The Hon. Phil Reeves, Queensland Minister for Child Safety, today announced Richard Baldry as the winner of the Queensland Father of the Year award for 2009.
Richard Baldry from Bundaberg has 15 adopted or foster children (aged 2 to 32) and eight grandchildren.
And if raising 15 children isn’t challenging enough, Richard has been a paraplegic since he was 19 through an accident at work.
Richard works with intellectually disabled people and, as a qualified leatherworker, he teaches men leatherwork at a local rehabilitation centre.
His 20-year-old daughter, Samantha Woodgate, nominated him for Queensland Father of the Year.
Samantha says she does not know where she would be without her dad, Richard Baldry. She was fostered to Mr Baldry and his wife Noelene when she was an 11-month-old baby.
“Dad’s given me a second chance to progress in life,” she said. “He’s taught me life skills and given me the confidence to be a young lady.”
Mr Baldry said he was glad to win the award because it might encourage other people to foster children. “There is just such a need for foster parents in the community,” he said.
The Queensland Father of the Year award, hosted by SU Qld, honours and celebrates the importance of fathers and father-figures throughout the state.
CEO of SU Qld, Tim Mander, said, “Fathers play such a key role in the healthy development of our children. A child can have no greater start in life than having a father who is consistent, loving, trustworthy, protective and ever present.
“SU Qld would love to see all kids start with this firm foundation. We want to honour fathers and promote the vital role fathers play in families and society in general.”
Mr Reeves paid tribute to fathers and father figures throughout Queensland for the important contribution they make to providing a safe and secure environment for children.
Mr Reeves said that while many men played an important role as father to their own children, others played an equally important role as foster carers and father figures to children who aren’t their own.
“Sadly, many children who come to the attention of child protection authorities have no father or a father who has neglected or abused them.”
“We try to mend that hurt by placing children with foster carers who can offer a loving stable environment for these children.”
“I want to acknowledge those men like Mr Baldry who take on a foster carer father role, loving and caring for these children as they would their own.”
SU Qld is the fastest growing youth and children’s not-for-profit organization in Australia. SU Qld is officially endorsed by Education Queensland as an accredited employing authority for over 500 chaplains in state schools.