He’s one of the most powerful media magnates in Australia and she’s a former model and singer – but now, James and Erica Packer are simply doting parents to their two beautiful babies.
Erica gave birth to son Jackson Lloyd at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Crows Nest, Sydney on February 2. He joins big sister Indigo, born in July 2008. Both babies were delivered by society obstetrician, Dr Keith Hartman.
Renowned for being fiercely protective and private, the Packers – custodians of his family’s $US3.5 billion fortune – have rarely been seen out and about with their children, and it’s easy to understand why.
In 2009, Erica successfully applied for an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) to be made against Teresa Jagla, a woman who claimed to be the illegitimate daughter of James’ late father, Kerry Packer. Jagla made several approaches to the family, including an attempt to gain access to them at the Mater Hospital following baby Indigo’s birth.
Ever since, the Packers – who are close friends with Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, guests at their 2007 French Riviera wedding – have maintained a low profile, opting to spend most of their time away from the prying lenses of the paparazzi at their secluded Ellerston property in the Hunter Valley.
It’s a little surprising, then, that Erica opted to introduce her new baby boy and his big sister to the public, via a revealing interview in The Sunday Telegraph.
The reason behind the interview? To promote The Gift That Gives, a UNICEF campaign that delivers essential medical equipment for midwives to ensure safe births in developing countries.
“It gives the person receiving it a sense of satisfaction and it really helps someone’s life,” Erica says of the $200 Maternal Health Kit.
“Since having children myself, I really appreciate my mother so much more.”
The 32-year-old is refreshingly honest as she talks about raising two children, telling the newspaper, “I’m still coping with the fact I’ve got two kids. How do you know what’s right?”
“I’m pretty militant about routine. Sleep, eat, play: there’s a strict routine. And I’ve been lucky. I’ve got two really good babies,” she explains.
“At times, when it gets really exhausting and you’re tired and things just seem hard, my family help me hang in there.”
Baby Indigo is “very independent; she’s always been very strong-willed”, Erica says, while Jackson is “really smiley; he’s just really gentle. I think he’s going to be bossed around.”
Erica describes her high-profile husband, who took the reins of the family’s media and gaming empire after the death of his father in 2006, as being “such a good dad”, despite his busy schedule. He travels often for work, but the family usually goes with him on the Packer jet.
“He’s very loving, and it’s so nice to see him play with Indi. They’re great friends and she’s a real daddy’s girl,” she says.
“He reads her stories and they play Lego together. She loves building things. It’s the best, it really is. It’s just unreal. It’s life-changing in the most beautiful way.”
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