WHAT COLOUR IS LOVE

The memoir of 1996 Barnardos Australian Mother of the Year winner, Pat Howard is an amazing story of love, patience and tenacity. Soon after marrying itinerant show worker, Bert Howard at age eighteen, Pat falls pregnant with their first child, Shane. Complications at the birth followed by further health issues mean that Pat is unable to have any other biological children. Even though the couple lead busy lives operating their own cartage business, they decide to adopt. The family expands by fifteen children, three adopted locally and the rest from diverse countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Mauritius, Fiji and Vanuatu. Several of these children suffer from serious deprivations as a result of their institutionalisation in overseas orphanages. Furthermore, Pat and Bert sponsor a boy living in an Indian orphanage until he reaches adulthood. Pat and Bert are the pioneers of inter-country adoption, paving the way for many other Australian families to realise their dreams of parenthood. Repeatedly, Pat battles with government bureaucracy intent on discouraging such adoptions. Pat faces many challenges along the way including nursing back to health a Vietnamese war orphan who arrives in Australia in a critically ill condition after the fall of Saigon and later, allegations of a baby racket in Taiwan, reported by current affairs show 60 Minutes. In 1999, Pat, a true humanitarian, is appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for her service to the community and in particular, the welfare of adopted children.