MELBOURNE - Abandoned New Zealand toddler Pumpkin is bonding well with her foster parents and their children, and is acquiring a taste for vegemite on toast, Victoria's Department of Human Services (DHS) spokesman Brendan Ryan said today.
Mr Ryan said Pumpkin, who was left at Southern Cross railway
station in Melbourne by her father last Saturday, is doing as well as can be expected.
Pumpkin, now known to be Qian Xun Xue, 3, is receiving "lots of love and cuddles" and is sleeping well.
Mr Ryan said the foster parents' teenage children are treating the new arrival as a younger sister.
"She was distressed early in the week when she was asking for Mummy but (the foster family) have done a cracking job in supporting her and comforting her," Mr Ryan said.
"She's sleeping okay, she's eating okay and she's quite fond of vegemite on toast."
He said the family had bought Pumpkin a doll which she now carried with her all the time.
"She is getting lots of love, lots of cuddles and lots of hugs," Mr Ryan said.
Qian Xun will remain with the family for at least three weeks while the international search continues for her parents.
Mr Ryan said if her family members could be found after that time, the department would seek an extension.
He said if family still could be contacted after the extension expired, it would then be up to DHS and its New Zealand counterpart the Department of Child, Youth and Family to decide if Qian Xun should be returned to Auckland.
"That would be something for ourselves and our colleagues in New Zealand to make a decision on that," Mr Ryan said.
"We would be guided by whatever is in the best interest of Pumpkin."
Qian Xun and her father, Nai Xin Xue, arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand last Thursday.
Police say he flew to the United States after leaving her at Southern Cross station.
- AAP
