DESPITE the trauma she faced in her childhood, uMhlanga resident, Roaleen Buttery firmly believes the unconditional love she received during her time at the Ethelbert Child and Youth Care Centre helped mould her into the positive, cheerful and caring person she is today.
At nine years old she was taken away from her mother and father. Buttery described her father as an alcoholic, abusive and refused to allow their mother to work, stripping her of her independence and ensuring that she was unable to look after the three daughters. In 1979, Buttery and her three sisters were taken in by what was then known as the Ethelbert Children’s Home.
“As a child you don’t actually realise how much they were doing for me. Only when I left did I truly realise what could have happened to my sisters and I if we were not taken in.”
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When she was 15 she had her first major back surgery for hereditary scoliosis.
“I remember being in a private ward after one of my operations and there was a phone next to my bed. My mother didn’t reach out to me. My mother and I had a huge fallout and I had an anger towards her as she was able to be a mother but she didn’t want to be. The women in the children’s home were way more concerned about me,” she said.
In January of 1988, Buttery left the place that had become her home and set out to start a life of her own. “I studied to be a nurse and, when I was done, I moved into a dental assistant’s position,” she said.
It wasn’t long before she turned her passion for baking into a successful business. Buttery met the man of her dreams, Paul, when she was 19 and they recently celebrated 27 years of marriage. They have two children together. Two years ago Buttery underwent another major surgery and was told she was no longer allowed to work due to the severe deterioration of her spine.
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Now 50, Buttery has had six successful back surgeries. Buttery said she is still in contact with a few of the house mothers from her time at the youth centre. With a solid foundation created by the youth care centre and its dedicated team of house mothers that helped her to become the strong-willed and independent person she is today, Buttery encouraged residents and businesses to donate to the worthy cause.
To make a donation to the local non-profit organisation, visit ethelbert.co.za, contact 031 464 6555 or email info@ethelbert.co.za.
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