If it takes a village to raise a child then Katoomba single parent, Sue Morrison, has been fortunate to enjoy the support of four Blue Mountains villages to help raise her unusual family, and her 18-year-old triplets are now giving back to those in need.
Ms Morrison came to Lawson from Bathurst 21 years ago just before her daughter Kittani was born, to be closer to family support and Kittani’s dad, well-known Blackheath ecologist Wyn Jones.
“I loved the old-world village atmosphere at Lawson with its historic shops along the highway and small, close community where everyone looked out for you.”
Two years later she moved to Blackheath to resume her career, working part-time as a project officer at the National Parks Heritage Centre at Govetts Leap.
“Blackheath has a very strong community focus and when I discovered I was pregnant with triplet boys I knew I could rely on the help of local villagers,” she said.
She built a house on land adjoining the cottage where Wyn had lived for the previous 15 years, working on rare plant conservation, including describing the newly discovered Wollemi Pine.
Her parents moved to Blackheath, building a house just around the corner so they could provide daily support and childcare and enjoy their four grandchildren.
“I don’t know how I would have managed three babies without their practical and emotional support and the help of many, many Blackheathans. When Kittani started high school at Springwood, we moved to Wentworth Falls to make the travelling easier on everyone as my parents had moved back to the warmth of the Lower Mountains.
“Wentworth Falls is another close knit community and the boys loved the local primary school and playing soccer with the local Warriors soccer club.”
The family moved to Katoomba when the triplets started high school.
“By that time I was very active in local sustainability groups and believed in the importance of living locally to reduce your footprint on the environment.
“Katoomba has most things you need, the boys can walk or cycle to school and it was easy for them to find part-time jobs in local cafes.”
Some of the same people who helped with the triplets are now helping Ms Morrison in her two-and-a-half year battle with ovarian cancer, providing meals and helping with household chores.
Now 18, Milo, Kalang and Tallai Morrison-Jones are giving back to needy communities by registering for Blue Mountains Trek for Timor, having previously volunteered in a Cambodian village on a World Challenge trip to Thailand and Cambodia in 2014.
“We’ve spent a lot of time in Blue Mountains National Park and walk well together as a team so we figured we could easily do 50km and raise some money for a good cause at the same time,” Milo said.
“We’ve already done a few fairly grueling training walks in the rain.”
Recently they celebrated their 18th birthday and instead of receiving presents, they asked for sponsor the Migrating Wombats. They will take part in Trek for Timor with their friend Ira Dudley-Bestow. Go to www.trekfortimorbm.org.au for more.
