Australia's biggest family...15 kids and counting!

Jeni and Ray Bonell have just welcomed their 15th child to the world – and they’re not planning to stop there. The Queensland couple tell Woman’s Day why….

When paying a visit to the Bonell family’s Toowoomba home, you’d be forgiven for hesitating before knocking gingerly at their front door. You just don’t know what explosion of chaos will confront you once that door is opened. After all, this is the home where “born to be parents” Jeni, 42, and Ray, 43, live with their 15 kids. That’s right, 15 – the latest addition being the very cute and plump Damian, just three months old.

“Welcome to our world,” beams Jeni as she ushers Woman’s Day through a front room heaped high with mint-condition Barbie dolls. “The dolls are mine. As you can see, I collect things. I collect everything, including children.” She’s sort of joking, but isn’t – for living happily under the roof of this seven-bedroom Queensland home are Jesse, 21 (he’s recently moved out but visits all the time), Brooke, 20, Claire, 18, Natalie, 16, Karl, 15, Samuel, 13, Cameron, 11, Sabrina, 10, Timothy, 8, Brandon, 6, Eve, 5, Nate, 4, Rachel 3, Eric, 18 months, and baby Damian. All siblings are thoroughly enchanted by their new little brother.

“It’s like having your own hot water bottle to cuddle,” says doting big brother Karl. “He’s easy to look after, he just sleeps a lot.” “There’s certainly no shortage of babysitters around here,” grins a proud Jeni. “You ask what baby number 15 means to me? It means less sleep, more nappies and more adventures ahead. He’s just gorgeous.” You’d expect mayhem in a house teeming with kids, but the chaos is ordered. “We have fun, but we run the house with rules of tough love,” Jeni explains. “Let’s just say the ‘misbehaving mat’ gets used on a regular basis.”

Does the ‘misbehaving mat’ work when it comes to keeping her big brood in line? “Yes, and no,” she laughs. “With a couple of the kids, I don’t think anything would work! Ultimately, the family works as a team and we get things done.” Colour-coded rosters keep each family member on track. As soon as a child turns eight, they know they have to contribute to the chores.