Top award for caring foster parents

FOSTERING SUCCESS: Kim and Steve Burrows and Bill and Jocelyn Walker, with Kairi Shaw, 5. The couples have been awarded the L'Oreal Excellence in Foster Care award which will be presented at Government House. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Two Masterton couples are being rewarded for taking kids into their hearts and their homes.

Jocelyn and Bill Walker, and Kim and Steve Burrows have been awarded the L'Oreal Excellence in Foster Care prize in recognition for their years of service as foster parents.

Combined, the two couples have 16 years' experience and have cared for about 27 children between them.

They were nominated by Sonia Bromley of the Open Home Foundation in Masterton, an organisation that facilitates foster and respite care, as well as providing support services for parents.

Mrs Bromley said both couples worked hard to make sure the children in their care reached important milestones.

"There's lots of complicated needs for these kids and they've been there making sure they get what they need.

"These guys are at the coalface - they are not particularly rich people, just ordinary people doing an extraordinary job."

Mr and Mrs Burrows care full-time for three foster children aged 12, 9 and 8, while Mr and Mrs Walker care full-time for two children, aged 5 and 3.

Mrs Burrows said she and her husband were blown away when they heard they had been selected for the award.

"We kept looking at each other and bursting out laughing. You don't do it for the recognition but it's really nice to be recognised, because it's not an easy job.

"You've got to do it for the love."

Her parents had been foster parents and it had seemed like a natural decision to continue the tradition, she said.

The couples agreed that although it can be a tough job, the rewards of being a foster parent far outweigh the difficulties.

Mr Walker said one of the joys of being a foster parent was watching the children become more secure and confident. "One of the highlights is seeing them hit the targets that you would expect in a 'normal' family.

"They don't have to be Einstein proteges but we have expectations of them."

The awards will be presented on Friday at Government House. The four will be treated to a stay at a hotel as part of their prize.