'After about a year, we put him in a home': Richard Wilkins reflects on raising a son with Down syndrome and why the Today star placed him in care in New Zealand when he was a baby
Richard 'Dickie' Wilkins has reflected on raising a son with Down syndrome.
Speaking on Today Extra on Thursday, the father-of-five revealed why he was forced to send his first son, Adam, 45, into care in his native New Zealand when he was a baby.
'I was only 18 when Adam was born [and] his mum was just 16, very unusual for Down syndrome people to be born to such young parents ... It was a shock to be a parent let alone of a Down syndrome child,' he said on World Down syndrome day.
Scroll down for video
Special needs: Richard Wilkins (left) has reflected on raising a son with Down syndrome. Pictured right: Richard's son, Adam, in 2012
'I was getting on with my life and career, I wanted to travel the world and make music and do that sort of stuff, and it was with some reluctance that after about a year we put Adam in a home.
'People said you can have him adopted. But I thought 'he is always going to be my son' and I want a relationship with him. He has had great people in his life over the years.'
The Channel Nine personality went on to call Adam 'my rock' and said 'to have a Down syndrome person in your family is an absolute joy'.
'My rock': The father-of-five revealed why he was forced to send his first son, Adam (right), 45, into care in New Zealand when he was a baby
Dickie shares five children with four different mothers; Adam, 45, Rebecca, 35, Nick, 33, Christian, 23, and Estella, 14, whose mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan.
He conceived Adam on the night of his 18th birthday, with his then 16-year-old girlfriend, in New Zealand.
In 2014, the TV presenter told Daily Mail Australia that he still feels 'guilty' for putting his first son in a home.
'I still feel guilty for not being there all the time and for not being the pin-up boy for father of the year,' he said.
Fatherhood: Dickie (2-L) shares five children with four different mothers; Adam (3-R), 45, Rebecca, 35, Nick, 33, Christian (left), 23, and Estella, 14, whose mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. Pictured in 2012
'He's happy and healthy and living in New Zealand, but he wouldn't be if it wasn't for people who had helped us along the way.
'I was still there for him any day of the week, but I had to relinquish everyday care to others.'
Dickie has been dating Virginia Burmeister, 52, the estranged wife of wealthy investment banker, Mark Burmeister, since 2017.
'People said you can have him adopted. But I thought 'he is always going to be my son' and I want a relationship with him. He has had great people in his life over the years': Dickie said during an emotional segment on the Today show
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Rishi on moral mission to combat 'unsustainable' sick note culture
- Boris Johnson questions the UK's stance on Canadian beef trade
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
- Shocking video shows bully beating disabled girl in wheelchair
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Met Police say Jewish faith is factor in protest crossing restriction
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Mel Stride: Sick note culture 'not good for economy'
- 'Incredibly difficult' for Sturgeon after husband formally charged