RENE Robinson knows about the critical role of grandparents better than most: she has raised her granddaughters, Dakota and Summer, since they were two years and 10 months old respectively.
“I’m one of 45,000 kinship carers in Australia,” Rene said.
“A family breakdown means those girls have been in my care for 16 years. But I get no recognition or support from government in that caring role because the children aren’t disabled.
“They’re not physically disabled but they are emotionally scarred.
“I was 58 and had just returned from a year teaching English in China when I took them on. I knew I had to keep working, but as kinship carers we do it on our own.”
Some recognition did come recently when Rene was named the Community Service Grandparent of the Year by Grandparent’s Day magazine.
She was nominated by granddaughter Summer. And while Rene does not chase accolades, she thought an award could be useful to promote the vital role of kinship carers.
Despite the responsibility Rene took on at a stage in life when many others are slowing down and smelling the roses, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s a privilege to have grandchildren around,” she said.
“I’ve not had a partner for a long time and this year is the first year in 40 that I haven’t been getting kids off to school every morning.
“But I’m passionate about what I do – it’s what motivates me to get out of bed.
“I’m not religious but I thank God I have so much energy. Essentially you have two choices in life: sit back and become a victim or pull your finger out and do something.”
As well as her counselling and coaching work, providing for her granddaughters and spending time with her two other younger grandchildren, Rene has found time to write a book titled Helping Children to Emotional Intelligence.
“I’ve dealt with a lot in my life – I’m 73 and the older I get, I realise I’ve gained wisdom,” Rene said.
“It’s so important for the girls to understand that they need an outlet for their anger and other emotions. If you can’t access your emotions, life is very difficult.”
Rene has also found time to pursue another project that involves making sanitary products and underwear for women in Nepalese villages.
Earlier this year she and a friend visited Nepal, taking a couple of sewing machines and material with them, and taught groups of women how to make their own personal hygiene items.
“There’s an awful stigma about menstruating women in parts of Nepal,” Rene said. “They’re banished and become outcasts for five days a month.
“What we do isn’t charity work, it’s about women standing up for themselves.”
- To read Summer’s nomination for Rene’s award, visit grandparentsdaymagazine.com