‘A rough start doesn’t have to mean a rough ending’
Selina Rose Walker opened up her home and heart to become a foster mum to three of her cousin’s children, who were mistreated before coming into her care.
Despite having no biological children of her own, Selina, 36, says she’s not missing out on the experience of motherhood whatsoever, and she treats the three boys, aged 10, six and two, as if they were her own.
“I’m the eldest boy’s godmother and took that role very seriously, so when he needed me [seven years ago] I said yes and he came to live with me,” Selina says. “His brother joined us two years later. To see them together was beautiful, because they hadn’t been together in care and they hadn’t had a brother to grow up with.”
The youngest of the siblings joined the family in November last year.
“At first it was only meant to be for a week but I fell in love with them and they with me, so that’s the end of it,” she says.
Selina is also a positive role model in her community. She coaches football, tee ball,, baseball and Oztag teams, and is actively ely involved in local school life.
She’s also a proud Indigenous artist and the granddaughter of Canberra’s mostt senior Ngunnawal elder, a legacy and pride she hopes to pass on to her boys..
“I’ve seen them grow into beautiful little men, particularly the eldest as he takes on that responsibility and wants to look after his brothers.
“He’s going to be a wonderful leader one day,” Selina says. “If you have a rough start it doesn’t have to mean a rough ending. Your life isn’t set.” t.”