Ben was just four years old at the time of his adoption and Meg was just 18 months.
They are now 20 and 16-year-old Aussies, busy with school, work, sport and a social life in Benalla.
However the family have never forgotten their humble beginnings, nor the people they left behind in Cambodia.
Denise said she intended to travel back to Phnom Penh in June, with Ben and Meg, to visit the orphanages where she first met them.
“Ben came from a place called Roteang which is a children’s centre that supports impoverished families,“ Denise said.
“Roteang tries to keep families together. However poverty, sickness and lack of resources often means that relinquishing young children into residential care is the only option for some parents.
“Meg was found living in a hospice that gave socially ostracised, HIV positive people a safe and accepting place to live.
"When it was discovered that she was HIV negative, I got a life-changing phone call from a stranger who asked me if I would like to meet a perfectly healthy, orphaned baby girl who was accidentally, and incorrectly, living in a community for HIV positive people.
“’Would I ever!’ I replied."
A month later Meg joined Denise and Ben, who were living in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
“It is always very emotional for me to visit the kids’ first homes,“ Denise said.
“So many children are still living in disadvantaged circumstances.
“Each and every one of those kids is just as deserving of the life that we enjoy here.
“How is it that we are so lucky?
“Conditions haven't changed much over the years and I try to support the kids' first homes as much as I can afford to.”
Denise first started fundraising for these orphanages in 2012 when she established The Cambodian Orphanage Fund, and hasn't stopped since.
“These places need all the assistance we can give them,” she said.
“The money goes toward the kids’ schooling, their daily requirements of food, medicine, clothing and basic care.”
If you would like to help out, donations are warmly received and greatly appreciated.
If you would like to make a donation you can do it via bank transfer to: BSB: 704191; account number: 238 336.
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