‘We know how lucky we are’: A family struck by difficult obstacles in life shows the remarkable resilience of the beautiful Taheny clan writes Jessica Adamson

‘Sometimes life just really challenges you but what’s the alternative?’ Jessica Adamson talks the remarkable resilience of the South Australian Taheny family.

Lucy, Hugo, Will, Edwina and Tom Taheny. Picture: Supplied

At 6.30 every morning, Louise Taheny slides into the cool, blue ocean off Point Turton on Yorke Peninsula.

It’s a ritual she has with her friends that sets her up with a positive mindset for the day.

Louise, 56, is one of the strongest women I know.

We first met more than 20 years ago when I interviewed her about the closure of the Corny Point Rural School.

As a former student who went on to become the school principal, she was fighting to keep it open. She’s been fighting for so much more ever since.

John, Edwina, Tom, Louise, Will, Hugo and Lucy Taheny at Tom's wedding in 2023.

Louise and husband John, a Point Turton farmer, married in their early 20s and soon after happily welcomed five children in six years.

First came Edwina, followed by Tom, Lucy, Will and then their youngest Hugo.

Hugo, now 23, was diagnosed with Down syndrome three days after his arrival.

“As soon as I went into labour, I just had this feeling that something wasn’t quite the same,” Louise says.

“I still remember that cold feeling when we sent some core blood off and the specialist said unfortunately he has an extra chromosome.

“We found on the same day that the top half of his heart hadn’t formed. I can’t even think of the word to explain how confronting that was.”

The challenges Hugo and his family faced from that day on, in a rural community without the medical facilities they needed, were enormous.

Will, Lucy, Hugo, Charlee (Tom's wife), Tom and Edwina Taheny. Picture: Supplied

Hugo needed to be nasal gastric fed. He’s legally blind, hearing-impaired and immuno-suppressed. In the early years, there were seven Royal Flying Doctor Service retrievals to get him urgent medical care in Adelaide.

Being a minority in a small and isolated community was both mentally and physically exhausting. But for the Taheny family, there were more challenges to come.

In the middle of a busy crop seeding in 2015, Louise took a heartbreaking phone call from her son Tom.

“He said ‘I think Dad might be having a stroke, I can’t understand what he’s trying to say, and he can’t get over the fence’,” Louise says.

It was a defining moment for them all. While John spent six months undergoing intensive rehab in Adelaide with Louise by his side, their eldest, Edwina and Tom, left university to care for their younger siblings on the farm.

John’s life was forever changed. The fit and hardworking farmer eventually came home but could no longer work the land he loves.

Then, during the pandemic in 2022, they were dealt another heartbreaking blow.

Will, 23, was a back-seat passenger in a shocking crash not far from the family farm.

“I had a call at 9.30 at night saying Will had been in an accident and it wasn’t good,” Louise says.

Hugo Taheny after winning Athletics SA’s Para Athlete of the Year in 2023. Picture: Supplied

Hugo Taheny in Paris. Picture: Supplied

“He sustained a devastating spinal cord injury. He spent 216 days in ICU and then the spinal rehab unit. I didn’t come home for four months.”

Will, now living with quadriplegia, continues to undergo daily therapy and rehab in Adelaide. He’s only been home to the farm a handful of times since the accident because it’s too difficult without the necessary modifications.

It’s a lot to bear but the resilience of this South Australian family is remarkable.

They’ve not only survived, but thrived, despite the challenges of isolation.

Louise says in the toughest of times when she was juggling the children, helping to run the farm and working as an educational leader, she leant on the people around them.

“Every night a friend would arrive with a meal for seven people,” she says.

“It was just heaven sent. We were so fortunate. I know that that sort of thing doesn’t happen in all communities.”

She’s sharing her story in the hope of inspiring other families facing the crippling challenges that come with isolation.

Last week she spoke of the family’s ups and downs on a podcast, Motherland. Motherland is a national charity that advocates for the emotional wellbeing of rural mums.

Louise’s story is a powerful reminder of how, with love and community connection, we can overcome some of life’s cruellest hands.

“If I stop and think about things, I wonder why all these things have happened to our family, but I try not to do that,” Louise says.

Jess Adamson column - Louise Taheny. Picture: Supplied

Jess Adamson column - Will Taheny with mum Louise. Picture: Supplied

“Sometimes life just really challenges you but what’s the alternative? You just have to keep going because it’s a sink or swim kind of scenario.”

Louise says against the odds, Will inspires the family every single day.

“Will gives us a lot of strength, just watching how much he’s achieved,” she says.

“He’s back driving. He’s taken to wheelchair rugby. He recently won South Australian Wheelchair Player of the Year. He is absolutely incredible.

“We’ve certainly seen the highs and lows of parenting, but we absolutely know how lucky we are. We still have Will and he’s still our Will and there’s so much to look forward to.”

There certainly is, starting with Hugo’s flourishing sporting career.

The self-nicknamed “Hugo Rockstar” is number one in the world for shotput and discus for people with Down syndrome.

The family travels more than 1000km a week to allow him to train and compete in Adelaide.

In 2022 he competed in France, breaking two world records and bringing home two gold medals. A fortnight ago he claimed another world record, on his birthday, at Mile End.

“He really is living his best life,” Louise says.

“The love and support for him is amazing.

“He goes down the main street, everyone is engaged with what he’s up to – they stop him and say ‘G’day Rockstar’ and high-five him.”

Hugo’s off to Perth in April for the Australian Athletics Championships before representing Australia at the Virtus Athletics World Championships in September.

Life is good for Louise and John. They’ve welcomed their first grandchild, a little girl, Matilda, and later this month, they’ll celebrate another family wedding when their daughter Lucy marries her long-term partner, Jakeb.

“We know how lucky we are,” Louise says.

“We absolutely want to make the most of what we have, and we are beyond grateful for our family. It’s certainly not the life we envisaged but family is the most important thing to us and there’s so much joy to be had.”

Originally published as ‘We know how lucky we are’: A family struck by difficult obstacles in life shows the remarkable resilience of the beautiful Taheny clan writes Jessica Adamson