with the family, Alex came to live with Dean and Margaret full-time earlier this year. It was, says Margaret “a brilliant match”.
“Alex is such a sweet, sensitive little soul – it’s been so rewarding to see how he has changed.”
However, the couple agree the placement hasn’t been without its challenges. Despite being of a year three school age, Alex had only spent a few months attending school.
“Getting Alex to go to school was a battle every day,” says Dean. “But once it was explained to him the long-term benefits, he has been great. He organises his clothes the night before, packs his own lunch and is the first ready to leave.
“We can see that he now wants to learn – not just educationally, but socially too. It’s been so rewarding to see him develop and become self-sufficient.”
And the response from the couple’s own children – a boy, 10 and girl, 8.
“They love Alex,” says Margaret. “Yes, there are the usual sibling issues but they are all considerate of each other. Alex couldn’t be a better fit for our family.”
*Name changed to protect privacy