Luncheon with Jane Hansen
Report: Loretta Chester
On 10th June we enjoyed a delightful luncheon with a remarkable guest speaker, Jane Hansen.
Jane, a television journalist and foreign correspondent, began her career at Channel Seven, Brisbane after graduating from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Business Communications.
She has since worked for Channels 7, 9 and 10 as a reporter on well - known programs such as Real Life and A Current Affair.
Jane has more recently covered the War on Terror in Iraq, becoming the first female reporter in Baghdad to cover this war for Australian television and in the process, securing herself a position as finalist for the prestigious Walkley Award.
Jane's speech documented highlights of her career but also shared with us an insight into her private life.
Jane told us a very touching story of her family life with husband Andrew Fisher and of becoming a mother.
Her courage was obvious in her candid description of her heartbreaking plight of losing three of her children. Jane and Andrew lost their first baby through miscarriage, their second son, Thomas, died in 2002 and their third son, Jackson was born at just 26 weeks, sadly dying at 8 1/2 months.
Because of Jane's immense sadness and her lack of understanding at such loss, she was inspired to write her book Three Seasons - a marvelous read - sharing the pains, triumphs and joys of motherhood.
Happily, Jane and Andrew were blessed with a fourth son, Samuel, born a perfect bouncing baby. Jane describes him as a miracle. What a wonderful ending to this story. I'm sure it touched each member as Margaret Bouffler stated in her lovely note of thanks.
Once again 'thank you' to Ruth Kelly and her luncheon club committee for organizing such an inspirational guest speaker.
Jane's story was told on the ABC program: Australian Story, in September 2007.
You can click HERE to read the transcript of the program.
