Recognising Dads of Newcastle

16 September 2020

DADS OF NEWCASTLE

Ms JODIE HARRISON(Charlestown)There are few losses harder to deal with than miscarriage but Lake Macquarie man Nathan Andrews has created a support network for fathers and fathers-to-be to help them through difficult times. Nathan and his wife, Hannah, had been trying for a baby for 18 months when she fell pregnant. Unfortunately, they lost the baby. Nathan then fell into a deep depression and wasn't sure where to turn. It took some time for Nathan to shake the depression. He set up the "Dads of Newcastle" Facebook group to fill the support void. Nathan told theNewcastle Weekly, "There is light at the end of the tunnel, that's what I was trying to get across to everyone. I want them to know that they are not aloneif they are going through something, they have support. No matter how brave a dad looks on the outside, they've still gone through it on the inside." Hannah fell pregnant again soon after the miscarriage and the couple now have two children, son Noah and daughter Ava, with a third on the way. I offer my congratulations to Hannah and Nathan on turning adversity into opportunity and wish their young family well.

A Community Recognition Statement is an opportunity for an MP to give a short speech praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Statement, please email and let me know!