Latest Update - HKSA’s Heather Round crowned Australia’s ‘Mother of the Year’
MOTHER-of-six Heather Round not only looks after her own children but also helps the families of children with congenital heart disease.
On Thursday 8 May, at a lavish presentation in Sydney, Mrs Round, 35, was named Barnardos’ Australian Mother of the Year. In 2002, she lost her son Max, a twin to Henry, 5, to Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome when he was just 13 days old. Children with the disease typically have to be treated in Melbourne. Mrs Round decided to set up an accommodation support network, Max’s Place, to support families facing the financial burden of living for up to six months in Melbourne. “We would have loved to be able to cure congenital heart failure in kids but, because we can’t do that, we thought we would help the families,” she said.
“She’s Wonderwoman,” Mr Round said. Tim said Heather was a devoted mother. “Her life is about our kids and everything else is second to that,” he said. She was nominated by her mother Judith Parkinson who said Heather always had put others first. “I think she’s great and she probably should spend more time on herself, but the kids always come first,” Mrs Parkinson said.
Photo courtesy of The Advertiser and photographer Dean Martin
Max’s Place
Max’s place are a group of three units that Heather & Tim Round have purchased in dedication to the memory of their son Max – these units are for the use of families that have to relocate to Melbourne for life giving surgery for CHD children. Max’s Place is a one bedroom apartment, with a kitchen, living and bathroom, which is located directly opposite the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The apartments are located in the Royal Park Towers and has a security entrance. They also have car parking spaces for the families staying in the apartments to use.