THROWBACK: Five Children, One Remarkable Woman: Louise Taheny’s story

At 56, Louise Taheny has lived a very big life. The twists and turns and setbacks have truly made her who she is today; a very remarkable woman, as you’re about to hear. Louise was born and raised in regional South Australia, and met her husband John, a farmer, in her early 20s. They knew they wanted a big family. First came Edwina, then Tom, Lucy, Will and then, their youngest, Hugo. After five children in six years, when Hugo was born, Louise knew instantly that things weren’t the same as her other babies. A few days after his birth, Hugo was diagnosed with Down syndrome, and that came with its own kind of challenges. More than a decade on, Louise’s husband had a stroke, and then unbelievably in 2022, their son Will was a passenger in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic. But just wait until you hear what both Hugo and Will have been up to despite their challenges. Over the years, again and again, everything Louise knew, particularly as a mother, was tested, but her positivity and love for her family has shone through all the hardships. So, after everything that has been thrown her way, what has she learned? This is Louise Taheny’s story.

You can listen to THROWBACK: Five Children, One Remarkable Woman: Louise Taheny’s story online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

THROWBACK: Five Children, One Remarkable Woman: Louise Taheny’s story is an episode from Motherland Australia by Stephanie Trethewey.

This episode is 57:21 long.

This episode was published on Dec 21, 2025.

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