'After about a year, we put him in a home': Richard Wilkins reflects on raising a son with Down syndrome and why the Today star placed him in care in New Zealand when he was a baby By Benge Nsenduluka For Daily Mail Australia Published: 02:08 GMT, 21 March 2019 | Updated: 02:45 GMT, 21 March 2019 Viewcomments Richard 'Dickie' Wilkins has reflected on fathering a son with Down syndrome. Speaking on Today Extra on Thursday, the father-of-five revealed why he was forced to send his first son, Adam, 45, into care in New Zealand when he was a baby. 'I was only 18 when Adam was born [and] his mum was just 16, very unusual for Down syndrome people to be born to such young parents ... It was a shock to be a parent let alone of a Down syndrome child,' he said. Special needs: Richard Wilkins (left) has reflected on fathering a son with Down syndrome. Pictured right: Richard's son, Adam, in 2012 'I was getting on with my life and career, I wanted to travel the world and make music and do that sort of stuff, and it was with some reluctance that after about a year we put Adam in a home. 'People said you can have him adopted. But I thought "he is always going to be my son" and I want a relationship with him. He has had great people in his life over the years.' The Channel Nine personality went on to call Adam 'my rock' and said 'to have a Down syndrome person in your family is an absolute joy'. 'My rock': The father-of-five revealed why he was forced to send his first son, Adam (right), 45, into care in New Zealand when he was a baby Dickie shares five children with four different mothers; Adam, 45, Rebecca, 35, Nick, 33, Christian, 23, and Estella, 14, whose mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. In 2014, the TV presenter told Daily Mail Australia that he still feels 'guilty' for putting his first son in a home. 'I still feel guilty for not being there all the time and for not being the pin-up boy for father of the year,' he said. Fatherhood: Dickie (2-L) shares five children with four different mothers; Adam (3-R), 45, Rebecca, 35, Nick, 33, Christian (left), 23, and Estella, 14, whose mother is fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. Pictured in 2012 'He's happy and healthy and living in New Zealand, but he wouldn't be if it wasn't for people who had helped us along the way. 'I was still there for him any day of the week, but I had to relinquish everyday care to others.' Dickie has been dating Virginia Burmeister, 52, the estranged wife of wealthy investment banker, Mark Burmeister, since 2017. Tough decision: Dickie explained, 'I was getting on with my life and career, I wanted to travel the world and make music and do that sort of stuff, and it was with some reluctance that after about a year we put Adam in a home' Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility