On the first occasion, when Mrs Wallace underwent day surgery for what she called ‘women’s problems’ and her husband was unexpectedly called away to a family emergency, Polly went to Emu Cottage.

‘That’s where I first met Snow Delaney,’ she said. ‘She was one of three or four assistants on that day. She seemed pleasant enough, maybe a little cold. But Polly was only there for the day.’

The second time Mrs Wallace needed respite was when her father died in Noosa in 2006.

‘I had to go up for the funeral,’ she said. ‘Brad and the kids had to come with me – he was their Pop, after all, but what would we do with Polly?

‘I called the Department and explained the situation, hoping they’d say, “Well, we’ll get permission for you to take Polly with you,” but what they said was, “Not to worry, there’s this couple we’ve been using for overnight care, and they’re fine.” I very clearly remember that. They didn’t say, “Oh, they’re brilliant, or marvellous, or wonderful.” They said, “They’re fine.”’

Having never left Polly alone overnight before, Mrs Wallace was anxious. The Department tried to put her mind at rest by sending her a brochure for Delaney House.

‘I’ll never forget that either,’ Mrs Wallace said. ‘Folded up inside it was a list of rules that parents had to accept. Under the heading “No Comfort Toys” somebody had written, “Please don’t bring dummies, blankets, or other comfort toys to Delaney House when dropping a child for respite. These items carry germs. Delaney House staff will confiscate all comfort toys and ARE NOT responsible for their return.”

‘I thought, “They don’t sound like nice people,” but what choice did I have, other than to drop Polly off there? I had to go to Noosa for my father’s funeral. I would have loved to have taken her with me but I just didn’t have permission. So on the day I drove Polly across town from our home in Tempe, to the address on the Delaney House brochure. It was a big house with a fence all around that you couldn’t see through because of all the weeds and you had to buzz to get in. The front garden was enormous, and there were these wonderful manicured trees: one cut to look like a kangaroo, from memory; and another one like an emu.

‘I thought, “Well, that’s nice. That’s a sign of somebody taking some care at least.” But I also remember that the front windows were covered over with foil of some kind, so they reflected back and you couldn’t see in.’

Mrs Wallace pressed the buzzer. The door opened, and there stood Snow Delaney.

‘I immediately got the feeling that I knew her from somewhere, and then it clicked: Emu Cottage!’ Mrs Wallace said. ‘I immediately felt relieved. Here was somebody who had met Polly previously. But then I waited for her to invite me in and she just didn’t. She stuck her hand out for Polly’s bag, like I might just walk off without even seeing inside, and I can tell you now that was not going to happen.