Australian Story: Aug 18

Australian Story screens part two of “Searching for C11” as the identity of Dr Lauren Burns’ donor father is finally revealed.

Not to be confused with Who Do You Think You Are?

The ‘astonishing’ discovery is the culmination of four years of searching and finally the intervention of a former Governor of Victoria.

Now Lauren Burns prepares to meet to her donor father and his extended family for the first time…

“I thought this person must have been somebody who’s put in a lot of effort and felt very deeply about it to break down a lot of legal and organisational barriers. So I thought I’d just go along with it.” – Ben, biological father.

The revelation of just who her biological father was and the famous Australian family he came from stunned Lauren and her mother. And the discovery also explained many of her interests and predilections, including her love of sport and science. For the first time, the many components of her biological make-up were clear. But after 26 years there were also new relationships to navigate and manage.

In this episode we also follow Narelle Grech’s journey to discover her own biological father. Battling with a late stage bowel cancer she has little time left and the legal impediments in her way are impossibly difficult. Will she find her father in time?

And ABC reporter Sarah Dingle – assigned to cover Narelle’s story – also becomes involved when she realises that interviewing Narelle Grech might help her locate her own donor dad.

This two part episode of Australian Story charts the human cost of assisted reproduction treatments pioneered during the early 1980s. It examines the complex ethical issues surrounding donor confidentiality and raises serious questions about the ethical practices of donor insemination clinics and the rights of the child.

Monday August 18, 8pm on ABC.