Echuca's Charlie and Anthony Child are ready to start school

“They haven't stopped asking about when they're going to school,” Julieanne said.

“Ever since we bought their school shoes they've been wearing them just about every day.”

After a rocky start to life, with the twins being born 24 weeks premature, Julieanne said there was a time when she didn't think she would see the day they would be running off to school.

“Charlie was okay, she was born and weighed about 1.4kg, but Anthony was different,” she said.

“He weighed in at about 640 grams and spent the next four months in hospital in Melbourne, it was a scary time.

“He was connected to tubes and machines and everything.”

Julieanne said when he was born he fit in the palm of her hand.

“We were living in Darwin at the time and they said we would have to travel to Victoria to have them, so that's what we did,” she said.

“So that's where our home was for about 16 weeks and then we decided to move to Echuca permanently a few years ago.”

But a few years passed, and despite Clinton being stuck in Darwin again last year due to COVID-19, the family are back together and ready to take the next step in their lives.

And although she has enjoyed her children being around, Julieanne said she was ready for them to leave the nest.

“I love them but I'm very ready for some peace and quiet at home,” she said with a laugh.

Both Charlie and Anthony couldn't be more eager to get out either.

“I really want to get to school and practise on the monkey bars,” Charlie said.

“I can't wait to see my friends and play as much as I can,” Anthony said.

St Mary's Primary welcomed their four prep classes back to school on Friday, January 29.