Donors buy house for Gammy
Gammy, the baby with Down syndrome allegedly abandoned in Thailand by his WA parents, and his surrogate mother have moved into a new house bought with public donations.
In WA, child protection officers are still inquiring into whether his twin sister Pipah, who was brought back to Australia by parents David and Wendy Farnell, can keep living with her convicted child sex offender father.
Three months since the scandal emerged to a global outcry, WA Child Protection Minister Helen Morton said officers were still doing an "extensive and rigorous" assessment into Pipah's safety and welfare.
Mrs Morton said the assessment had been delayed because Mrs Farnell and Pipah went to China after her mother's death, but the pair had now returned.
"The department was fully aware of her travel and was supportive of her taking time to grieve and spend time with her family," she said. "While this specific case is still subject to an ongoing thorough assessment, I can assure you that much has happened behind the scenes."
Gammy's story generated sympathy and outrage across the world after surrogate Pattharamon "Goy" Janbua claimed in August that the Farnells left Gammy behind after asking her to abort him. The Farnells have previously denied this.
Peter Baines, founder of the Hands Across the Water charity which supports children in Thailand and is managing almost $250,000 donated to Gammy, said the house had been bought in the charity's name in trust for Gammy.
Mr Baines said Ms Pattharamon had been living with her grandparents, partner and two other children in a small house which opened directly on to a busy street and a gutter.
"They needed better accommodation," he said. "It (the property) is a beautiful home with three bedrooms, which is important for the family to stay together, and in the same area, which is important for the kids to stay at the same school."
Mr Baines revealed Gammy still had some health problems.
The $250,000, raised by an online appeal, will take care of Gammy's medical treatment for the next 20 years.
