Sidona Hodge named New South Wales Barnardos Mother of the Year
A grandmother who has devoted her life to fostering indigenous children has been named the NSW Barnardos Mother of the Year.
For 30 years Sidona Hodge's home in Sydney's south-west was a safe haven for her three children and more than 20 other children which she fostered and cared for.
The indigenous mother and grandmother has fostered more than 20 kids.
Ms Hodge says her motivation is to offer them a better upbringing than she had.
"Most important is showing that child love because a lot of these children grow up in a different environment and they don't really see that,” she said.
Ms Hodge’s daughter Alison nominated her for the award. While she had to share her mum with many other children she would not change a thing.
"That just shows the type of person that she is and the respect that she gives to kids and to other people and the respect that they give back to her,” she said.
Ms Hodge was among four inspirational finalists at this year’s awards.
Other contenders were Vikki Ralph whose daughter was paralysed in an accident, Kathleen Aspey who lost her 12 year old to cystic fibrosis and Margaret Purcell who built the Denny Foundation to honour her son who took his own life.
The Barnardos Mother of the Year award has now been celebrating amazing mums for two decades. The nominees are women who have survived very different struggles, but share an unwavering belief in children.
The national winner will be announced on Mothers Day.
News break – April 20
