Aussie adoption pioneer Pat Howard leaves Ange Jolie in her dust. And she still has love to give!
When Pat Howard and her husband Bert had their first child in 1957, it was a bittersweet moment. On one hand they’d been blessed with little Shane, a healthy baby boy, and were elated at his arrival.
But with doctors warning they should never try for another baby, the Tasmanian couple, who always imagined raising a big family, were devastated.
“Our bloods were not able to mix,” says Pat. “I have a normal blood type but my husband has a very rare type, which Shane was born with. The doctors said we couldn’t risk them mixing again.”
While adoption was a relatively new concept back then, Pat says the yearning to mother more children never went away, and today their merry brood has expanded to 17 children… and 22 grandchildren!
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Beginning with a local adoption when Shane was 7, the little family welcomed Jamie.
Feeling like he had always belonged with them filled Pat with joy. But aware there were many more children out there without the love and support of a stable family, it wasn’t long before the Howards were adopting again.
Next there was Jade, followed a couple of years later by Shannon, and while their three-bedroom house began to fill, Pat says their hearts still had more room.
“All the kids were so accepting of each other, each time moving along to fit the next one in, so we just carried on,” says Pat.
Volunteering her time with nurses heading to Vietnam, she realised the issues facing orphaned children were not just at home in Australia.
But Pat, now 74, and Bert, 75, soon discovered the overseas adoption process was going to be one of their toughest challenges.
At around $25,000, the cost of adopting a child from another country could also be financially crippling. “We worked hard and saved our money.Bert worked three jobs and I worked in childcare,” recalls Pat.
“We’re not big on material things but we had a bus and went camping.The kids didn’t have toys but they did have lots of adventures.”
With no mobile phone, faxes or emails back then, it took the couple almost seven years of dedication to complete the process, but eventually the family were welcoming Heath in 1975 from war-torn Vietnam.
Just weeks old, Heath arrived in a shoe box, weighing just 2kg, and was not expected to live.
But it wasn’t just babies and toddlers Pat wanted to help. Marina, 13, and Caroline, 8, arrived from Vanuatu after their Australian-born father died suddenly, leaving their mother unable to cope alone.
“They’d just lost their father and they certainly didn’t want another set of parents,”she remembers. “But it all works out given time. They’re both an absolute delight now and have been back to visit their family in Vanuatu, which is something I’ve always supported.”
Next, orphaned sisters Wanna and Soonee, 8 and 6, arrived in 1978 after they were found living on the streets of Bangkok.Mauritians La Toya and Jean-Pierre, 9 and 6, were next to arrive, after their mother passed away.
Over the years, Pat and Bert became known as overseas-adoption pioneers, welcoming more children – from Taiwan, Fiji and Vanuatu – into their hearts.
Their selfless devotion was officially recognised in 1999, with Pat appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
Amazing Aussie: I’m 19 and have five kids!
Today her children’s shared life experience means they enjoy a tight relationship.
It was La Toya who nominated Pat for the very first Banardos Mother Of The Year award in 1996. “She’s provided a home, love and family for children whose futures were uncertain,”she wrote. “A heroine to her kids … we think she’s just great!”
But Pat, completely humbled by the experience, gives all the credit to her kids.
“The reason it worked so well was because every single one of them has a story. And now they are closer than most siblings.” And that journey “taught them to be strong”.
“They can’t say, “Poor me, what about me?” because the person standing next to them has a similar story.”
YOU can make a difference!
This year, Woman’s Day is partnering with Barnardos Australia and ALDI Australia to provide Christmas gifts for children affected by abuse and homelessness. For every gift purchased by Woman’s Day readers, ALDI Australia will provide a gift, too! Head to the website and you’ll find an array of options to suit different children’s age ranges and your own budgets. Every gift purchased, no matter how big or small, is a very powerful way to impact a child’s life this festive season, and we hope you’ll join us in supporting this great initiative.Donations close December 5. Get involved! Head to: www.simplygiving.com.au/giftsforkids
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