The Age ran a feature in their ‘12 Days: The Gift of Love’ series exploring the rewards of caring for children with special needs. The article entitled ‘Along came Polly, and three lives were transformed’ (30/12/08) profiles Kaye and Gary’s family. Kaye and Gary approached Centacare’s Adoptions and Permanent Care Program six years ago and became permanent carers of ‘Polly’ who was four years of age and diagnosed with an intellectual disability, mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy. It took a year for Kaye and Gary to teach Polly to talk and now she receives wonderful reports from her special school. Kaye and Gary approached the Adoptions and Permanent Care Program again and were asked if they would like another child with special needs as they had made such remarkable progress with Polly. They were matched with ‘Mark’ who was then nine months of age. Kaye says parenting children with special needs is “rewarding, you get so much love”.

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As part of The Age’s ‘12 Days: The Gift of Love’ series, they ran a feature entitled ‘Sudanese family ripped apart by war reunited in suburban Melbourne’ (2/1/09). This article told the inspiring story of Tereaza Audo who was reunited last year with her son Emmanuel 24 years after she lost him. Tereaza is now in Sudan to be reunited with her husband who she hasn’t seen since a night of violence tore her village and family apart in 1983. Tereaza has become a leader in Melbourne’s Sudanese community and a coordinator for Centacare Catholic Family Services’ Sudanese women’s support group. Tereaza helps to run classes in cooking, sewing, computers and jewellery making.

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The Herald Sun (19/9/08) ran a profile piece on Centacare CEO Fr Joe Caddy’s pastoral services work in Victorian prisons. Click here to view article (PDF).

In July I had the wonderful fortune to be in Sydney for part of the World Youth Day events. The good will and feeling in the city was infectious with literally hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world gathered and walking the streets. As young people they embodied a sense of hope and idealism for the future. At fun they were loud, vibrant and active. At prayer they were participative and reflective. At all times they seemed respectful of others and there was a sense of security and safety on the streets.

by Fr Joe Caddy CEO Centacare Catholic Family Services

Published in Herald Sun Tuesday 29th April

A TRENDY looking group of 20-somethings gathers on a street in Carlton during a night out.

A young man in the group points towards a nearby restaurant, describing in detail the shooting that took place there during Melbourne's recent gangland wars.