Written by Njernda Aboriginal Corporation staff member Sharyn Kelly and collaborator Karen Lee Mills, the book follows the story of Billy, a boy who lives on Country with his Nan.
When his Nan falls ill, the eight-year-old is moved into foster care in the city and struggles while living away from his home by the Murray River.
Njernda has announced the book will be illustrated by two local artists — Aunty Neva Takele and her daughter Desrae Atkinson.
“I’m honoured to be part of it,” Aunty Neva said.
“It was a story that resonated with me because of my own experience trying to keep my grandson on Country.”
That personal connection inspired the artist and her daughter to develop the illustrations for the book.
“We decided on using the turtle, a grandmother and a boy, and the little turtle had a smile on his face, and I just thought well, we’ll go with that, and we were chosen!”
Sharyn said she was thrilled to have Aunty Neva and Desrae on board.
“The panel loved their submission and the way they were able to relate so closely to the story,” Sharyn said.
“We hope the story will inspire more Echuca-Moama people to become part of the Njernda Foster Care Program.”
There is a really big need for foster carers in the area, including for respite care, as Sharyn finds most foster carers are from the city.
“The idea of the book came about because my manager once said to me ‘taking kids out of the area is like trying to rip up a tree out of its environment, placing it somewhere else and saying ‘just grow’.
“The book is trying to see the child’s point of view of what happens to them when they get taken out of their area, their environment and taken somewhere a long way away because we don’t have carers around here.
“It is always traumatic for children when they are taken away from their family.
“The trauma is just exemplified so much when they are taken away from the community, as well.
“If we could have more carers, especially respite carers around the area, then that would help,” Sharyn said.
Any adult, no matter of their working or marital status or whether they are part of First Nations community or not, can apply to be a foster carer.
If you be a foster carer for a young person and help keep kids on Country email: fostering@njernda.com.au
If you would like to talk to someone about foster caring call Njernda Aboriginal Corporation staff member Sharyn Kelly on 5480 6252, extension three.
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