Noble Park resident John Ngatokorua holding a photo of him and his late wife, Atita, at their wedding.By Shaun Inguanzo
FOLLOWING his wife’s sudden death, a Noble Park man has quit his job to continue caring for their foster children.
John Ngatokorua, 60, honoured the wish of his late wife Atita, 52, who died in August following a severe asthma attack, by continuing to care for children who have been subjected to child abuse, violence and neglect.
The Ngatokorua family has been foster caring through Berry Street Victoria for three years and was recently commended for caring for 15 children during that time.
Mr Ngatokorua said the couple, which has five natural children and 14 grandchildren, felt lonely once their sons and daughters had moved out of home.
He said he and his wife then decided to foster care and recreate a family atmosphere while helping to educate foster children, who often came into the house with family or behavioural problems.
Mr Ngatokorua said his wife had been vital in educating the foster children who passed through their home, giving them another opportunity at life.
Mrs Ngatokorua suffered a severe asthma attack on 10 August, and died in hospital four days later.
According to her husband, she was visiting Berry Street’s Dandenong branch when she collapsed in front of workers.
Mr Ngatokorua had to gather his strength to attend last month’s prestigious Selina Sutherland Award ceremony which recognises the work of Berry Street’s child carers.
“When they told me (we had won) there were just tears running down my face, and at the same time I was thinking about my wife,” he said.
“But I just managed to get there and show my appreciation about the award.
“If my wife was right there with me she would have shown them her appreciation with her big smile.”
Despite the heartache of losing his partner, Mr Ngatokorua turned to his faith for guidance and decided to quit his manufacturing job and continue to care for three foster children.
“That’s what (Atita) wanted for them, so when she passed away I just had to carry on,” he said.
“There is a time to die, a time to laugh, and a time to go on.”
Mr Ngatokorua now cares for three foster children, including one with an intellectual disability.
He said it was not difficult.
“I do what I can because I love these kids, I absolutely love them,” he said.
Gill Marshall, the case manager for Mr Ngatokorua’s foster children, said Mr Ngatokorua’s commitment was admirable and Berry Street provided constant support.
Mr Ngatokorua said one day he would be too old to care for foster children, but until then he would continue to do so with the lasting memory of Atita.
