
The path to motherhood was a tough one for Chauntell McNamara.
Do you know a fantastic mum who deserves recognition? You can nominate her for Barnardos Mother of the Year 2016 here.
The 35 year old, from Murrumbateman, ACT, endured a long and painful battle with IVF before losing her precious newborn son Jacob, who was stillborn.
But despite all that grief, Mrs McNamara never gave up.
Today, happily, she and her husband Andrew are proud parents of three kids - Brodie, 13, and Annabella, 9, who they adopted, and Cooper, 7, their biological son.
Mrs McNamara also provides emergency foster care of babies and is a passionate advocate for local children of asylum seekers, volunteering her time and teaching skills at an after school program.
The mum of three is Barnardos Mother of the Year 2015 (ACT) and was nominated by her friend Leilah Franklin?Ayton, who said she had also raised thousands of dollars over the years for local children's charities.

Mrs McNamara said the win was a "lovely acknowledgement of my everyday work as a mum" and that she survived the tough times thanks to her friends and family.
"My family and my husband especially gave me the strength to keep going, and to keep pursuing my dreams," she said. "I truly believe in doing things for others and I want to make a small difference in the world and set a good example for my kids."
Her advice for fellow mums? "Trust your instincts, and ask for help when you need it. Don't be afraid to admit when you need help," she shared.
Barnardos Mother of the Year 2015 (TAS) Lisa King, 40, from Newstead, Tasmania, has also lived through unbelievable tragedy.
Mrs King and her husband Aaron had four boys - Jalen, Harri, Kobe and Noah, who was born with a severe brain condition called Hydranencephaly.
Noah's condition left him with the mental capacity of a three?month?old and he was only expected to live for a few years. However, he defied the odds for almost a decade, before passing away aged 10.
Then the grieving family lost Aaron, who suffered a fatal heart attack. But despite her grief, Mrs King, a blogger, always remained positive.
