The Hinterland attracts it’s fair share of remarkable people and Phil and Di Wilson qualify without a doubt.
Arriving in Montville in Christmas 2000 from a Newspaper Industry background, Phil and his wife Di purchased a home with a view to starting a Bed and Breakfast Accommodation House.
“In an unexpected turn of events Di became ill and after a period in hospital we decided to reassess,” said Phil.
“We had been involved previously in foster care for about 25 years and still had two children with us.
“The department had been contacting us to help out again as the need for carers is great and we decided it was what we really wanted to do.
“We now have six children living permanently with us, four of them siblings under the age of 6. We also have 3 other children that consider this their family home and, two of our own children as well! Needless to say Christmas is a pretty big event around here.
“Fostering has been a wonderful experience for us. It has it’s ups and downs and you do wonder if you have made a difference - what would have happened if we hadn’t stepped in etc. We hope we have created positive opportunities for these children. All children have a need to be truly cared for.
“Di and I never dreamed we would have six children at our age now and I guess with fostering you don’t really know what lies ahead. It often is a matter of being phoned up, a circumstance explained to you and an opportunity is there to help if you feel you can.
The Wilsons have accumulated many heart warming stories and have also received recognition of their effort locally as well as nationally.
In January last year some readers may remember the Wilsons winning the Montville Village Associations ‘Citizens of the Year’ award.
You may not be aware however that they had to leave the celebration early as one of their extended family, their disabled son Chris, was also to be awarded the Palmwoods Junior Citizen of the year.
“I was so proud, said Phil. It was such a fantastic achievement for Chris and to see him earn that recognition.... it was priceless.
“Di and I were both from Sydney and I guess we never socialised much and really preferred the social aspects of ‘our family’.
“As each foster child has come in to our life we have discussed it together, and with the rest of our family.
“I guess it takes the right temperament, a huge amount of commitment and strong family values to do what we do. We really do put family first. We eat together as a family and are happy to wait if one of the children is going to be late because of a sporting event - in fact we are probably there cheering him on!
In 1995 the Wilsons also won Australian Family of the Year. “It so wonderful to be recognised for our work with the children but for us it really has been a labour of love.
“We have now had a total of 110 children live with us, some for a weekend, some for months, and nine permanently - and we would do it all again tomorrow.”