The Gift of Adoption by Anne Hutchison

Hosted by MidCoast Council Libraries, the Zoom event will be held on Thursday, March 11 from 7-8pm.

Anne will outline her and husband Alan's adoption experience, and discuss in depth the desire to be a parent and how far one would go to have children, the adoption process and the difficulties associated with this, trying to fit into the social and educational norms when it isn't always possible, the unique language and learning difficulties often experienced by internationally adopted children and finding a solution when no-one understands the problem.

The desire to be a parent can be powerful and all-consuming and it drove Anne and Alan to keep going after the death of their first child, along with the subsequent miscarriages and unsuccessful IVF attempts that followed.

Their dream was eventually realised through inter-country adoption but even though they thought they were well prepared, when they drove through the gates of the orphanage in Manila, they found they knew very little about the reality of bringing two young siblings from a very different culture, into their lives.

Anne admits that almost everything about their new lives was scary, and there was so much for them all to learn.

"We know the journey to parenthood isn't always easy but after reading Anne's book it's obvious that it's love that makes a family, not necessarily DNA," MidCoast Council Libraries manager, Chris Jones said.

"No matter what your family situation is, Anne's insight into the challenges, not only of adoption but also raising children and navigating family life, will be appreciated by many."

Anne is a retired science teacher who started her professional life as a medical scientist working at hospitals in Sydney's northern suburbs.

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In her late 20s she returned to university to pursue her passion to become a teacher.

She taught science in Sydney's western suburbs of before taking up a position at a large independent school where she taught for thirty years.

This is a free event but bookings are essential.

To register and secure your place head to the Eventbrite listing https://www.eventbrite.com.au/x/zoom-author-event-the-gift-of-adoption-with-anne-hutchinson-tickets-140030780835 or find out more on the libraries website https://library.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/

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