Walker twins lead a multiplying multitude

25 Jan, 2012 04:00 AM - Port Macquarie News

PEOPLE would have been forgiven for thinking they had double vision in Port Macquarie yesterday. It was a case of double - and even triple - the fun when twins and a set of triplets, their parents and siblings, met at the Town Green Inn.

Grace Walker loves being a mother of twins. Eight-month-old fraternal twin girls Scarlett and Rose are an absolute joy, their mum says.

About 40 people attended the get-together of twins, and a set of triplets, at the informal gathering of multiple birth families.

The mothers plan to meet regularly and hope to form a support group.

“I love meeting other mums with twins,” Mrs Walker said. “I want to build friendships with other mothers and I want my girls to have lifelong companions.”

Scarlett and Rose might have shared the womb, but they are very different.

“Rose is little miss independent and Scarlett is the clown of the family,” Mrs Walker said.

Telegraph Point couple Grace and Brett Walker also have a three-year-old daughter, Ceara.

Mrs Walker said it was tough for the first six months after the twins arrived, but support networks helped.

Kempsey’s Vanessa Smailes, the proud mother of 14-month-old identical twins Abbie and Amaya, was a driving force to bring the families together.

It started as a connection on a social networking site.

“We kept on finding more and more [multiple birth families] and it has escalated from there,” she said.

The parents share friendships, tips and stories.

Stacey and Benn Potter, from Kempsey, have triplets - 14-month-old Daniel, Samantha and Lachlan.

“It’s great ... they have built-in playmates, but it’s very full on,” Mrs Potter said.

Contact Vanessa Smailes on 0432 551 627 or go to the Facebook page multiple birth mums - Hastings and Macleay for more information.