Hundreds of foster children helped, and counting

As well as her own five kids, she has 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, but she’s lost count of how many foster children she’s had in her care.

“We used to keep track of numbers, but once we got right up there, we stopped,” she said.

“But there’s been hundreds over the years.”

Sylvia and Paul didn’t know any other foster carers at the time they began their journey; they were inspired by their love of children and their call to care for them.

“We were on a dairy farm and when our youngest started school, that was when we just thought, don’t like this not having kids around during the day,” Sylvia said.

“So we looked into it and took it from there.”

At times, their family multiplied by several children at once as they took in sibling groups to help kids from the same families stay together.

Sometimes they cared for babies until they grew into adults.

Once, they cared for a severely disabled child for 19 years.

While some kids return to their family homes and others eventually leave their nest, the influence Sylvia — and Paul, who passed away nine years ago — had on them lasts long after.

A woman who lived with the couple for a few years as a child stays in contact with Sylvia, and messaged her recently with gratitude.

“She said, ‘I sometimes look at my life and I feel that I should thank you for me turning out as I have,’” Sylvia said.

“I thought, what a lovely thing for her to say ... I mean, I guess you hope that whatever you put into children, even if one little thing stays with them, you’ve done your job.

“It was really nice hearing that.”

Another man, who lived with the Legges for most of his childhood after being placed in their care early in his life, named his own son after his foster dad, Paul.

For Sylvia, being a foster carer isn’t something she does, rather, it’s who she is.

“It’s just my life and I love it,” she said.

Sylvia believes taking in children who needed stable and loving homes showed her own children a path to compassion and charity.

“It taught them that there’s other people out there who might not be as lucky as them, so I saw that as a positive role for my children to realise that they can help people too,” she said.

“It takes a village to raise a child, and if you can be a part of that, why not do it?”

This year’s Victorian Foster Care Week runs from September 13 to 16 with theme ‘Open Doors. Open Hearts. Open Opportunities’.

Foster carers are currently in high demand.

Sylvia encourages anyone who’s ever considered becoming one to explore the role further.

“Don’t think too much about it. Do it; contact Berry Street. Get in there and do it because there’s positives for the children, but it’s also good for you,” she said.

“You know, you’ve got to give it a go and you won’t know until you try.”

Family and disability services organisation Berry Street provides training, ongoing support and a financial allowance to carers to help cover costs of raising foster children.

There’s no need to have a huge house, specific work arrangements or have a partner; carers come from all different dynamics.

Sylvia finds the lifestyle rewarding.

“When you get a new child come into your home, of course they’re scared, they don’t know you, but just making them feel comfortable and at home, watching their smiles return,” she said.

“And where it is possible that these kids can go home to their own families ... and seeing that happen, it just makes you feel good.”

To find out more about becoming a foster carer, phone Berry Street on 5822 8100 or email humefostercare@berrystreet.org.au or visit the website at berrystreet.org.au