Overview

Echidna in a Suitcase is Kathleen Frances' memoir in which she reveals what life was like after being taken as an infant and placed into institutional care. Through it all, she continued to look up, and through moth-eaten blankets, she was able to see the stars. Her tangled ancestral twine eventually leads her to a man she had been searching for all her life. A remarkable journey of self-discovery and of finding happiness and a sense of calm after years of chaos.

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9781922958495

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Reviews

"""Kathleen's story is at times a confronting read. I found myself returning to my time working with young people in state care and thinking of the many children who did not make it out. With the current focus on how children living in state-care had been poorly treated, Kathleen's story is a timely reminder of the importance of hope, in what seems like a hopeless situation. Channelling hope with the right encouragement empowers those who are born into poverty to break through the postcode and other discriminations. Kathleen's story shows us that people can move forward from their tough childhoods to living a good, loving life."" - Les Twentyman OAM ""This is a truly unforgettable read. Kathleen's reflections, upon her life, are indeed tragic and yet uplifting. Dare I say inspirational! A story that needed to be told. From a little girl who was brutalised, in a Catholic Institution, and matured into an amazing and loving woman. A woman who refused to cast herself as a victim. A woman who took on all challenges, no matter how daunting. A woman who is now complete with her Biological Father back in her life. Most importantly, a woman who remains positive and considerate; even though so many were never positive or considerate to her. Yes: Inspirational!"" Wade Blazley ""Echidna in a Suitcase is a truly remarkable memoir, that I would describe as a Must Read. With interesting twist and turns along the journey. The tunnel between the present and the past eventually meet. Bringing the story to a crescendo. Kathleen had the dice loaded against her from the moment of conception and the multiple life traumas that she experienced in her life could have totally destroyed another . It is shows the pernicious and harmful way Kathleen had the dice loaded against her from the moment of her conception. The book tells how she survived and overcame these obstacles . Her zest for life is always present . She started educating herself in her twenties. Then she followed a career pathway to assist the social inclusion and for the betterment of many. We see her and highly respected member of our community."" -- Bill Robinson B.V.Sc. ""Kathleen Francis has selected the perfect title for her book, Echidna in a Suitcase. She has chosen this title to symbolise the unpacking of a life fraught with trauma and pain, to the unpacking of memories and putting them in ""the right place"". ""I had to be brave to open my suitcase,"" writes Kathleen. Was there ever a real echidna involved? There is a little twist in the tale for you to discover. This is an extremely evocative story of a family split into pieces. Kathleen has spent many years unpacking her suitcase. As a young child, she was ""farmed out"" to an orphanage run by the Catholic Church. The awfulness of the place smacks you in the face. Retrieved at the age of eight - ""in the dark of night with two relatives who were complete strangers"", speaks of abuse on all levels. Her life was a series of similar episodes orchestrated by her mother who was very unwell and unable to cope with life. Thank you Kathleen, for unlocking those locks and chains and showing us a glimmer of hope for all of us to unpack our suitcases of prejudice, and help Australia forward to help others in need. ""It was the generosity and kindness of others who made me keep going."" -- Judith Flitcroft, author of A Walk Back in Time"

Author Information

Kathleen Frances lives on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Victoria. She has two children and a grandson. She has written three other books: The Adventures of Freddie Hobblesnobble, Tears in a Bottle and Stars on the Sea, Chooking Around: A Story of Keeping Backyard Hens for all Ages 0-100. Along with a long career in community services, she has always worked on the premise of optimising her clients' outcomes.

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