Sandra spent three years caring for children in Wollongong prior to her move to Gloucester and joined family day care in the local area in 1997.

“It was something I could do from home, what I could do well and fit it with my kids and family,” she said.

Sandra said from her days in Wollongong she now has family day care children turning 19. While in Gloucester she still remembers taking the first children into care, children who are now well into high school.

Of the 56 children she has cared for in Gloucester, Ethan and Emily Hamilton were with Sandra for the longest period, eight years.

Many of the families and their children that Sandra was worked with gathered in Billabong Park recently to mark Sandra’s retirement as a carer.

“It was good to catch up, I hadn’t seen some (of the children) for a while, it was good to see them grown up.”

Sandra said being in a small community it was great to be able to see the children as they grew older and left her care, and she often would call down at sport on a weekend, or pop into a school assembly to see what the children were up to.

She said after a total of 15 years it was time to call it a day.

“I’ll be enjoying my grandkids,” she said.

Sandra said the support of the families and the friendships she has made with them and the children have made the work enjoyable.

“There have been lots of continuing friendships made with families over the years.”

She said the support of the other family day carers in Gloucester, Wendy Reichters and Beryl Corrigan had also been invaluable.