Tweed Mayor Councillor Barry Longland presented Mount Burrell carer Sue Charlier with the 2011 Tweed Shire Council Carers’ Award at a ceremony last week in Murwillumbah.
The award, part of the NSW Carers’ Awards, acknowledges and celebrates the significant contribution unpaid or ‘informal’ carers make to the person (or people) they care for and the community.
Mrs Charlier won the award in the ‘Caring Parent’ category in recognition of her dedication to her foster care commitments.
“Sue and her husband Gary welcome foster children with disabilities into their home and make them feel part of their family,” Councillor Longland said.
“For more than seven years, Sue has been patiently caring for Laura, whose disability means she is in a wheelchair, as a respite for Laura’s family.
“This is all while caring for her 13-year-old foster child living at home and working at Tweed Valley Respite. Sue has been working in the community care sector for 20 years.”
Mrs Charlier, a mother of four grown-up children and grandmother of five, began fostering 11 years ago and has fostered seven children over that time.
While she was pleased to receive the award from Councillor Longland, Sue was somewhat embarrassed by being singled out for special attention.
“I feel guilty sometimes, I love caring so much,” Sue said.
Cr Longland said Carers’ Week and the NSW Carers’ Awards were an opportunity for the Tweed community to raise awareness of the valuable role carers like Sue Charlier play, by acknowledging individuals and groups for outstanding caring contributions.
“I commend Sue for her dedication to foster caring, particularly for children with disabilities because, without people like her, the community and families would bear a much heavier burden both financially and socially,” he said.
“I also acknowledge the wonderful work of carer Sheryl Smith of Murwillumbah, who was also a nominee for this award.”
The NSW Carers’ Awards, now in their second year, are held in partnership with Carers NSW and the NSW Government. More than 150 recipients from local government areas in NSW will be honoured this week.
