What role have you played in the neighbourhood children’s lives?

I’ve been lucky enough to be there for all sorts of moments with my them. Take Zachary, for instance - he’s so much like me, especially with food! He takes ages to choose from those fancy café menus, just like I do. We both end up wanting something simple - a bit of steak or a hamburger with egg and bacon. None of those strange bowls of mush they serve nowadays! That’s why I love when it’s his birthday - I know I’ll actually be able to eat what’s served!

I worry about all of them in different ways. I was concerned about Daniel and Chloe - this is the first year Chloe’s been able to be on her own at school. Daniel hung around with her and her friends all through school life, and I worried about him going to the new school without her there. But Chloe’s gone ahead in leaps and bounds now that she’s on her own and can have her own life.

I’ve always tried to be there when needed. Like with Joan’s girls - Kirsty and Sally. I’d have them playing in the little pool in the backyard with Kevin’s children. Their mother Curl - Elizabeth was her real name - wrote me such a beautiful letter from Fiji before she came to Australia, saying how grateful she was knowing I was there if Joan needed anything. I’ve still got that letter, though Joan says she couldn’t read it without crying. I understand that - I still can’t open that beautiful book of photographs of Jaspy without tears welling up in my eyes.“