DORA Creek's Eve Moyes and her husband John are not your average grandparents.
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Their daughter has schizophrenia, which leaves her unable to care for her three children.
Mrs and Mr Moyes have taken on the role of parenting full time - and they're tired.
Eve Moyes was named as a finalist in the Council On The Ageing's Grandparent Carer of the Year Award for 2014.
The announcement was made in the lead up to Grandparents Day on Sunday, October 26, where the winners will be announced by Premier Mike Baird.
The couple have been parents to their grandchildren for seven years, putting them through school, encouraging extra-curricular activities and arts projects.
Mrs Moyes said it could be rewarding on many levels, but was very difficult.
She said there were a wide range of scenarios grandparents had to deal with including being forced to stop working, not having a sufficient budget, being accused of spending inadequate time with other grandchildren, and lack of sleep.
"Some see it coming and some don't. They just get the knock on the door in the middle of the night and then there are children," Mrs Moyes said.
"A lot of them have problems such as autism and foetal alcohol syndrome or drug problems.
"Sometimes they need respite but the children have separation anxiety so they can't leave them.
"On top of that, they have problems with the birth parents who have drug and alcohol problems or mental health issues.
"A lot of them don't feel like there's a choice and, in a lot of cases, the choice is between children coming to them or going into foster care."
The couple have set up a website offering information to struggling grandparents new at their job or in need of respite.
■For more information about the work Mrs and Mr Moyes do, visit grands-raising-kids.org.au.