A matriarch of her remote Queensland community, Barbara Clarke has always loved caring for people. She says an RFDS doctor taught her the importance of looking after others.
Barbara Clarke remembers a time when the sleepy stillness of her rural Queensland home was overrun with a cacophony of shrieking children racing about the house.Surrounded by vast stretches of red earth and desert grasses, the Aboriginal community of Dajarra is home to less than 200 people.
The town has a population of under 200 and is located about two hours from the nearest city of Mount Isa.Ms Clarke said she had a few tricks up her sleeve for when a new child came into her care."So I'd walk up to them and give them a little hug, and I just tell them that, 'You're welcome here. This is home for a little while'.Ms Clarke has taken dozens of children under her wing including her granddaughters.
Along with her fostering role, Ms Clarke has raised about 17 kids from extended family members over the years."One little young fella from Mornington Island, he has passed away – that broke my heart," Ms Clarke said."That was the saddest thing." While Dr Don no longer flies out to Dajarra regularly, RFDS doctor Deidre Stark says people like Ms Clarke are essential for her and her team to provide help.
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